Thor’s Helmet Nebula imaged on the occasion of ESO’s 50th anniversary

This VLT image of the Thor’s Helmet Nebula was taken on the occasion of ESO’s 50th Anniversary, 5 October 2012, with the help of Brigitte Bailleul — winner of the Tweet Your Way to the VLT! competition. The observations were broadcast live over the internet from the Paranal Observatory in Chile. This object, also known as NGC 2359, lies in the constellation of Canis Major (The Great Dog). The helmet-shaped nebula is around 15 000 light-years away from Earth and is over 30 light-years across. The helmet is a cosmic bubble, blown as the wind from the bright, massive star near the bubble's centre sweeps through the surrounding molecular cloud.

Credit:

ESO/B. Bailleul

About the Image

Id:eso1238a
Type:Observation
Release date:5 October 2012, 16:00
Related releases:eso1238
Size:3424 x 3437 px

About the Object

Name:NGC 2359
Type:Milky Way : Star : Type : Wolf-Rayet
Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Star Formation
Distance:15000 light years
Constellation:Canis Major
Category:Nebulae

Image Formats

Large JPEG
3.9 MB
Screensize JPEG
284.9 KB

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277.3 KB
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436.0 KB
1600x1200
639.5 KB
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782.3 KB
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1.1 MB

Coordinates

Position (RA):7 18 30.09
Position (Dec):-13° 13' 48.61"
Field of view:7.21 x 7.24 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 90.1° left of vertical

Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
Optical
B
550 nmVery Large Telescope
FORS2
Optical
V
660 nmVery Large Telescope
FORS2
Optical
R
658 nmVery Large Telescope
FORS2