Stars and Skulls: new ESO image reveals eerie nebula

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head prefix="og: http://ogp.me/ns# fb: http://ogp.me/ns/fb#"> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <base target="_top" /> <meta name="robots" content="index,follow" /> <meta name="description" content="Press Releases" /> <meta name="author" content="information@eso.org" /> <meta name="description" content="ESO, European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere" /> <meta name="keywords" content="ESO, eso.org, Astronomy, Astrophysics, Astronomie, Suedsternwarte, telescopes, detectors, comets, planets, stars, galaxies, nebulae, universe, NTT, VLT, VLTI, ALMA, ELT, La Silla, Paranal, Garching, Chile" /> <meta name="statvooVerification" content="f546f5bccd3fb7f8c5d8e97c6beab814" /> <link rel="alternate" href="https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2019/" hreflang="x-default" /><link rel="alternate" href="https://www.eso.org/public/australia/news/eso2019/" hreflang="en-au" /><link rel="alternate" href="https://www.eso.org/public/unitedkingdom/news/eso2019/" hreflang="en-gb" /><link rel="alternate" href="https://www.eso.org/public/ireland/news/eso2019/" hreflang="en-ie" /><link rel="alternate" href="https://www.eso.org/public/czechrepublic/news/eso2019/" hreflang="cs" /><link rel="alternate" href="https://www.eso.org/public/denmark/news/eso2019/" hreflang="da" /><link rel="alternate" href="https://www.eso.org/public/netherlands/news/eso2019/" hreflang="nl" /><link rel="alternate" href="https://www.eso.org/public/belgium-nl/news/eso2019/" hreflang="nl-be" /><link rel="alternate" href="https://www.eso.org/public/finland/news/eso2019/" hreflang="fi" /><link rel="alternate" href="https://www.eso.org/public/france/news/eso2019/" hreflang="fr" /><link rel="alternate" href="https://www.eso.org/public/belgium-fr/news/eso2019/" hreflang="fr-be" /><link rel="alternate" href="https://www.eso.org/public/switzerland-fr/news/eso2019/" hreflang="fr-ch" /><link rel="alternate" href="https://www.eso.org/public/germany/news/eso2019/" hreflang="de" /><link rel="alternate" href="https://www.eso.org/public/austria/news/eso2019/" hreflang="de-at" /><link rel="alternate" href="https://www.eso.org/public/belgium-de/news/eso2019/" hreflang="de-be" /><link rel="alternate" href="https://www.eso.org/public/switzerland-de/news/eso2019/" hreflang="de-ch" /><link rel="alternate" href="https://www.eso.org/public/italy/news/eso2019/" hreflang="it" /><link rel="alternate" href="https://www.eso.org/public/switzerland-it/news/eso2019/" hreflang="it-ch" /><link rel="alternate" href="https://www.eso.org/public/poland/news/eso2019/" hreflang="pl" /><link rel="alternate" href="https://www.eso.org/public/portugal/news/eso2019/" hreflang="pt" /><link rel="alternate" href="https://www.eso.org/public/spain/news/eso2019/" hreflang="es" /><link rel="alternate" href="https://www.eso.org/public/chile/news/eso2019/" hreflang="es-cl" /><link rel="alternate" href="https://www.eso.org/public/sweden/news/eso2019/" hreflang="sv" /> <link href="https://astrodon.social/@esoastronomy" rel="me"> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://www.eso.org/public/archives/favicon.ico" /> <title>Stars and Skulls: new ESO image reveals eerie nebula | ESO</title>  <style type="text/css"> @import url("https://fast.fonts.net/t/1.css?apiType=css&projectid=03892b9b-79f6-4f01-9746-af912ebf5e47"); </style> <link href="/public/archives/djp/css/main.4864dae012cc.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <link href="https://feeds.feedburner.com/EsoTopNews" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="ESO Top News" /> <link href="https://feeds.feedburner.com/EsoAnnouncements" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="ESO Announcements" /> <link href="https://feeds.feedburner.com/ESOcast" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="ESOCast" /> <link href="https://recruitment.eso.org/jobs.rss" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="Jobs@ESO" /> <link href="https://www.eso.org/public/blog/feed/" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml" title="ESOblog" />  <meta property="fb:app_id" content="322213731148492" /><meta property="og:type" content="website" /><meta property="og:title" content="Stars and Skulls: new ESO image reveals eerie nebula" /><meta property="og:image" content="https://cdn.eso.org/images/screen/eso2019a.jpg" /><meta property="og:image:secure_url" content="https://cdn.eso.org/images/screen/eso2019a.jpg" /><meta name="twitter:card" content="summary_large_image" /><meta property="og:url" content="https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2019/" /><meta property="og:site_name" content="www.eso.org" /><meta property="og:locale" content="en_GB" /><meta property="og:description" content="This ethereal remnant of a long dead star, nestled in the belly of The Whale, bears an uneasy resemblance to a skull floating through space. Captured in astounding detail by ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT), the eerie Skull Nebula is showcased in this new image in beautiful bloodshot colours. This planetary nebula is the first known to be associated with a pair of closely bound stars orbited by a third outer star." /> <meta name="twitter:site" content="@ESO" /> <meta name="twitter:creator" content="@ESO" />  <script type="text/javascript"> var _paq = window._paq || []; /* tracker methods like "setCustomDimension" should be called before "trackPageView" */ _paq.push(['trackPageView']); _paq.push(['enableLinkTracking']); (function() { var u="/mtmo/"; _paq.push(['setTrackerUrl', u+'matomo.php']); _paq.push(['setSiteId', '1']); var d=document, g=d.createElement('script'), s=d.getElementsByTagName('script')[0]; g.type='text/javascript'; g.async=true; g.defer=true; g.src=u+'matomo.js'; s.parentNode.insertBefore(g,s); })(); </script>  </head> <body> <input type='hidden' name='csrfmiddlewaretoken' value='JPwwrjl99iYRrEUB2CyAXvLqtSFr4RIkzWBaguELC6NyvKW613K36lBdkya5Tkuc' /> <div id="privacy-notice" style="display: none"> <p> By continuing to use this website, you are giving consent to our use of cookies.<br> For more information on how ESO uses data and how you can disable cookies, please view <a href="/public/about-eso/privacy/"> our privacy policy</a>. </p> <button type="button" class="btn btn-primary" onclick="accept_privacy_notice()"> Accept </button> <script> // Display the privacy cookie if the cookie is not set if (!has_privacy_cookie()) { document.getElementById('privacy-notice').style.display = 'block' } function has_privacy_cookie() { return document.cookie.split(';').filter(function(item) { return item.indexOf('privacy_notice_accepted=True') >= 0 }).length > 0 } function accept_privacy_notice() { let data = { LANGUAGE_CODE: 'en' } let csrftoken = getCookie('csrftoken'); let headers = new Headers(); headers.append('Content-Type', 'application/json; charset=utf-8'); headers.append('X-CSRFToken', csrftoken); fetch('/public/accept-privacy-notice/', { method: 'post', headers: headers, credentials: 'include', body: JSON.stringify(data) }).then( document.getElementById('privacy-notice').style.display = 'none' ) } function getCookie(name) { var cookieValue = null; if (document.cookie && document.cookie !== '') { var cookies = document.cookie.split(';'); for (var i = 0; i < cookies.length; i++) { var cookie = jQuery.trim(cookies[i]); // Does this cookie string begin with the name we want? if (cookie.substring(0, name.length + 1) == (name + '=')) { cookieValue = decodeURIComponent(cookie.substring(name.length + 1)); break; } } } return cookieValue; } </script> </div> <nav class="navbar-general-wrapper" role="navigation"> <div class="navbar-general"> <div class="minilogo"> <a href="/public/"> <div class="sprites-esologo-23-30" title="European Organisation for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere"></div> </a> </div> <div id="select-language"> <div class="flags"> <div title="Austria" class="sprites-flag_at"></div> <div title="Belgium" class="sprites-flag_be"></div> <div title="Czechia" class="sprites-flag_cz"></div> <div title="Denmark" class="sprites-flag_da"></div> <div title="Finland" class="sprites-flag_fi"></div> <div title="France" class="sprites-flag_fr"></div> <div title="Germany" class="sprites-flag_de"></div> <div title="Ireland" class="sprites-flag_ie"></div> <div title="Italy" class="sprites-flag_it"></div> <div title="Netherlands" class="sprites-flag_nl"></div> <div title="Poland" class="sprites-flag_pl"></div> <div title="Portugal" class="sprites-flag_pt"></div> <div title="Spain" class="sprites-flag_es"></div> <div title="Sweden" class="sprites-flag_sv"></div> <div title="Switzerland" class="sprites-flag_ch"></div> <div title="UK" class="sprites-flag_gb"></div> <div style="margin-left: 8px" title="Chile" class="sprites-flag_cl"></div> </div> <div class="languages"> <div class="language-button"> <span class="language-text">Select Language (en)</span> <div class="language-flag"><div title="en" class="flag sprites-flag_gb"> </div><span> (en)</span></div> <span class="caret"></span> </div> <ul class="languages-dropdown" role="menu"> <li class="language selected"><a role="menuitem" href="/public/news/eso2019/?lang"><div title="International English" class="flag sprites-flag_en"> </div>International English</a></li> <li class="language"><a role="menuitem" href="/public/denmark/news/eso2019/?lang"><div title="Dansk" class="flag sprites-flag_da"> </div>Dansk</a></li> <li class="language"><a role="menuitem" href="/public/germany/news/eso2019/?lang"><div title="Deutsch" class="flag sprites-flag_de"> </div>Deutsch</a></li> <li class="language"><a role="menuitem" href="/public/belgium-de/news/eso2019/?lang"><div title="Deutsch (Belgien)" class="flag sprites-flag_be"> </div>Deutsch (Belgien)</a></li> <li class="language"><a role="menuitem" href="/public/switzerland-de/news/eso2019/?lang"><div title="Deutsch (Schweiz)" class="flag sprites-flag_ch"> </div>Deutsch (Schweiz)</a></li> <li class="language"><a role="menuitem" href="/public/austria/news/eso2019/?lang"><div title="Deutsch (Österreich)" class="flag sprites-flag_at"> </div>Deutsch (Österreich)</a></li> <li class="language"><a role="menuitem" href="/public/australia/news/eso2019/?lang"><div title="English (Australia)" class="flag sprites-flag_au"> </div>English (Australia)</a></li> <li class="language"><a role="menuitem" href="/public/ireland/news/eso2019/?lang"><div title="English (Ireland)" class="flag sprites-flag_ie"> </div>English (Ireland)</a></li> <li class="language"><a role="menuitem" href="/public/unitedkingdom/news/eso2019/?lang"><div title="English (UK)" class="flag sprites-flag_gb"> </div>English (UK)</a></li> <li class="language"><a role="menuitem" href="/public/spain/news/eso2019/?lang"><div