The flames of Betelgeuse

This picture of the dramatic nebula around the bright red supergiant star Betelgeuse was created from images taken with the VISIR infrared camera on ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT). This structure, resembling flames emanating from the star, forms because the behemoth is shedding its material into space. The earlier NACO observations of the plumes are reproduced in the central disc. The small red circle in the middle has a diameter about four and half times that of the Earth’s orbit and represents the location of Betelgeuse’s visible surface. The black disc corresponds to a very bright part of the image that was masked to allow the fainter nebula to be seen.

Credit:

ESO/P. Kervella

About the Image

Id:eso1121a
Type:Observation
Release date:23 June 2011, 12:00
Related releases:eso1121
Size:1352 x 1352 px

About the Object

Name:Betelgeuse
Type:Solar System : Star : Evolutionary Stage : Red Supergiant
Category:Stars

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Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
Infrared
J
Very Large Telescope
NACO
Infrared
Mid-IR
7.76 μmVery Large Telescope
VISIR
Infrared
PAH
8.59 μmVery Large Telescope
VISIR
Infrared
SIV
10 μmVery Large Telescope
VISIR
Infrared
H
Very Large Telescope
NACO
Infrared
SIC
11 μmVery Large Telescope
VISIR
Infrared
NeII
12 μmVery Large Telescope
VISIR
Infrared
Q1
17 μmVery Large Telescope
VISIR
Infrared
Q3
19 μmVery Large Telescope
VISIR
Infrared
K
Very Large Telescope
NACO