Close-up: Galaxy NGC 1637 in Eridanus | European Southern Observatory

Close-up: Galaxy NGC 1637 in Eridanus | European Southern Observatory

This pan sequence from the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope (VLT) takes a close look at the Paranal Observatory in Chile shows NGC 1637, a spiral galaxy located about 38 million light-years away in the constellation of Eridanus (The River). In 1999, scientists discovered a Type II supernova in this galaxy and followed its slow fading over the following years. The position of the supernova is marked.

A Type II (Type 2) supernova is a violent explosion occurring at the end of a massive star's life (at least 8–50 solar masses) caused by the rapid core collapse of an iron core. These events are distinguished by the presence of hydrogen spectral lines and occur in spiral galaxies' star-forming regions, leaving behind a neutron star or black hole.

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)

Duration: 46 seconds
Release Date: March 20, 2013

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