title="Español" class="flag sprites-flag_es"> </div>Español</a></li> <li class="language"><a role="menuitem" href="/public/chile/news/eso2019/?lang"><div title="Español (Chile)" class="flag sprites-flag_cl"> </div>Español (Chile)</a></li> <li class="language"><a role="menuitem" href="/public/france/news/eso2019/?lang"><div title="Français" class="flag sprites-flag_fr"> </div>Français</a></li> <li class="language"><a role="menuitem" href="/public/belgium-fr/news/eso2019/?lang"><div title="Français (Belgique)" class="flag sprites-flag_be"> </div>Français (Belgique)</a></li> <li class="language"><a role="menuitem" href="/public/switzerland-fr/news/eso2019/?lang"><div title="Français (Suisse)" class="flag sprites-flag_ch"> </div>Français (Suisse)</a></li> <li class="language"><a role="menuitem" href="/public/italy/news/eso2019/?lang"><div title="Italiano" class="flag sprites-flag_it"> </div>Italiano</a></li> <li class="language"><a role="menuitem" href="/public/switzerland-it/news/eso2019/?lang"><div title="Italiano (Svizzera)" class="flag sprites-flag_ch"> </div>Italiano (Svizzera)</a></li> <li class="language"><a role="menuitem" href="/public/netherlands/news/eso2019/?lang"><div title="Nederlands" class="flag sprites-flag_nl"> </div>Nederlands</a></li> <li class="language"><a role="menuitem" href="/public/belgium-nl/news/eso2019/?lang"><div title="Nederlands (België)" class="flag sprites-flag_be"> </div>Nederlands (België)</a></li> <li class="language"><a role="menuitem" href="/public/poland/news/eso2019/?lang"><div title="Polski" class="flag sprites-flag_pl"> </div>Polski</a></li> <li class="language"><a role="menuitem" href="/public/portugal/news/eso2019/?lang"><div title="Português" class="flag sprites-flag_pt"> </div>Português</a></li> <li class="language"><a role="menuitem" href="/public/finland/news/eso2019/?lang"><div title="Suomi" class="flag sprites-flag_fi"> </div>Suomi</a></li> <li class="language"><a role="menuitem" href="/public/sweden/news/eso2019/?lang"><div title="Svenska" class="flag sprites-flag_sv"> </div>Svenska</a></li> <li class="language"><a role="menuitem" href="/public/czechrepublic/news/eso2019/?lang"><div title="Česky" class="flag sprites-flag_cs"> </div>Česky</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="sections"> <a href="https://www.eso.org/sci.html">Science</a> <a href="/UserPortal/">User Portal</a> </div> <div class="searchbox"> <button type="button" class="btn btn-default" id="searchbox-button"> <span class="fa fa-search"></span> </button> <div id="searchbox-dropdown"> <form action="/public/search/" method="get" class="form-inline" role="search"> <div class="form-group"> <div class="input-group"> <input type="text" value="" placeholder="Search..." name="q" class="form-control"> <span class="input-group-btn"> <button class="btn btn-default" type="submit"><span class="fa fa-search"></span></button> </span> </div>   </div> </form> </div> </div> <div class="links"> <a href="/public/outreach/newsletters/esonews/">Subscribe</a> <a href="/public/about-eso/travel/">Contact</a> <a href="/public/sitemap/">Site Map</a> </div> </div> </nav> <nav class="main-menu-wrapper" role="navigation"> <div class="main-menu"> <div class="mobile-menu clearfix"> <button class="menu-trigger"><span class="fa fa-navicon"></span> Open Menu</button> </div> <ul class="level0 mainmenu-aim"> <li><a href="/public/about-eso/">About<span class="fa fa-angle-down level0-children-arrows"></span></a> <span class="mobile-children"> <span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span> </span> <div class="level1-wrapper"> <div class="level1"> <ul id="submenu-aim-2" class="submenu-aim"> <li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/esoglance/"> ESO, the European Southern Observatory </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/organisation/"> Organisation </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/mission-vision-values-strategy/"> Mission-Vision-Values-Strategy </a></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/about-eso/dg-office/"> Director General <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-6" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/about-eso/dg-office/previous-dg/"> List of Directors General <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-7" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/dg-office/xbarcons/"> Prof. Xavier Barcons </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/dg-office/tdezeeuw/"> Prof. T. de Zeeuw </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/dg-office/ccesarsk/"> Dr. C. Cesarsky </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/dg-office/rgiacconi/"> Prof. R. Giacconi </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/dg-office/hvanderlaan/"> Prof. H. van der Laan </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/dg-office/lwoltjer/"> Prof. L. Woltjer </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/dg-office/ablaauw/"> Prof. A. Blaauw </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/dg-office/otto-heckmann/"> Prof. O. Heckmann </a></li></ul></li></ul></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/committees.html"> ESO's Governing Bodies </a></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/about-eso/memberstates/"> Member States and Partners <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-17" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/memberstates/austrianinvolvement/"> Austria </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/memberstates/belgianinvolvement/"> Belgium </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/memberstates/czechinvolvement/"> Czechia </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/memberstates/danishinvolvement/"> Denmark </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/memberstates/finnishinvolvement/"> Finland </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/memberstates/frenchinvolvement/"> France </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/memberstates/germaninvolvement/"> Germany </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/memberstates/irishinvolvement/"> Ireland </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/memberstates/italianinvolvement/"> Italy </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/memberstates/dutchinvolvement/"> Netherlands </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/memberstates/polishinvolvement/"> Poland </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/memberstates/portugueseinvolvement/"> Portugal </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/memberstates/spanishinvolvement/"> Spain </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/memberstates/swedishinvolvement/"> Sweden </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/memberstates/swissinvolvement/"> Switzerland </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/memberstates/britishinvolvement/"> United Kingdom </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/strategicpartners/australianinvolvement/"> Australia (Partner) </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/about-eso/eso-and-chile/"> ESO & Chile <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-35" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/eso-and-chile/representation-office-chile/"> ESO Representation Office in Chile </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/about-eso/travel/"> Travel and Contacts <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-37" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/travel/garching/"> Travel to ESO Headquarters </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/travel/vitacura/"> Travel to Vitacura Office </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/travel/guesthouse/"> Travel to Guesthouse </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/travel/lasilla/"> Travel to La Silla </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/travel/laserena/"> Travel to La Serena </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/travel/paranal/"> Travel to Paranal </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/travel/antofagasta/"> Travel to Antofagasta </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/travel/chajnantor/"> Travel to Chajnantor </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/travel/elt/"> Travel to ELT Armazones </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/about-eso/visitors/"> Visits to ESO Sites <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-47" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/visitors/paranal/"> Weekend visits to Paranal </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/visitors/lasilla/"> Weekend Visits to La Silla </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/outreach/pressmedia/mediavisits/"> Media Visits </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/visitors/virtual-tours/"> Virtual Visits </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/visitors/artists-at-eso/"> Artistic Visits </a></li></ul></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/societal-benefits/"> ESO and Society </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/architecture/"> Architecture at ESO </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/collaborations/"> Collaborations with ESO </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/acronyms/"> ESO Acronyms </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/timeline/"> Timeline </a></li><li class="submenu"><a class="no-link children" href="#"> Sustainability <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-58" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/sustainability/green/"> Environmental sustainability at ESO </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/sustainability/eso-un-sdgs/"> ESO and the UN's Sustainable Development Goals </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/sustainability/dei-at-eso/"> Diversity, Equity and Inclusion </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/about-eso/faq/"> Frequently Asked Questions <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-62" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/faq/faq-eso/"> ESO </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/faq/faq-vlt-paranal/"> VLT/Paranal </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/faq/faq-apex-alma/"> APEX/ALMA </a></li><li class=""><a href="https://elt.eso.org/about/faq/"> ELT </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/faq/privileges_and_immunities/"> Privileges and Immunities </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/faq/faq-eso-australia/"> ESO & Australia </a></li></ul></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/dark-skies-preservation/"> Dark skies preservation </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/about-eso/privacy/"> Terms and Conditions </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </li> <li><a href="/public/images/">Images<span class="fa fa-angle-down level0-children-arrows"></span></a> <span class="mobile-children"> <span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span> </span> <div class="level1-wrapper"> <div class="level1"> <ul id="submenu-aim-71" class="submenu-aim"> <li class=""><a href="/public/images/search/"> Advanced Search </a></li><li class="submenu"><a class="no-link children" href="#"> Categories <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-73" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/images/archive/category/360pano/ "> 360 Panorama </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/archive/category/alma/"> ALMA </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/archive/category/apex/"> APEX </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/archive/category/chile/"> Chile </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/archive/category/cosmology/"> Cosmology </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/archive/category/elt/"> ELT </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/archive/category/eso-supernova/"> ESO Supernova </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/archive/category/exoplanets/"> Exoplanets </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/archive/category/fulldome/"> Fulldome </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/archive/category/galaxies/"> Galaxies </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/archive/category/galaxyclusters/"> Galaxy Clusters </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/archive/category/illustrations/"> Illustrations </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/archive/category/lasilla/"> La Silla </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/archive/category/nebulae/"> Nebulae </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/archive/category/paranal/"> Paranal </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/archive/category/peopleandevents/"> People and Events </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/archive/category/premises/"> Premises </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/archive/category/blackholes/"> Quasars and Black Holes </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/archive/category/solarsystem/"> Solar System </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/archive/category/starclusters/"> Star Clusters </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/archive/category/stars/"> Stars </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/archive/category/surveytelescopes/"> Survey Telescopes </a></li></ul></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/comparisons/"> Image Comparisons </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/imageformats/"> Image Formats </a></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/images/potw/"> Picture of the Week <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-98" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/images/potw/archive/year/2025/"> 2025 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/potw/archive/year/2024/"> 2024 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/potw/archive/year/2023/"> 2023 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/potw/archive/year/2022/"> 2022 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/potw/archive/year/2021/"> 2021 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/potw/archive/year/2020/"> 2020 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/potw/archive/year/2019/"> 2019 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/potw/archive/year/2018/"> 2018 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/potw/archive/year/2017/"> 2017 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/potw/archive/year/2016/"> 2016 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/potw/archive/year/2015/"> 2015 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/potw/archive/year/2014/"> 2014 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/potw/archive/year/2013/"> 2013 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/potw/archive/year/2012/"> 2012 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/potw/archive/year/2011/"> 2011 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/potw/archive/year/2010/"> 2010 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/potw/archive/year/2009/"> 2009 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/potw/archive/year/2008/"> 2008 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/potw/archive/year/2007/"> 2007 </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/images/archive/top100/"> Top 100 <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-118" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="https://cdn.eso.org/images/top100-large.zip"> Large JPG Zip File (3.5 GB) </a></li><li class=""><a href="https://cdn.eso.org/images/top100-original.zip"> Original TIF Zip File (50 GB) </a></li></ul></li><li class=""><a href="/public/copyright/"> Usage of ESO Images and Videos </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/archive/wallpapers/"> Wallpapers </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/images/archive/zoomable/"> Zoomable </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </li> <li><a href="/public/videos/">Videos<span class="fa fa-angle-down level0-children-arrows"></span></a> <span class="mobile-children"> <span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span> </span> <div class="level1-wrapper"> <div class="level1"> <ul id="submenu-aim-124" class="submenu-aim"> <li class=""><a href="/public/videos/search/"> Advanced Search </a></li><li class="submenu"><a class="no-link children" href="#"> Categories <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-126" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/videos/archive/category/abouteso/"> About ESO </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/videos/archive/category/alma/"> ALMA </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/videos/archive/category/apex/"> APEX </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/videos/archive/category/chasingstarlight/"> Chasing Starlight </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/videos/archive/category/compilations/"> Compilations </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/videos/archive/category/cosmology/"> Cosmology </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/videos/archive/category/elt/"> ELT </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/videos/archive/category/esocast/"> ESOcast </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/videos/archive/category/events/"> Events </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/videos/archive/category/exoplanets/"> Exoplanets </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/videos/archive/category/featuremovies/"> Feature Movies </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/videos/archive/category/fulldome/"> Fulldome </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/videos/archive/category/galaxies/"> Galaxies </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/videos/archive/category/galaxyclusters/"> Galaxy Clusters </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/videos/archive/category/lasilla/"> La Silla </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/videos/archive/category/nebulae/"> Nebulae </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/videos/archive/category/paranal/"> Paranal </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/videos/archive/category/premises/"> Premises </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/videos/archive/category/blackholes/"> Quasars and Black Holes </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/videos/archive/category/solarsystem/"> Solar System </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/videos/archive/category/starclusters/"> Star Clusters </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/videos/archive/category/stars/"> Stars </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/videos/archive/category/vnr/"> Video News Releases </a></li></ul></li><li class=""><a href="/public/copyright/"> Usage of ESO Videos and Images </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/videoformats/"> Video Formats </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </li> <li class="current current-leaf"><a href="/public/news/">News<span class="fa fa-angle-down level0-children-arrows"></span></a> <span class="mobile-children"> <span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span> </span> <div class="level1-wrapper"> <div class="level1"> <ul id="submenu-aim-152" class="submenu-aim selected"> <li class="submenu"><a href="/public/news/"> Press Releases <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-153" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class="submenu"><a class="no-link children" href="#"> 2021-2030 <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-154" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/2025/"> 2025 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/2024/"> 2024 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/2023/"> 2023 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/2022/"> 2022 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/2021/"> 2021 </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a class="no-link children" href="#"> 2011–2020 <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-160" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/2020/"> 2020 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/2019/"> 2019 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/2018/"> 2018 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/2017/"> 2017 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/2016/"> 2016 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/2015/"> 2015 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/2014/"> 2014 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/2013/"> 2013 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/2012/"> 2012 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/2011/"> 2011 </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a class="no-link children" href="#"> 2001–2010 <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-171" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/2010/"> 2010 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/2009/"> 2009 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/2008/"> 2008 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/2007/"> 2007 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/2006/"> 