VLT/SPHERE and NACO image of the star L2 Puppis and its surroundings

Some of the sharpest images ever made with ESO’s Very Large Telescope have for the first time revealed what appears to be an ageing star in the early stages of forming a butterfly-like planetary nebula. The observations of the red giant star L2 Puppis from the ZIMPOL mode of the newly installed SPHERE instrument are combined here with infrared data from NACO, also on the VLT, which shows a dust loop deployed on the far side of the upper part of the nebula. The dying stages of the lives of stars continue to pose many riddles for astronomers.

Credit:

ESO/P. Kervella

About the Image

Id:eso1523b
Type:Observation
Release date:10 June 2015, 12:00
Related releases:eso1523
Size:1104 x 1104 px

About the Object

Name:L2 Puppis
Type:Early Universe : Nebula : Type : Planetary
Constellation:Puppis
Category:Stars

Image Formats

Large JPEG
55.1 KB
Screensize JPEG
40.4 KB

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Wallpapers

1024x768
47.1 KB
1280x1024
63.4 KB
1600x1200
87.1 KB
1920x1200
111.1 KB
2048x1536
129.5 KB

Coordinates

Position (RA):7 13 32.32
Position (Dec):-44° 38' 23.07"
Field of view:0.01 x 0.01 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 0.0° left of vertical

Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
Optical
V
554 nmVery Large Telescope
SPHERE
Optical
V
554 nmVery Large Telescope
SPHERE
Optical
R
646 nmVery Large Telescope
SPHERE
Optical
R
646 nmVery Large Telescope
SPHERE
Infrared
H2 (1-0) S(1)
2.122 μmVery Large Telescope
NACO
Infrared
Br_gamma
2.166 μmVery Large Telescope
NACO
Infrared
Pf_gamma
3.74 μmVery Large Telescope
NACO
Infrared
Br_alpha
4.051 μmVery Large Telescope
NACO