The location of Proxima Centauri in the southern skies

This picture combines a view of the southern skies over the ESO 3.6-metre telescope at the La Silla Observatory in Chile with images of the stars Proxima Centauri (lower-right) and the double star Alpha Centauri AB (lower-left) from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. Proxima Centauri is the closest star to the Solar System and is orbited by the planet Proxima b, which was discovered using the HARPS instrument on the ESO 3.6-metre telescope.

Credit:

Y. Beletsky (LCO)/ESO/ESA/NASA/M. Zamani

About the Image

Id:eso1629b
Type:Collage
Release date:24 August 2016, 19:00
Related releases:eso1735, eso1629
Size:3565 x 3779 px

About the Object

Name:Proxima b, Proxima Centauri
Type:Milky Way : Star : Circumstellar Material : Planetary System
Category:Exoplanets

Image Formats

Large JPEG
4.6 MB
Screensize JPEG
426.5 KB