The globular cluster Omega Centauri*

The globular cluster Omega Centauri — with as many as ten million stars — is seen in all its splendour in this image captured with the WFI camera from ESO's La Silla Observatory. The image shows only the central part of the cluster — about the size of the full moon on the sky (half a degree). North is up, East is to the left. This colour image is a composite of B, V and I filtered images. Note that because WFI is equipped with a mosaic detector, there are two small gaps in the image which were filled with lower quality data from the Digitized Sky Survey. Can you find them? NGC 5139 is another designation of this cluster.

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:eso0844a
Type:Observation
Release date:2 December 2008
Related releases:eso0844
Size:8040 x 7560 px

About the Object

Name:NGC 5139, Omega Centauri
Type:Milky Way : Star : Grouping : Cluster : Globular
Distance:17000 light years
Constellation:Centaurus
Category:Star Clusters

Image Formats

Large JPEG
23.5 MB
Screensize JPEG
683.0 KB

Zoomable


Wallpapers

1024x768
556.5 KB
1280x1024
914.6 KB
1600x1200
1.3 MB
1920x1200
1.5 MB
2048x1536
2.0 MB

Coordinates

Position (RA):13 26 47.32
Position (Dec):-47° 28' 46.86"
Field of view:31.88 x 29.99 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 0.0° right of vertical

Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
Infrared
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

Notes: Image includes data from the Digital Sky Survey.