Colour composite of the Galactic Centre

Colour composite image of the Galactic Centre at a distance of about 30,000 light-years. It was made by combining images in filters centred at 8.6μm (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon molecular feature - coded blue), 12.8μm ([NeII] - coded green) and 19.5μm (coded red). Each pixel subtends 0.127 arcsec and the total field is ~ 33 x 33 arcsec with North at the top and East to the left. Total integration times were 300, 160 and 300 s for the 3 filters, respectively. This region is very rich, full of stars, dust, ionised and molecular gas. One of the scientific goals will be to detect and monitor the signal from the black hole at the centre of our galaxy.

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:eso0417d
Type:Observation
Release date:12 May 2004
Related releases:eso0417
Size:772 x 781 px

About the Object

Name:Milky Way Galactic Centre
Type:Milky Way : Galaxy : Component : Center/Core
Distance:25000 light years
Constellation:Sagittarius
Category:Galaxies

Image Formats

Large JPEG
122.3 KB
Screensize JPEG
130.0 KB

Wallpapers

1024x768
143.0 KB
1280x1024
206.8 KB
1600x1200
269.6 KB
1920x1200
297.4 KB
2048x1536
373.2 KB

Coordinates

Position (RA):17 45 40.17
Position (Dec):-29° 0' 26.85"
Field of view:0.54 x 0.54 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 1.2° right of vertical

Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
Infrared
Near-IR
8.6 μmVery Large Telescope
VISIR
Infrared
Neii
1.28 μmVery Large Telescope
VISIR
Infrared
Near-IR
1.95 μmVery Large Telescope
VISIR