Ground-based MACHO-LMC-5 1994
Ths ground based observation image shows MACHO-LMC-5, a red dwarf star in our Milky Way galaxy. The star was observed because of a backgroundstar, STAR-0516-7029, in its close neighborhood. This giant blue star is located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a companion dwarf galaxy of the Milky Way.
From 1993-1994 the red dwarf moved in front of the bright backgroundstar and created this way a microlensing effect; the light of the blue background star was brightened. Because of this effect Hubble was able to determine the mass of a single star (MACHO-LMC-5), which was never possible before.
Credit:About the Image
About the Object
Name: | MACHO-LMC-5 1994 |
Type: | Milky Way : Cosmology : Phenomenon : Lensing Milky Way : Star Local Universe : Star |
Constellation: | Mensa |
Category: | Stars |
Coordinates
Position (RA): | 5 16 40.99 |
Position (Dec): | -70° 29' 18.01" |
Field of view: | 0.98 x 0.98 arcminutes |
Orientation: | North is 0.8° right of vertical |
Colours & filters
Band | Telescope |
---|---|
Optical | Mount Stromlo Observatory |
Notes: This image was captured with the 50-inch telescope at the Mount Stromlo Observatory.