2006 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/2005/"> 2005 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/2004/"> 2004 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/2003/"> 2003 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/2002/"> 2002 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/2001/"> 2001 </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a class="no-link children" href="#"> 1991–2000 <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-182" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/2000/"> 2000 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/1999/"> 1999 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/1998/"> 1998 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/1997/"> 1997 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/1996/"> 1996 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/1995/"> 1995 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/1994/"> 1994 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/1993/"> 1993 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/1992/"> 1992 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/1991/"> 1991 </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a class="no-link children" href="#"> 1985–1990 <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-193" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/1990/"> 1990 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/1989/"> 1989 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/1988/"> 1988 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/1987/"> 1987 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/1986/"> 1986 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/archive/year/1985/"> 1985 </a></li></ul></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/announcements/"> Announcements <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-200" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/announcements/archive/year/2025/"> 2025 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/announcements/archive/year/2024/"> 2024 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/announcements/archive/year/2023/"> 2023 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/announcements/archive/year/2022/"> 2022 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/announcements/archive/year/2021/"> 2021 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/announcements/archive/year/2020/"> 2020 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/announcements/archive/year/2019/"> 2019 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/announcements/archive/year/2018/"> 2018 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/announcements/archive/year/2017/"> 2017 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/announcements/archive/year/2016/"> 2016 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/announcements/archive/year/2015/"> 2015 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/announcements/archive/year/2014/"> 2014 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/announcements/archive/year/2013/"> 2013 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/announcements/archive/year/2012/"> 2012 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/announcements/archive/year/2011/"> 2011 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/announcements/archive/year/2010/"> 2010 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/announcements/archive/year/2009/"> 2009 </a></li></ul></li><li class=""><a href="https://www.eso.org/public/blog/"> ESOblog </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/announcements/webupdates/"> New on eso.org </a></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/outreach/pressmedia/"> Press Room <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-220" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/outreach/broadcast/"> Broadcast Services </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/outreach/pressmedia/mediavisits/"> Media Visits </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/copyright/"> Copyright Notice </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/newsletters/"> ESO Newsletters <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-224" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/newsletters/esonews/"> ESO News </a></li><li class=""><a href="/sci/publications/newsletter/"> ESO Science Newsletter </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/outreach/newsletters/#2"> ESO Media Newsletter </a></li></ul></li><li class=""><a href="/public/news/pitch-your-research/"> Pitch your Research </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </li> <li><a href="/public/shop/">ESOshop<span class="fa fa-angle-down level0-children-arrows"></span></a> <span class="mobile-children"> <span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span> </span> <div class="level1-wrapper"> <div class="level1"> <ul id="submenu-aim-229" class="submenu-aim"> <li class="submenu"><a href="/public/shop/category/"> Shop Products <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-230" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/shop/category/annualreport/"> Annual Reports </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/shop/category/apparel/"> Apparel </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/shop/category/book/"> Books </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/shop/category/brochure/"> Brochures </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/shop/category/calendar/"> Calendars </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/shop/category/capjournal/"> CAPjournals </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/shop/category/conferenceitem/"> Conferences </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/shop/category/media/"> DVDs/Bluray/CDs </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/shop/category/educationalmaterial/"> Educational Material </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/shop/category/supernovaactivity/"> ESO Supernova Activities </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/shop/category/flyer/"> Flyers </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/shop/category/handout/"> Handouts </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/shop/category/map/"> Maps </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/shop/category/merchandise/"> Merchandise </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/shop/category/messenger/"> Messengers </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/shop/category/mountedimage/"> Mounted Images </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/shop/category/postcard/"> Postcards </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/shop/category/printedposter/"> Posters </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/shop/category/technicaldocument/"> Reports </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/shop/category/sticker/"> Stickers </a></li></ul></li><li class=""><a href="/public/shop/cart/"> View shopping cart </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/shop/checkout/"> Checkout </a></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/shopinfo/"> Information <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-253" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/shopinfo/bulk_orders/"> Bulk Orders </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/shopinfo/"> Purchasing Steps </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/shopinfo/payment/"> Payment </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/shopinfo/shipping/"> Shipping </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/shopinfo/shopstaff/"> Staff Shopping </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/shopinfo/terms/"> Terms & Conditions </a></li></ul></li><li class=""><a href="/public/shop/freeorder/"> Free Orders for Educators and Media </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </li> <li><a href="/public/teles-instr/">Telescopes & Instruments<span class="fa fa-angle-down level0-children-arrows"></span></a> <span class="mobile-children"> <span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span> </span> <div class="level1-wrapper"> <div class="level1"> <ul id="submenu-aim-261" class="submenu-aim"> <li class="submenu"><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/"> Paranal Observatory <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-262" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/"> Very Large Telescope <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-263" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/"> VLT Instruments <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-264" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/4lgsf/"> 4LGSF </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/cubes/"> CUBES </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/crires/"> CRIRES </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/crires+/"> CRIRES+ </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/espresso/"> ESPRESSO </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/eris/"> ERIS </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/flames/"> FLAMES </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/fors/"> FORS1 and FORS2 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/hawk-i/"> HAWK-I </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/isaac/"> ISAAC </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/kmos/"> KMOS </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/mad/"> MAD </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/mavis/"> MAVIS </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/moons/"> MOONS </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/muse/"> MUSE </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/naco/"> NACO </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/sinfoni/"> SINFONI </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/sphere/"> SPHERE </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/uves/"> UVES </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/vimos/"> VIMOS </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/vtl-test-cameras/"> VLT Test Cameras </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/visir/"> VISIR </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/x-shooter/"> X-shooter </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-names/"> VLT Unit Telescopes Names <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-288" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-names/antu/"> Antu </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-names/kueyen/"> Kueyen </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-names/melipal/"> Melipal </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-names/yepun/"> Yepun </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlti/"> VLT Interferometer <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-293" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/gravity+/"> GRAVITY+ </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/gravity/"> GRAVITY </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/matisse/"> MATISSE </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/naomi/"> NAOMI </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/pionier/"> PIONIER </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/amber/"> AMBER </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/midi/"> MIDI </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/vlt-instr/vinci/"> VINCI </a></li></ul></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/auxiliarytelescopes/"> Auxiliary Telescopes </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/surveytelescopes/"> Survey Telescopes <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-303" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/surveytelescopes/vista/"> VISTA <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-304" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/surveytelescopes/vista/mirror/"> The VISTA mirror </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/surveytelescopes/vista/camera/"> VIRCAM </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/surveytelescopes/vista/4most/"> 4MOST </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/surveytelescopes/vista/surveys/"> The VISTA surveys </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/surveytelescopes/vista/consortium/"> The VISTA consortium </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/surveytelescopes/vst/"> VST <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-310" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/surveytelescopes/vst/mirror/"> The VST mirrors </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/surveytelescopes/vst/camera/"> OmegaCAM </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/surveytelescopes/vst/surveys/"> The VST surveys </a></li></ul></li></ul></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/speculoos/"> SPECULOOS </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/ngts/"> NGTS </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/ctao/"> Cherenkov Telescope Array Observatory </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/"> La Silla Observatory <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-317" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/swedish/"> Swedish–ESO Submillimetre Telescope <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-318" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/swedish/simba/"> SIMBA </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/ntt/"> New Technology Telescope <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-320" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/ntt/efosc2/"> EFOSC2 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/ntt/emmi/"> EMMI </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/ntt/irspec/"> IRSPEC </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/ntt/sofi/"> SOFI </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/ntt/soxs/"> SOXS </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/ntt/susi2/"> SUSI and SUSI2 </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/36/"> ESO 3.6-metre telescope <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-327" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/36/adonis/"> ADONIS </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/36/caspec/"> CASPEC </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/36/irspec/"> IRSPEC </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/36/harps/"> HARPS </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/36/mefos/"> MEFOS </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/36/nirps/"> NIRPS </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/36/optopus/"> OPTOPUS </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/36/timmi2/"> TIMMI/2 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/36/36-infrared-photometer-spectrophotometer/"> Infrared Photometer/Spectrophotometer </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/36/36-standard-photometer/"> Standard Photometer </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/36/infrared-specklegraph/"> Infrared Specklegraph </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/36/infrared-speckle-interferometer/"> Infrared Speckle Interferometer </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/36/efosc/"> EFOSC </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/mpg22/"> MPG/ESO 2.2-metre telescope <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-341" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/mpg22/feros/"> FEROS </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/mpg22/grond/"> GROND </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/mpg22/irac2/"> IRAC & IRAC2 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/mpg22/pisco/"> PISCO </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/mpg22/wfi/"> WFI </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/mpg22/infrared-photometer-spectrophotometer/"> Infrared Photometer/Spectrophotometer </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/swiss/"> Swiss 1.2-metre Leonhard Euler Telescope <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-348" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/swiss/coralie/"> CORALIE </a></li></ul></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/rem/"> Rapid Eye Mount telescope </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/trappist/"> TRAnsiting Planets and PlanetesImals Small Telescope–South </a></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/danish154/"> Danish 1.54-metre telescope <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-352" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/danish154/coravel/"> CORAVEL </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/danish154/dfosc/"> DFOSC </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/danish154/ccd/"> CCD camera </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/danish154/hb-photometer/"> Hβ Photometer </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/danish154/two-channel-photometer/"> Two-Channel Photometer </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/danish154/four-channel-photometer/"> Four-Channel Photometer </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/danish154/six-channel-photometer/"> Six-Channel uvby-Hβ Photometer </a></li></ul></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/tarot/"> Télescope à Action Rapide pour les Objets Transitoires </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/1mschmidt/"> ESO 1-metre Schmidt telescope </a></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/152metre/"> ESO 1.52-metre telescope <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-362" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/152metre/bandc/"> Boller and Chivens Spectrograph </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/152metre/coude/"> Coudé Spectrograph </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/152metre/echelec/"> ECHELEC </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/152metre/rv-cass-spectrograph/"> RV Cass Spectrograph </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/1metre/"> ESO 1-metre telescope <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-367" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/1metre/fideos/"> FIDEOS </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/1metre/infrared-photometer/"> Infrared Photometer </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/1metre/single-channel-photometer/"> Single-Channel Photometer </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/05metre/"> ESO 0.5-metre telescope <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-371" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/05metre/single-channel-photometer/"> Single-Channel Photometer </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/05metre/double-channel-photometer/"> Double-Channel Photometer </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/coude/"> Coudé Auxiliary Telescope <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-374" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/coude/ces/"> CES </a></li></ul></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/marly/"> MarLy 1-metre telescope </a></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/09metre/"> Dutch 0.9-metre telescope <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-377" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/09metre/walraven/"> Walraven Photometer </a></li></ul></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/t70/"> Swiss T70 telescope </a></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/bochum/"> Bochum 0.61-metre telescope <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-380" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/bochum/bochum-scanner/"> Bochum Scanner </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/bochum/bochum-photometer/"> Bochum Photometer </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/danish05/"> Danish 0.5-metre telescope <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-383" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/danish05/danish-two-channel-hb-photometer/"> Two-Channel Hβ Photometer </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/danish05/danish-four-channel-uvby-photometer/"> Four-Channel uvby Photometer </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/danish05/danish-six-channel-uvby-hb-photometer/"> Six-Channel uvby–Hβ Photometer </a></li></ul></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/gpo/"> Grand Prisme Objectif telescope </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/swiss04/"> Swiss 0.4-metre telescope </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/marseille/"> Marseille 0.36-metre telescope </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/grb/"> GRB Monitoring System </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/mascara/"> MASCARA </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/blackgem/"> BlackGEM </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/extra/"> ExTrA </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/lasilla/test-bed/"> Test-Bed Telescope </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/teles-instr/apex/"> APEX <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-395" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/apex/apex-2a/"> APEX–2A </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/apex/artemis/"> ArTéMiS </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/apex/aszca/"> ASZCa </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/apex/champ-plus/"> CHAMP+ </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/apex/concerto/"> CONCERTO </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/apex/flash/"> FLASH </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/apex/flash-plus/"> FLASH+ </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/apex/laboca/"> LABOCA </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/apex/mpi_11thz/"> MPI_1.1THz </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/apex/p-artemis/"> P-ArTéMiS </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/apex/pi230/"> PI230 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/apex/polka/"> PolKa </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/apex/saboca/"> SABOCA </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/apex/sepia/"> SEPIA </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/apex/shefi/"> SHeFI </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/teles-instr/alma/"> ALMA <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-411" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/alma/antennas/"> Antennas </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/alma/transporters/"> Transporters </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/alma/interferometry/"> Interferometry </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/alma/receiver-bands/"> Receiver Bands </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/alma/residencia/"> ALMA Residencia </a></li></ul></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/elt/"> ELT </a></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/teles-instr/technology/"> Technology for Telescopes <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-418" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/technology/active_optics/"> Active Optics </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/technology/adaptive_optics/"> Adaptive Optics </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/technology/ifu/"> Integral Field Units </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/technology/interferometry/"> Interferometry </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/technology/spectroscopy/"> Spectroscopy </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/technology/polarimetry/"> Polarimetry </a></li></ul></li><li class=""><a href="/public/teles-instr/instruments/"> Instruments </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </li> <li><a href="/public/science/">Discoveries<span class="fa fa-angle-down level0-children-arrows"></span></a> <span class="mobile-children"> <span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span> </span> <div class="level1-wrapper"> <div class="level1"> <ul id="submenu-aim-426" class="submenu-aim"> <li class=""><a href="/public/science/key-discoveries/"> ESO Key Astronomical Discoveries </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/science/exoplanets/"> Exoplanets </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/science/gravitationalwaves/"> Gravitational Wave Sources </a></li><li class="submenu"><a class="no-link children" href="#"> Black Holes <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-430" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="https://www.eso.org/public/science/event-horizon/"> First image of a black hole </a></li><li class=""><a href="https://www.eso.org/public/science/EHT-MilkyWay/"> First image of the Milky Way central black hole </a></li><li class=""><a href="https://www.eso.org/public/science/gc/"> More about the black hole at the galactic centre </a></li></ul></li><li class=""><a href="/public/science/grb/"> Gamma-Ray Bursts </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/science/archive/"> Science Archive </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </li> <li><a href="/public/events/">Events<span class="fa fa-angle-down level0-children-arrows"></span></a> <span class="mobile-children"> <span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span> </span> <div class="level1-wrapper"> <div class="level1"> <ul id="submenu-aim-436" class="submenu-aim"> <li class=""><a href="/public/events/press-evt/"> Press Events </a></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/events/special-evt/"> Special Events <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-438" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="https://www.eso.org/public/events/special-evt/60years/"> ESO at 60 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/events/special-evt/eeltblast/"> ELT Groundbreaking </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/events/special-evt/cafe-and-kosmos/"> Café & Kosmos in Munich </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/events/special-evt/awesome-universe/"> Awesome Universe </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/events/special-evt/100ha/"> 100 Hours of Astronomy </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/events/special-evt/theeye/"> The Eye 3D </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/events/special-evt/imax-hidden-universe/"> IMAX® 3D Film Hidden Universe </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/outreach/bond/"> Bond at Paranal </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/events/exhibitions/"> Exhibitions <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-447" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/events/exhibitions/perma_exhibitions/"> ESO Permanent Exhibitions </a></li><li class=""><a href="https://www.esof.eu/"> EuroScience Open Forum (ESOF) </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/events/astro-evt/"> Astronomical Events <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-450" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/events/astro-evt/solareclipse2019/"> Total Solar Eclipse 2019 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/events/astro-evt/mcnaught2007/"> The Comet McNaught 2007 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/events/astro-evt/deepimpact/"> Deep Impact - 04.07.2005 </a></li><li class=""><a href="https://www.eso.org/public/outreach/eduoff/vt-2004/"> The Venus Transit - 08.11.2004 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/events/astro-evt/leonids99/"> The Leonids - 17.11.1999 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/events/astro-evt/eclipse99/"> Solar Eclipse at ESO HQ - 11.08.1999 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/events/astro-evt/leonids98/"> The Leonids - 11.1998 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/events/astro-evt/pathfinder/"> Mars Pathfinder - 1997 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/events/astro-evt/hyakutake/"> Comet Hyakutake - 1997 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/events/astro-evt/sl9/"> SL-9 and Jupiter - 1994 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/events/astro-evt/hale-bopp/"> Comet Hale Bopp - 1994 </a></li></ul></li> </ul> </div> </div> </li> <li><a href="/public/outreach/">Outreach<span class="fa fa-angle-down level0-children-arrows"></span></a> <span class="mobile-children"> <span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span> </span> <div class="level1-wrapper"> <div class="level1"> <ul id="submenu-aim-462" class="submenu-aim"> <li class="submenu"><a href="/public/outreach/eduoff/"> Education <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-463" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/products/education/"> Educational Material </a></li><li class=""><a href="https://www.scienceinschool.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> Science in School </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/outreach/eduoff/teacherschools/"> Teacher Schools </a></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/outreach/eduoff/prev-programmes/"> Previous Programmes <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-467" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="https://www.eso.org/public/outreach/eduoff/prev-programmes/catch-a-star/"> Catch a Star </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/outreach/eduoff/liu/"> Life in the Universe </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/outreach/eduoff/pos/"> Physics On Stage </a></li></ul></li><li class=""><a href="http://kids.alma.cl/?lang=en"> ALMA Kids </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/outreach/partnerships/"> Partnerships <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-472" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/outreach/partnerships/translators/"> Volunteer Translators </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/outreach/partnerships/eson/"> ESO Science Outreach Network </a></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/outreach/partnerships/chile/"> Collaborations in Chile <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-475" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/outreach/partnerships/chile/2010/"> 2010 </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/outreach/partnerships/chile/2009/"> 2009 </a></li></ul></li><li class=""><a href="/public/outreach/partnerships/organisations/"> ESO Outreach Partner Organisations </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/outreach/partnerships/educators/"> Informal Educators </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/outreach/partnerships/photo-ambassadors/"> ESO Photo Ambassadors </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/outreach/partnerships/music-ambassadors/"> ESO Music Ambassadors </a></li></ul></li><li class=""><a href="https://www.eso.org/public/outreach/first-picture-of-a-black-hole/blog/"> Taking the First Picture of a Black Hole </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/outreach/gems/"> Cosmic Gems </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/outreach/social/"> Social Media </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/outreach/for_planetariums/"> For Planetariums </a></li><li class=""><a href="https://www.eso.org/public/outreach/webcams/"> Webcams </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/outreach/your_eso_pictures/"> Your ESO Pictures </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/outreach/astroprize/"> European Astronomy Journalism Prize </a></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/outreach/department/"> Our Team <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-489" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/outreach/department/students/"> Students and Visitors </a></li><li class=""><a href="https://supernova.eso.org/join-us/"> Join us </a></li></ul></li><li class=""><a href="https://supernova.eso.org/"> ESO Supernova </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/outreach/data2dome/"> Data2Dome </a></li><li class=""><a href="https://www.eso.org/public/blog/"> ESOblog </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/outreach/starsateso/"> Stars@ESO </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/outreach/ai-disclaimer/"> AI Disclaimer </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </li> <li><a href="/public/products/">Products<span class="fa fa-angle-down level0-children-arrows"></span></a> <span class="mobile-children"> <span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span> </span> <div class="level1-wrapper"> <div class="level1"> <ul id="submenu-aim-497" class="submenu-aim"> <li class="submenu"><a class="no-link children" href="#"> Audiovisual and multimedia <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-498" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/products/models3d/"> 3D models </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/applications/"> Apps </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/media/"> DVDs and CDs </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/imaxfilms/"> IMAX movies </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/minisites/"> Mini-sites </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/music/"> Music </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/planetariumshows/"> Planetarium shows </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/presentations/"> Presentations </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/soundscapes/"> Soundscapes </a></li><li class=""><a href="https://www.eso.org/public/products/virtualbackgrounds/"> Virtual Backgrounds </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/virtualtours/"> Virtual Tours </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a class="no-link children" href="#"> Periodicals <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-510" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/products/messengers/"> Messenger </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/capjournals/"> CAPjournal </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/schools/"> Science in School </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a class="no-link children" href="#"> Print products <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-514" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/products/annualreports/"> Annual Reports </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/books/"> Books </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/brochures/"> Brochures </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/bulletins/"> Bulletins </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/calendars/"> Calendars </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/conf_posters/"> Conference posters </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/flyers/"> Flyers </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/handouts/"> Handouts </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/maps/"> Maps </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/presskits/"> Press kits </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/reports/"> Reports </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/postcards/"> Postcards </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/stickers/"> Stickers </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/print_posters/"> Printed posters </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/papermodels/"> Paper models </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/products/merchandise/"> Merchandise <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-530" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/products/merchandise/"> Merchandise </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/apparel/"> Apparel </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/mountedimages/"> Mounted images </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/stationery/"> Stationery </a></li></ul></li><li class="submenu"><a class="no-link children" href="#"> Electronic products <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-535" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/products/electroniccards/"> Electronic cards </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/elec_posters/"> Electronic posters </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/epublications/"> ePublications </a></li><li class=""><a href="https://www.eso.org/public/products/virtualbackgrounds/"> Virtual Backgrounds </a></li></ul></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/education/"> Educational material </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/exhibitions/"> Exhibition material </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/products/logos/"> Logos </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/shop/"> Order in ESOshop </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </li> <li><a href="/public/industry/">Business@ESO<span class="fa fa-angle-down level0-children-arrows"></span></a> <span class="mobile-children"> <span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span> </span> <div class="level1-wrapper"> <div class="level1"> <ul id="submenu-aim-544" class="submenu-aim"> <li class=""><a href="/public/industry/cp.html"> Procurement at ESO </a></li><li class=""><a href="https://www.eso.org/public/industry/events/"> Industry Events </a></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/industry/techtrans/"> Technology Transfer <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-547" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/industry/techtrans/technology-developed-by-industry-or-institutes/"> Technology Developed by Industries </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/industry/techtrans/develeso/"> Novel technologies by ESO </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/industry/techtrans/developments/"> ESO know-how </a></li></ul></li><li class=""><a href="/public/industry/projects/"> Projects </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/industry/contact/"> Contact Information </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </li> <li><a href="https://recruitment.eso.org/">Career Opportunities<span class="fa fa-angle-down level0-children-arrows"></span></a> <span class="mobile-children"> <span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span> </span> <div class="level1-wrapper"> <div class="level1"> <ul id="submenu-aim-553" class="submenu-aim"> <li class=""><a href="https://recruitment.eso.org/"> Recruitment </a></li><li class="submenu"><a href="/public/jobs/conditions/"> Employment Conditions <span class="desktop-children topmenu-arrow fa fa-angle-right"></span></a><span class="mobile-children"><span class="fa fa-angle-down"></span></span><ul id="submenu-aim-555" class="submenu-aim sublevel"><li class=""><a href="/public/jobs/conditions/intstaff/"> International Staff Members </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/jobs/conditions/localstaff/"> Local Staff Members (Spanish / English) </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/jobs/conditions/fellows/"> Fellows </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/jobs/conditions/students/"> Students </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/jobs/conditions/paidassoc/"> Paid Associates </a></li></ul></li><li class=""><a href="/public/jobs/working-at-eso/"> Working at ESO </a></li><li class=""><a href="/public/jobs/other-information/"> Other Information </a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </li> </ul> </div> </nav> <div id="content" class=""> <div id="eso-side-logo"> <a href="/public/"> <div data-spy="affix" class="affix"> <div class="sprites-esologo"></div> <span>European<br>Southern<br>Observatory</span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="container " id="body"> <div class="row no-page"> <div class="col-md-12"> </div> </div> <div class="row page"> <div class="col-md-9 left-column"> <h3 class="pr_typeid">Press Release</h3> <h1 class="pr_title">Stars and Skulls: new ESO image reveals eerie nebula</h1> <p class="date">30 October 2020</p> <div class="archive-image popup"> <a class="popup" href="https://cdn.eso.org/images/screen/eso2019a.jpg" title="New ESO’s VLT image of the Skull Nebula"> <div class="image-container"> <img class="img-responsive" src="https://cdn.eso.org/images/newsfeature/eso2019a.jpg" class="pr_news_feature_img img-responsive" style="padding:0;" alt="New ESO’s VLT image of the Skull Nebula" /> </div> </a> <a class="popup" href="https://cdn.eso.org/images/screen/eso2019b.jpg" title="The Skull Nebula in the constellation of Cetus (The Whale)" class="hidden"></a><a class="popup" href="https://cdn.eso.org/images/screen/eso2019c.jpg" title="The sky around the Skull Nebula" class="hidden"></a> </div> </p> <p class="text_intro pr_first">This ethereal remnant of a long dead star, nestled in the belly of The Whale, bears an uneasy resemblance to a skull floating through space. Captured in astounding detail by ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT), the eerie Skull Nebula is showcased in this new image in beautiful bloodshot colours. This planetary nebula is the first known to be associated with a pair of closely bound stars orbited by a third outer star.</p> <p id="docs-internal-guid-60851055-7fff-ad47-26b9-d04b70f0806c" dir="ltr">Also known as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NGC_246">NGC 246</a>, the Skull Nebula lies about 1600 light-years away from Earth in the southern constellation of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cetus">Cetus</a> (The Whale). It formed when a Sun-like star expelled its outer layers in its old age, leaving behind its naked core — a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_dwarf">white dwarf</a> — one of two stars that can be seen at the very centre of NGC 246. </p> <p dir="ltr">Even though this nebula has been known for centuries, only in 2014 did astronomers discover, using ESO’s VLT, that the white dwarf and its companion are concealing a third star situated at the heart of the Skull Nebula. This star, which is not visible in this image, is a dim <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Red_dwarf">red dwarf</a> that sits close to the white dwarf at about 500 times the distance between Earth and the Sun. The red and white dwarf stars orbit each other as a pair, and the outer star orbits the two dwarfs at a distance of around 1900 times the Earth-Sun separation. Collectively, these three stars establish NGC 246 as the first known planetary nebula with a <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_system#Hierarchical_systems">hierarchical triple stellar system</a> at its centre.