Image of the planetary nebula Henize 2-428 from the Very Large Telescope

This image of the unusual planetary nebula was obtained using ESO’s Very Large Telescope at the Paranal Observatory in Chile. In the heart of this colourful nebula lies a unique object consisting of two white dwarf stars, each with a mass a little less than that of the Sun. These stars are expected to slowly draw closer to each other and merge in around 700 million years. This event will create a dazzling supernova of Type Ia and destroy both stars.

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:eso1505b
Type:Observation
Release date:9 February 2015, 17:00
Related releases:eso1505
Size:2278 x 1834 px

About the Object

Name:Hen 2-428, Henize 2-428
Type:Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Planetary
Distance:4500 light years
Constellation:Aquila
Category:Nebulae

Image Formats

Large JPEG
1.3 MB
Screensize JPEG
251.7 KB

Zoomable


Wallpapers

1024x768
287.9 KB
1280x1024
480.6 KB
1600x1200
697.3 KB
1920x1200
816.6 KB
2048x1536
1.1 MB

Coordinates

Position (RA):19 13 5.38
Position (Dec):15° 46' 42.39"
Field of view:4.79 x 3.85 arcminutes
Orientation:North is 0.0° left of vertical

Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
Optical
[OIII]/3000
504 nmVery Large Telescope
FORS2
Optical
[OIII]
500 nmVery Large Telescope
FORS2
Optical
H-alpha
656 nmVery Large Telescope
FORS2