Location of VFTS 352 in the Large Magellanic Cloud

This image shows the location of VFTS 352 — the hottest and most massive double star system to date where the two components are in contact and sharing material. The two stars in this extreme system lie about 160 000 light-years from Earth in the Large Magellanic Cloud. This intriguing system could be heading for a dramatic end, either merging to form a single giant star or forming a binary black hole.

This view of the Tarantula star-forming region includes visible-light images from the Wide Field Imager at the MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope at La Silla and infrared images from the 4.1-metre infrared VISTA telescope at Paranal.

Credit:

ESO/M.-R. Cioni/VISTA Magellanic Cloud survey.
Acknowledgment: Cambridge Astronomical Survey Unit

About the Image

Id:eso1540b
Type:Artwork
Release date:21 October 2015, 12:00
Related releases:eso1540
Size:2680 x 2680 px

About the Object

Name:VFTS 352
Type:Local Universe : Star : Grouping : Multiple
Distance:160000 light years
Category:Stars

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