Image of the 2I/Borisov interstellar comet captured with the VLT

This image was taken with the FORS2 instrument on ESO’s Very Large Telescope in late 2019, when comet 2I/Borisov passed near the Sun.

Since the comet was travelling at breakneck speed, around 175 000 kilometres per hour, the background stars appeared as streaks of light as the telescope followed the comet’s trajectory. The colours in these streaks give the image some disco flair and are the result of combining observations in different wavelength bands, highlighted by the various colours in this composite image.

Credit:

ESO/O. Hainaut

About the Image

Id:eso2106a
Type:Planetary
Release date:30 March 2021, 17:00
Related releases:eso2108, eso2106
Size:1677 x 989 px

About the Object

Name:2I/Borisov
Type:Milky Way : Interplanetary Body : Comet
Category:Stars

Image Formats

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172.0 KB
Screensize JPEG
62.4 KB

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Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
Optical
z
910 nmVery Large Telescope
FORS2
Optical
b
440 nmVery Large Telescope
FORS2
Optical
R
655 nmVery Large Telescope
FORS2
Optical
I
768 nmVery Large Telescope
FORS2
Optical
v
557 nmVery Large Telescope
FORS2