HAWK-I takes off

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The figure shows the Serpens star-forming region as it was imaged during commissioning on HAWK-Is four large infrared detectors. Despite a total exposure time of only 1 minute in each of three infrared filters the image shows great detail in this mil ...
The figure shows the Serpens star-forming region, as it was imaged during commissioning, on HAWK-I's four large infrared detectors. Despite a total exposure time of only 1 minute in each of three infrared filters, the image shows great detail in this million-year old region, revealing red young stars, reflection nebulae and dark clouds of gas and dust very clearly. Credit: ESO/VLT

Europe's flagship ground-based astronomical facility, the ESO VLT, has been equipped with a new 'eye' to study the Universe. Working in the near-infrared, the new instrument - dubbed HAWK-I - covers about 1/10th the area of the Full Moon in a single exposure. It is uniquely suited to the discovery and study of faint objects, such as distant galaxies or small stars and planets.


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All News summaries for August 23, 2007

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