Wide-field view of the parent star of the famous exoplanet Tau Boötis b

This image of the sky around the star Tau Boötis was created from the Digitized Sky Survey 2 images. The star itself, which is bright enough to be seen with the unaided eye, is at the centre. The spikes and coloured circles around it are artifacts of the telescope and photographic plate used and are not real. The exoplanet Tau Boötis b orbits very close to the star and is completely invisible in this picture. The planet has only just been detected directly from its own light using ESO's VLT.

Credit:

ESO/Digitized Sky Survey 2

About the Image

Id:eso1227c
Type:Observation
Release date:27 June 2012, 19:00
Related releases:eso1227
Size:3564 x 3571 px

About the Object

Type:Milky Way : Star : Circumstellar Material : Planetary System
Constellation:Bootes
Category:Exoplanets
Stars

Image Formats

Large JPEG
5.2 MB
Screensize JPEG
325.0 KB

Zoomable


Wallpapers

1024x768
287.8 KB
1280x1024
500.3 KB
1600x1200
779.8 KB
1920x1200
989.2 KB
2048x1536
1.3 MB

Coordinates

Position (RA):13 47 15.80
Position (Dec):17° 27' 25.21"
Field of view:59.80 x 59.92 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 0.3° right of vertical

Colours & filters

BandTelescope
Digitized Sky Survey 2