Variable stars close to the galactic centre
This image, captured with the VISTA infrared survey telescope, as part of the Variables in the Via Lactea (VVV) ESO public survey, shows the central part of the Milky Way. While normally hidden behind obscuring dust, the infrared capabilities of VISTA allow to study the stars close to the galactic centre.
Within this field of view astronomers detected several ancient stars, of a type known as RR Lyrae. As RR Lyrae stars typically reside in ancient stellar populations over 10 billion years old, this discovery suggests that the bulging centre of the Milky Way likely grew through the merging of primordial star clusters.
Credit:ESO/VVV Survey/D. Minniti
About the Image
| Id: | eso1636a |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 12 October 2016, 12:00 |
| Related releases: | eso1636 |
| Size: | 15591 x 12672 px |
About the Object
Image Formats
Coordinates
| Position (RA): | 17 43 51.55 |
| Position (Dec): | -29° 17' 47.78" |
| Field of view: | 88.55 x 71.97 arcminutes |
| Orientation: | North is 58.6° left of vertical |
View in WorldWide Telescope:
Colours & filters
| Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
|---|---|---|
| Infrared J | 1.25 μm | Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy VIRCAM |
| Infrared H | 1.65 μm | Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy VIRCAM |
| Infrared Ks | 2.15 μm | Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy VIRCAM |