The brilliant star VFTS 682 in the Large Magellanic Cloud

This view shows part of the very active star-forming region around the Tarantula Nebula in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a small neighbour of the Milky Way. At the exact centre lies the brilliant but isolated star VFTS 682 and to its lower right the very rich star cluster R 136. The origins of VFTS 682 are unclear — was it ejected from R 136 or did it form on its own? The star appears yellow-red in this view, which includes both visible-light and infrared images from the Wide Field Imager at the 2.2-metre MPG/ESO telescope at La Silla and the 4.1-metre infrared VISTA telescope at Paranal, because of the effects of dust.

Credit:

ESO/M.-R. Cioni/VISTA Magellanic Cloud survey. Acknowledgment: Cambridge Astronomical Survey Unit

About the Image

Id:eso1117a
Type:Observation
Release date:25 May 2011, 12:00
Related releases:eso1117
Size:1832 x 1836 px

About the Object

Name:Large Magellanic Cloud, LMC, Tarantula Nebula, VFTS 682, Wolf-Rayet Star
Type:Local Universe : Star : Type : Wolf-Rayet
Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Irregular
Distance:170000 light years
Constellation:Dorado
Category:Star Clusters
Stars

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Coordinates

Position (RA):5 38 37.98
Position (Dec):-69° 5' 42.18"
Field of view:10.54 x 10.56 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 0.2° right of vertical