GRAVITY discovers new double star in the Orion Trapezium Cluster (annotated)

As part of the first observations with the new GRAVITY instrument the team looked closely at the bright, young stars known as the Trapezium Cluster, located in the heart of the Orion star-forming region. Already, from these first data, GRAVITY made a discovery: one of the components of the cluster (Theta1 Orionis F) was found to be a double star for the first time. The brighter known double star Theta1 Orionis C is also well seen.

The background image comes from the ISAAC instrument on ESO's Very Large Telescope. The views of two of the stars from GRAVITY, shown as inserts, reveal far finer detail than could be detected with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.

Credit:

ESO/GRAVITY consortium/NASA/ESA/M. McCaughrean

About the Image

Id:eso1601f
Type:Collage
Release date:13 January 2016, 15:00
Related releases:eso1601
Size:2737 x 2273 px

About the Object

Name:Trapezium Cluster
Type:Milky Way : Star : Grouping : Cluster : Open
Distance:1400 light years
Category:Star Clusters

Image Formats

Large JPEG
1.2 MB
Screensize JPEG
170.5 KB