Broken fragments of Comet SW-3

Image of the broken fragments surrounding Fragment B of Comet 73P/Schwassmann-Wachmann 3 observed with FORS1 on ESO's VLT in three filters (B - blue, V - green, and R - red). As the telescope was tracking the comet, the stars appear as coloured trails, indicating the order in which the comet was observed in the different filters. As less filters have been used for this image, that zooms-in on the fragments, the colours appear different than on the ESO Press Photo eso0615.

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:eso0615b
Type:Observation
Release date:25 April 2006
Related releases:eso0615
Size:1413 x 1311 px

About the Object

Name:Schwassmann-Wachmann 3
Type:Solar System : Interplanetary Body : Comet
Category:Solar System

Image Formats

Large JPEG
89.7 KB
Screensize JPEG
42.1 KB

Wallpapers

1024x768
46.3 KB
1280x1024
70.8 KB
1600x1200
104.2 KB
1920x1200
134.8 KB
2048x1536
171.6 KB

Colours & filters

BandTelescope
Optical
B
Very Large Telescope
FORS1
Optical
V
Very Large Telescope
FORS1
Optical
R
Very Large Telescope
FORS1