Disc around Beta Pictoris

This image represents Beta Pictoris. The disc around Beta Pictoris is probably connected with a planetary system. In particular, various independent observations have led to the conclusion that comets are present around this star, and variability of its intensity has been tentatively attributed to the occultation (partial eclipse) by an orbiting planet. The image was obtained by combining coronography (in which the light from the star is greatly weakened by covering its image with a small disk at the focus of the telescope) with the technique of high-angular resolution by means of adaptive optics which nearly eliminate the adverse effect of the turbulence in the terrestrial atmosphere. This results in a very sharp image with a high spatial resolution (0.12 arcsec) and a high dynamical range (10 5) which allows to follow the disk to a very small distance from the star, in this case only 24 AU (3.6 10 9 km), i.e. a distance where planets could be present. In the Solar System, this corresponds to a distance from the Sun to about halfway between Uranus and Neptune.

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:eso9714a
Type:Observation
Release date:11 June 1997
Related releases:eso9714
Size:658 x 655 px

About the Object

Name:Beta Pictoris, Bet Pic
Type:Milky Way : Planet
Milky Way : Star : Circumstellar Material : Planetary System
Distance:70 light years
Category:Exoplanets
Stars

Image Formats

Large JPEG
71.7 KB
Screensize JPEG
98.7 KB

Wallpapers

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Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
Infrared
J
1.25 μmESO 3.6-metre telescope
ADONIS