The Milky Way and Alpha and Beta Centauri behind the ESO 3.6-metre telescope at La Silla

This photograph shows the brilliant southern Milky Way behind the dome of the ESO 3.6-metre telescope at La Silla in Chile. The two bright stars in the Milky Way towards the upper right are Alpha and Beta Centauri, with Alpha being the lower of the two. The 3.6-metre telescope hosts the HARPS spectrograph, which was used to detect an Earth-mass planet orbiting Alpha Centauri B.

Credit:

S. Brunier/ESO

About the Image

Id:eso1241c
Type:Artwork
Release date:16 October 2012, 23:50
Related releases:eso1241
Size:4256 x 2832 px

About the Object

Name:ESO 3.6-metre telescope
Type:Milky Way : Sky Phenomenon : Night Sky
Category:La Silla

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