Globular cluster NGC 6397

The globular cluster NGC 6397, located at a distance of approx. 7,200 light-years in the southern constellation Ara. It has undergone a "core collapse" and the central area is very dense. It contains about 400,000 stars and its age (based on evolutionary models) is 13,400 ± 800 million years. The photo is a composite of exposures in the B-, V- and I-bands obtained in the frame of the Pilot Stellar Survey with the Wide-Field-Imager (WFI) camera at the 2.2-m ESO/MPI telescope at the ESO La Silla Observatory. It was prepared and provided by the ESO Imaging Survey team. The spikes seen at some of the brighter stars are caused by the effect of overexposure (CCD "bleeding").

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:eso0425a
Type:Observation
Release date:17 August 2004
Related releases:eso0425
Size:3882 x 3873 px

About the Object

Name:NGC 6397
Type:Milky Way : Star : Grouping : Cluster : Globular
Distance:7000 light years
Constellation:Ara
Category:Star Clusters

Image Formats

Large JPEG
7.4 MB
Screensize JPEG
643.3 KB

Zoomable


Wallpapers

1024x768
561.4 KB
1280x1024
848.9 KB
1600x1200
1.1 MB
1920x1200
1.3 MB
2048x1536
1.7 MB

Coordinates

Position (RA):17 40 42.10
Position (Dec):-53° 40' 27.18"
Field of view:15.78 x 15.74 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 0.0° right of vertical

Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
Optical
B
451 nmMPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI
Optical
V
539 nmMPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI
Optical
I
783 nmMPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope
WFI