New telescope in Chile unveils stunning first images

[Judi Lynn]

New telescope in Chile unveils stunning first images
A state-of-the-art look at Messier 17 and Omega Centauri captured in debut
updated 1 hour 12 minutes ago 2011-06-08T17:02:24

http://msnbcmedia2.msn.com.nyud.net:8090/j/MSNBC/Components/Photo/_new/110608-TelescopePhoto-hmed-0930a.grid-6x2.jpg

ESO / INAF-VST/OmegaCAM. (Thanks to: A. Grado / INAF-Capodimonte Observatory)
The first-released VST image shows the spectacular star-forming region Messier 17, also
known as the Omega nebula or the Swan nebula, as it has never been seen before. This
vast region of gas, dust and hot young stars lies in the heart of the Milky Way in the
constellation of Sagittarius (The Archer).

A new state-of-the-art telescope has snapped its first impressive images of the southern sky over the Paranal Observatory in Chile.

The VLT Survey Telescope (VST) is the latest addition to the European Southern Observatory's network of telescopes at Paranal in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile. The first image released from the VST shows the spectacular star-forming region Messier 17, also known as the Omega nebula or the Swan nebula, as it has never been seen before.

This nebula, full of gas, dust and hot young stars, lies in the heart of our Milky Way galaxy, in the constellation of Sagittarius (The Archer). The VST's field of view is so large that is able to observe the entire nebula, including its fainter outer parts.

The second of the newly released images is a portrait of the star cluster Omega Centauri in unprecedented detail. Omega Centauri is the largest globular cluster in the sky and the VST's view includes about 300,000 stars.

More:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43327761/ns/technology_and_science-space/

[damntexdem]

1. Oh, I thought they found some way to target Weiner's crotch.

;-)

[Judi Lynn]

3. DU trolls will probably see your post & forward the idea! n/t

[Thor_MN]

4. Right wingers reading a science forum?

:rofl:

[Auggie]

2. Mind-blowing