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The bright star Alpha Centauri and its surroundings

This wide-field view of the sky around the bright star Alpha Centauri was created from photographic images forming part of the Digitized Sky Survey 2. The star appears so big just because of the scattering of light by the telescope's optics as well as in the photographic emulsion. Alpha Centauri is the closest star system to the Solar System.

Credit:

ESO/Digitized Sky Survey 2
Acknowledgement: Davide De Martin

About the Image

Id:eso1241e
Type:Observation
Release date:16 October 2012, 23:50
Related releases:eso1241
Size:10675 x 10695 px

About the Object


Coordinates

Position (RA):14h 39m 36.26s
Position (Dec):-60° 50' 7.79"
Field of view:179.22 x 179.56 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 0.5° left of vertical
View in Worldwide Telescope:
View in WorldWide Telescope

Images

Large JPEG
111.4 MB
Screensize JPEG
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