Panning across the Thor’s Helmet Nebula

This video takes a close look at a new VLT image of the Thor’s Helmet Nebula. It was taken on the occasion of ESO’s 50th Anniversary, 5 October 2012, with the help of Brigitte Bailleul — winner of the Tweet Your Way to the VLT! competition. The observations were broadcast live over the internet from the Paranal Observatory in Chile. This object, also known as NGC 2359, lies in the constellation of Canis Major (The Great Dog). The helmet-shaped nebula is around 15 000 light-years away from Earth and is over 30 light-years across. The helmet is a cosmic bubble, blown as the wind from the bright, massive star near the bubble's centre sweeps through the surrounding molecular cloud.

Credit:

ESO/B. Bailleul
Music: Disasterpeace

About the Video

Id:eso1238c
Release date:5 October 2012, 16:00
Related releases:eso1238
Duration:01 m 01 s
Frame rate:30 fps

About the Object

Name:NGC 2359
Type:Milky Way : Nebula : Appearance : Emission
Category:Nebulae

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