ESA Infrared 360 of sky

[steve1975]

I just found a link to some interesting photographs . . . the second photo labels some key "landmarks" of the sky but I was curious as to what the ringed object is at about 2 o'clock near the edge of the pic, I thought it might have been Andromeda but it is on the opposite plane. Is it the Sombrero galaxy? It appears a lot bigger than Andromeda and you would think that it would be more visible than Andromeda - but perhaps it doesn't emit much light in the visual sceptrum . . . what do you ppl think?<br /><br />http://www.esa.int/esaCP/SEM4OXGYX3F_index_1.html

 

[MeteorWayne]

Welcome to Space.com!<br />Great question.<br /><br />If I'm looking at the same object you are, looking at the map below (at the link) the image which shows the constellations, I place it at about RA 9h25m, Dec +17. (On the Leo/Cancer border.)<br /><br />Interestingly, that's where Saturn was a month or so ago, but the ring I think you are referring to is too large to be Saturn; at least I think so.<br /><br />I wasn't able to find any object at that loaction in a quick search, but I'll keep poking around.<br /><br />Thanx for posting the link to the image.<br /><br />Oh, and I checked, the image is of a size that I can post it here, but to see the ring structure asked about, you'll have to go to the link as it's rather small and faint in this view.<br /><br />MW <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[telfrow]

He's an enlargement of that section from the high res photo. Does this help? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <strong><font color="#3366ff">Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yeild.</font> - <font color="#3366ff"><em>Tennyson</em></font></strong> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Not too much, but thanx very much for the blowup.<br />I haven't quite figured out whether the bright IR object is a visible star or not.<br /><br />This should help.<br />It should also confirm whether we are looking at the same object. It is indeed the one I am looking at.<br /><br />May I ask how you created that image?<br />Thanx MW <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[telfrow]

Captura. Great little program that allows you to capture section of a photo and save it as a jpg. Free program...use it all the time for work. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <strong><font color="#3366ff">Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will to strive, to seek, to find and not to yeild.</font> - <font color="#3366ff"><em>Tennyson</em></font></strong> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Maybe it actually is Saturn, and I have me mental scale messed up.<br />It has exactly the right alignment for Saturns rings and position a month or two ago. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[heyscottie]

It's also almost exactly where the Beehive Cluster sits, and is much closer to being the right size. (The Beehive is bigger than the full moon.) But even that seems to be too small for the extents of the object in the image. Saturn would be WAY too small to create that signature.

 

[MeteorWayne]

Not so sure of that. As I see it, It's at least 15 degrees away from the Beehive...Cancer is visible on the second map with the constellations and it certainly wasn't there at the intersection of the inverted "Y" where the Beehive is.<br /><br />I also can't think of any reason the Beehive would appear as a ring. But, just cause I can't think of it, doesn't mean there isn't one <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" /><br /><br />Still, a good thought; I'll investigate a little more to cross it off the list of possibilities or not.<br /><br />MW <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[heyscottie]

You're right -- now that I look more closely, I see the beehive is not that close after all. In fact, I fail to find ANYTHING in that region of the sky that is bright and large in any way, at least at visible wavelengths.