The new VISTA telescope at the Paranal Observatory in Chile (the Visible and InfraredSurvey Telescope for Astronomy) has captured a great new image of the Sculptor Galaxy(NGC 253), and this video allows you to zoom in for a closer look. The sequence starts with a wide view of the southern sky far from the Milky Way. Only a few stars are visible, but then VISTA brings us in closer where the view shifts to the very detailed new infrared image of NGC 253 provided by the new telescope at Paranal. By observing in infrared light VISTA’s view is less affected by dust and reveals a myriad of cooler stars as well as a prominent bar of stars across the central region. The VISTA image provides much new information on the history and development of the galaxy.
Thursday September 9th 2010

