This VLT image of the Thor’s Helmet Nebula was taken on the
occasion of ESO’s 50th Anniversary, Oct. 5, 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.
Image: ESO/B. Bailleul [high-resolution]
Caption: ESO
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