</p> <p dir="ltr">Taken by the <a href="http://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/vlt/vlt-instr/fors/">FORS 2</a> instrument on ESO's VLT in the Chilean Atacama Desert, this new image of the Skull Nebula intentionally captures light emitted in some narrow ranges of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wavelength">wavelengths</a> — those associated with hydrogen and oxygen gas. Observations of light emitted by particular elements help reveal a wealth of information about an object’s chemical and structural compositions. This new image of the Skull Nebula highlights where NGC 246 is rich or poor in hydrogen (shown in red) and oxygen (depicted in light blue).</p> <p dir="ltr">This image was selected as part of the <a href="http://www.eso.org/public/outreach/gems.html">ESO Cosmic Gems programme</a>, an outreach initiative to produce images of interesting, intriguing or visually attractive objects using ESO telescopes, for the purposes of education and public outreach. The programme makes use of telescope time that cannot be used for science observations. All data collected may also be suitable for scientific purposes, and are made available to astronomers through ESO’s science archive.</p> <h3>More information</h3><p id="docs-internal-guid-e83ab140-7fff-d129-6ec8-27a056131105" dir="ltr">ESO is the foremost intergovernmental astronomy organisation in Europe and the world’s most productive ground-based astronomical observatory by far. It has 16 Member States: Austria, Belgium, Czechia, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, along with the host state of Chile and with Australia as a Strategic Partner. ESO carries out an ambitious programme focused on the design, construction and operation of powerful ground-based observing facilities enabling astronomers to make important scientific discoveries. ESO also plays a leading role in promoting and organising cooperation in astronomical research. ESO operates three unique world-class observing sites in Chile: La Silla, Paranal and Chajnantor. At Paranal, ESO operates the Very Large Telescope and its world-leading Very Large Telescope Interferometer as well as two survey telescopes, VISTA working in the infrared and the visible-light VLT Survey Telescope. Also at Paranal ESO will host and operate the Cherenkov Telescope Array South, the world’s largest and most sensitive gamma-ray observatory. ESO is also a major partner in two facilities on Chajnantor, APEX and ALMA, the largest astronomical project in existence. And on Cerro Armazones, close to Paranal, ESO is building the 39-metre Extremely Large Telescope, the ELT, which will become “the world’s biggest eye on the sky”.</p> <h3>Links</h3><ul> <li dir="ltr"><a href="https://www.eso.org/public/outreach/gems/">ESO Cosmic Gems programme</a></li> <li dir="ltr"><a href="http://www.eso.org/public/images/archive/category/paranal/">Photos of the VLT</a></li> <li dir="ltr"><a href="http://eso.org/sci/publications/announcements/sciann17277.html">For scientists: got a story? Pitch your research</a></li> </ul> <h3>Contacts</h3> <p> Bárbara Ferreira<br /> ESO Public Information Officer<br /> Garching bei München, Germany<br /> Tel: +49 89 3200 6670<br /> Cell: +49 151 241 664 00<br /> Email: <a href="mailto:pio@eso.org">pio@eso.org</a></p> <p><a href="/public/outreach/social/">Connect with ESO on social media</a></p> <div class="copyright"> <a href="/public/outreach/copyright/">Usage of ESO Images, Videos, Web texts and Music</a><br /> <a href="/public/outreach/pressmedia/#epodpress_form">Are you a journalist? Subscribe to the ESO Media Newsletter in your language.</a> </div> </div> <div class="col-md-3 right-column"> <div class="archive-search"><a href="/public/news/search/" class="advanced-search" data-container="body" data-toggle="tooltip" data-placement="left" title="Advanced Search"><span class="fa fa-plus"></span></a><form class="form-inline" role="form" action="/public/news/" method="GET"><div class="form-group"><div class="input-group"><input id="id_archivesearch" type="text" value="" placeholder="Search Press Releases..." name="search" class="form-control input-sm" /><span class="input-group-btn"><button class="btn btn-default btn-sm" type="submit"><span class="fa fa-search"></span></button></span></div></div></form></div> <div class="object-info"><h3>About the Release</h3><div><table><tr><td class="title">Release No.:</td><td>eso2019</td></tr><tr><td class="title">Name:</td><td><a href="https://simbad.u-strasbg.fr/simbad/sim-id?Ident=NGC246">NGC246</a></td></tr><tr><td class="title">Type:</td><td>Milky Way : Star : Evolutionary Stage : White Dwarf<br />Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Planetary</td></tr><tr><td class="title">Facility:</td><td><a href="https://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/paranal-observatory/vlt/">Very Large Telescope</a></td></tr><tr><td class="title">Instruments:</td><td><a href="https://www.eso.org/public/teles-instr/vlt/vlt-instr/fors/">FORS2</a></td></tr></table></div></div> <div class="embedded-list"> <h3>Images</h3> <div class="embedded-list-image"> <a href="/public/images/eso2019a/"> <img class="img-responsive" src="https://cdn.eso.org/images/news/eso2019a.jpg" alt="New ESO’s VLT image of the Skull Nebula" /> </a> <div><a href="/public/images/eso2019a/">PR Image eso2019a</a></div> <div>New ESO’s VLT image of the Skull Nebula </div> </div> <div class="embedded-list-image"> <a href="/public/images/eso2019b/"> <img class="img-responsive" src="https://cdn.eso.org/images/news/eso2019b.jpg" alt="The Skull Nebula in the constellation of Cetus (The Whale)" /> </a> <div><a href="/public/images/eso2019b/">PR Image eso2019b</a></div> <div>The Skull Nebula in the constellation of Cetus (The Whale) </div> </div> <div class="embedded-list-image"> <a href="/public/images/eso2019c/"> <img class="img-responsive" src="https://cdn.eso.org/images/news/eso2019c.jpg" alt="The sky around the Skull Nebula" /> </a> <div><a href="/public/images/eso2019c/">PR Image eso2019c</a></div> <div>The sky around the Skull Nebula </div> </div> </div> <hr> <div class="embedded-list"> <h3>Videos</h3> <div class="embedded-list-video"> <a href="/public/videos/eso2019a/"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://cdn.eso.org/videos/news/eso2019a.jpg" alt="ESOcast 232 Light: Stars and Skulls" /></a> <div><a href="/public/videos/eso2019a/">PR Video eso2019a</a></div> <div>ESOcast 232 Light: Stars and Skulls </div> </div> <div class="embedded-list-video"> <a href="/public/videos/eso2019b/"><img class="img-responsive" src="https://cdn.eso.org/videos/news/eso2019b.jpg" alt="Zooming in on the Skull Nebula" /></a> <div><a href="/public/videos/eso2019b/">PR Video eso2019b</a></div> <div>Zooming in on the Skull Nebula </div> </div> <hr> </div> </div> </div>  <div class="row footernote"> <div class="col-xs-12 col-md-3"> <a href="mailto:information@eso.org">Send us your comments!</a> </div> <div class="col-xs-12 col-md-3"> <a href="/public/outreach/newsletters/esonews/">Subscribe to receive news from ESO in your language</a> </div> <div class="col-xs-12 col-md-3"> <a href="https://www.cdn77.com">Accelerated by CDN77</a> </div> <div class="col-xs-12 col-md-3"> <a href="/public/about-eso/privacy/">Terms & Conditions</a> </div> </div> <link href="/public/archives/djp/css/extras.d3e54451ebbb.css" rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" /> <script type="text/javascript">var MEDIA_URL = "/public/archives/"</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/public/archives/djp/js/main.86aaf133ddd1.js" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> </script> </div>  <div id="social-share" class="hidden-print"> <div class="link facebook" data-toggle="tooltip" data-placement="right" title="Share on Facebook"> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2019/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i class="fa-brands fa-facebook-f" aria-hidden="true"></i></a> </div> <div class="link twitter" data-toggle="tooltip" data-placement="right" title="Share on X/Twitter"> <a href="https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2019/&text=This ethereal remnant of a long dead star, nestled in the belly of The Whale, bears an uneasy resemblance to a skull floating through space. Captured in astounding detail by ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT), the eerie Skull Nebula is showcased in this new image in beautiful bloodshot colours. This planetary nebula is the first known to be associated with a pair of closely bound stars orbited by a third outer star.&via=ESO" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i class="fa-brands fa-x-twitter"></i></i></a> </div> <div class="link pinterest" data-toggle="tooltip" data-placement="right" title="Share on Pinterest"> <a href="https://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2019/&media=&description=This ethereal remnant of a long dead star, nestled in the belly of The Whale, bears an uneasy resemblance to a skull floating through space. Captured in astounding detail by ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT), the eerie Skull Nebula is showcased in this new image in beautiful bloodshot colours. This planetary nebula is the first known to be associated with a pair of closely bound stars orbited by a third outer star." target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i class="fa-brands fa-pinterest-p" aria-hidden="true"></i></a> </div> <div class="link print" data-toggle="tooltip" data-placement="right" title="Print"> <a href="javascript:window.print()" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i class="fa fa-print" aria-hidden="true"></i></a> </div> <div class="link email" data-toggle="tooltip" data-placement="right" title="Share by email"> <a href="mailto:%20?subject=ESO — This ethereal remnant of a long dead star, nestled in the belly of The Whale, bears an uneasy resemblance to a skull floating through space. Captured in astounding detail by ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT), the eerie Skull Nebula is showcased in this new image in beautiful bloodshot colours. This planetary nebula is the first known to be associated with a pair of closely bound stars orbited by a third outer star.&body=https://www.eso.org/public/news/eso2019/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"><i class="fa-regular fa-envelope" aria-hidden="true"></i></a> </div> </div> <script> $('[data-toggle="tooltip"]').tooltip(); </script> <input type='hidden' name='csrfmiddlewaretoken' value='JPwwrjl99iYRrEUB2CyAXvLqtSFr4RIkzWBaguELC6NyvKW613K36lBdkya5Tkuc' /> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Stars and Skulls: new ESO image reveals eerie nebula | ESO