High-resolution image of the young binary star Theta 1 Orionis C

http://www.astronomy.com/asy/default.aspx?c=a&id=8081
from Sins Forums

Because we need more astronomy in the forums of a sci-fi game....

A team of astronomers, led by Stefan Kraus and Gerd Weigelt from the Max Planck Institute for Radio Astronomy (MPIfR) in Bonn, Germany, used European Southern Observatory's (ESO) Very Large Telescope Interferometer (VLTI) to obtain the sharpest image of the young double star Theta 1 Orionis C in the Orion Trapezium Cluster. It is the most massive star in the nearest high-mass star-forming region. The new image clearly separates the two massive young stars of this system. The observations have a spatial resolution of about 2 milliarcseconds, corresponding to the size of a car on the surface of the Moon. The team was able to derive the properties of the orbit of this binary system, including the masses of the two stars — 38 and 9 solar masses — and their distance from us — 1,350 light-years. The results show the fascinating new possibilities of high-resolution stellar imaging achievable with infrared interferometry.

...

Although Theta 1 Ori C appeared to be a single star, both with conventional telescopes and the Hubble Space Telescope, the team discovered the existence of a close companion. "VLTI interferometry with the AMBER instrument allowed us to obtain an image of this system with the spectacular angular resolution of only 2 milliarcseconds," Kraus said. "This corresponds to the resolving power of a space telescope with a mirror diameter of 427 feet (130 meters)." The VLTI image reveals that in March 2008 the angular distance between the two stars was only about 20 milliarcseconds.


I am dispatching a fleet immediately to investigate.  A bunch of Seeker vessels should do the trick....

off-topic
21,013 views 5 replies
Reply #1 from Elemental Forums Top

I'm in the forums of a fantasy game, but I still understand what you mean.

 

Man, you totally threw me a trick ball.   I thought I was going to come here to see some sexy nasa images.   but no!  just talking about sexy nasa pictures. 

 

Binary stars are cool,  but wake me up when they manage to image a planet.

Reply #2 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting landisaurus, reply 1
but no!  just talking about sexy nasa pictures.

You obviously didn't click the link :P

Somewhat sexy NASA image

It's not that sexy but at least it shows what the fuss is all about :D

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Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top

Neat!

Reply #4 from Elemental Forums Top

Thus we developed thge tech "Sensor II" from GalCivII then? Cool!

 

No honestly, this is awesome!

Reply #5 from Elemental Forums Top

Quoting piderman, reply 2

It's not that sexy but at least it shows what the fuss is all about

right, well that is what I meant too.   that is a pretty 'meh' radio image (at least I assume its a radio image...   I don't see where it says how they got that.  Its obviously not visual light though)