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Image of the Serpens constellation taken by the European Southern Observatory was launched on Wednesday. Photo courtesy of the European Southern Observatory
Jan. 4 (UPI) — The European Southern Observatory mentioned Wednesday that its Chile-based telescope has given the clearest image but of the “Serpens” constellation.
The constellation, named by historical Greek sky watchers as a result of the sample resembled a snake, has numerous other astronomical objects unseen by the bare eye, ESO researchers mentioned. Formally referred to as the Sh2-54 nebulae, the constellation was cataloged together with 300 others by U.S. astronomer Stewart Sharpless within the Fifties.
The new particulars had been captured by the Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy, or VISTA, primarily based on the Paranal Observatory in Chile.
“Nebulae are vast clouds of gas and dust from which stars are born,” the ESO mentioned in a press release. “Telescopes have allowed astronomers to determine and analyze these moderately faint objects in beautiful element.
“Just as the snake, the namesake of this nebula, evolved the ability to sense infrared light to better understand its environment, so too have we developed infrared instruments to learn more about the universe.”
Researchers mentioned using infrared gentle has allowed them to look previous the thick layers of mud nearly unimpeded. The new pictures reveal stars lengthy hidden from mankind by veils of mud.
“This is particularly useful as it allows scientists to study what happens in stellar nurseries in much greater detail, and thus learn more about how stars form,” ESO mentioned. “This is a multiyear project that has repeatedly observed a large portion of the Milky Way at infrared wavelengths, providing key data to understand stellar evolution.”
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