The surface of the red giant star π1 Gruis from PIONIER on the VLT
Astronomers using ESO’s Very Large Telescope have directly observed granulation patterns on the surface of a star outside the Solar System — the ageing red giant π1 Gruis. This remarkable new image from the PIONIER instrument reveals the convective cells that make up the surface of this huge star. Each cell covers more than a quarter of the star’s diameter and measures about 120 million kilometres across.
Credit:ESO
About the Image
| Id: | eso1741a |
| Type: | Observation |
| Release date: | 20 December 2017, 19:00 |
| Related releases: | eso1741 |
| Size: | 2000 x 2000 px |
About the Object
| Name: | HD 212087, π1 Gruis |
| Type: | Milky Way : Star : Evolutionary Stage : Red Giant |
| Constellation: | Grus |
| Category: | Stars |
Wallpapers
Coordinates
| Position (RA): | 22 22 44.21 |
| Position (Dec): | -45° 56' 52.61" |
| Field of view: | 0.01 x 0.01 arcminutes |
| Orientation: | North is -0.0° left of vertical |
View in WorldWide Telescope:
Colours & filters
| Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
|---|---|---|
| Infrared H | 1.625 μm | Very Large Telescope Interferometer PIONIER |
| Infrared H | 1.678 μm | Very Large Telescope Interferometer PIONIER |
| Infrared H | 1.625 μm | Very Large Telescope Interferometer PIONIER |
| Infrared H | 1.678 μm | Very Large Telescope Interferometer PIONIER |
| Infrared H | 1.73 μm | Very Large Telescope Interferometer PIONIER |