Interferometric fringes from an observation of 3C 273 with the VLTI

An interferometric observation of the quasar 3C 273 with the VLTI. The columns marked UT1, UT2, and UT4 show the data from the individual 8.2-metre Unit Telescopes, which were then combined interferometrically. The resultant fringes are shown in the column marked VLTI. The bright feature is the Paschen-α emission line from atomic hydrogen gas, redshifted to a wavelength of 2.17 µm due to the quasar’s distance of about two billion light-years.

This image is a rare example of a five-second exposure that reveals the fringes. In real use, multiple much shorter 0.3-second observations must be made. It is thanks to the new “blind observation mode” that these shorter exposures can be successfully combined.

Crédit:

ESO/A. Merand

À propos de l'image

Identification:ann11031a
Type:Observation
Date de publication:6 juin 2011 15:30
Annonces en rapport:ann11031
Taille:689 x 2411 px

À propos de l'objet

Nom:3C 273
Type:Early Universe : Galaxy : Activity : AGN : Quasar
Distance:z=0.158 (redshift)
Catégorie:Cosmology
Quasars and Black Holes

Formats des images

Grand JPEG
777,9 Kio
JPEG taille écran
914,1 Kio

Couleurs & filtres

DomaineLongueur d'ondeTélescope
Infrarouge
K
2.17 μmVery Large Telescope Interferometer
AMBER

Exposure time: 5s