Debris ring around a star: annotated

This view points out important features in the image, such as the ring's inner and outer edges. Astronomers used the Advanced Camera for Surveys' (ACS) coronagraph aboard Hubble to block out the light from the bright star so they could see the faint ring. Despite the coronagraph, some light from the star is still visible in this image, as can be seen in the wagon wheel-like spokes that form an inner ring around Fomalhaut [labeled "scattered light 'noise'"].

Credit:

NASA, ESA, P. Kalas and J. Graham (University of California, Berkeley), and M. Clampin (NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center)

About the Image

NASA press release
Id:opo0510h
Type:Collage
Release date:22 June 2005, 19:00
Size:2250 x 1070 px

About the Object

Name:Fomalhaut, HD 216956, IRAS 22549-2953
Type:Milky Way : Star : Circumstellar Material : Planetary System
Milky Way : Star : Circumstellar Material : Disk
Distance:25 light years
Category:Exoplanets
Miscellaneous
Stars

Image Formats

r.titleLarge JPEG
1.6 MB
r.titleScreensize JPEG
404.2 KB

Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
Optical
V
606 nm Hubble Space Telescope
ACS
Infrared
I
814 nm Hubble Space Telescope
ACS
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