Thor’s Helmet Nebula

Thor’s Helmet Nebula as captured by ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT). Credit: ESO/B. Bailleul

The above image of Thor’s Helmet Nebula was chosen as the winner of a competition during ESO’s 50th anniversary celebration. The nebula is located roughly 15,000 light-years away from Earth and is over 30 light-years across.

This VLT image of the Thor’s Helmet Nebula was taken on the occasion of ESO’s 50th Anniversary, 5 October 2012, with the help of Brigitte Bailleul — winner of the Tweet Your Way to the VLT! competition. The observations were broadcast live over the internet from the Paranal Observatory in Chile. This object, also known as NGC 2359, lies in the constellation of Canis Major (The Great Dog). The helmet-shaped nebula is around 15,000 light-years away from Earth and is over 30 light-years across. The helmet is a cosmic bubble, blown as the wind from the bright, massive star near the bubble’s center sweeps through the surrounding molecular cloud.

This video takes a close look at a new VLT image of the Thor’s Helmet Nebula.

This video sequence starts with a broad view of the Milky Way before closing in on the sky close to the familiar bright star Sirius. The final sequence shows a new VLT image of the Thor’s Helmet Nebula taken on the occasion of ESO’s 50th Anniversary, 5 October 2012, with the help of Brigitte Bailleul — winner of the Tweet Your Way to the VLT! competition.