Photo release - VISTA telescope reveals 96 star clusters

3 Aug 2011 12:41 PM

96 new open star clusters, hidden from previous surveys by the dust in the Milky Way, have been revealed by the sensitive infrared detectors of the world’s largest dedicated, infrared, survey telescope, VISTA. Based in Chile, the telescope is operated by the European Southern Observatory (ESO). This is the first time so many faint and small clusters have been found at once.

The full press release and high resolution images are available on the ESO website (link opens in a new window).

STFC sponsors astronomy in the UK and manages the UK subscription to ESO. The VISTA telescope is a UK contibution to ESO as part of the UK acession arrangements.

Full article and photos