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

Name:Alpha Centauri, Digitized Sky Survey 2 (DSS 2)
Type:Milky Way : Star
Constellation:Centaurus
Category:Stars

Image Formats

Large JPEG
47.3 MB
Screensize JPEG
743.8 KB

Zoomable


Wallpapers

1024x768
525.6 KB
1280x1024
925.2 KB
1600x1200
1.4 MB
1920x1200
1.7 MB
2048x1536
2.3 MB

Coordinates

Position (RA):14 39 36.26
Position (Dec):-60° 50' 7.79"
Field of view:179.22 x 179.56 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 0.5° left of vertical