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Expanding Flash From Supergiant Star V838 Monocerotis (V838 Mon)
About the Object
- R.A. PositionR.A. PositionRight ascension – analogous to longitude – is one component of an object's position.07h 4m 4.99s
- Dec. PositionDec. PositionDeclination – analogous to latitude – is one component of an object's position.-3° 50' 50.0"
- ConstellationConstellationOne of 88 recognized regions of the celestial sphere in which the object appears.Monoceros
- DistanceDistanceThe physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs.The star is ~20,000 light-years (~6 kiloparsecs) away.
About the Data
- Data DescriptionData DescriptionProposal: A description of the observations, their scientific justification, and the links to the data available in the science archive.
Science Team: The astronomers who planned the observations and analyzed the data. "PI" refers to the Principal Investigator.2002 images (left) These data are from the HST archived proposals 9587, 9588, and 9694. The science team is composed of H.E. Bond (STScI), A. Henden (USNO), Z. Levay (STScI), N. Panagia (STScI), W. Sparks (STScI), S. Starrfield (Arizona State Univ.), R.M. Wagner (LBTO), R.L.M. Corradi (ING), U. Munari (INAF). 2004 image (right) These data are from the HST program 10089: K. Noll, H. Bond, C. Christian, L. Frattare, F. Hamilton, Z. Levay, M. Mutchler, and T. Royle (STScI). - InstrumentInstrumentThe science instrument used to produce the data.HST>ACS/WFC
- Exposure DatesExposure DatesThe date(s) that the telescope made its observations and the total exposure time.May - December, 2002 (right images); February 8, 2004 (right)
- FiltersFiltersThe camera filters that were used in the science observations.F435W (B), F606W (V), F814W (I)
- Object NameObject NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.V838 Monocerotis, V838 Mon
- Object DescriptionObject DescriptionThe type of astronomical object.Nova-like variable star and surrounding light echo
- Release DateMarch 4, 2004
- Science ReleaseSpace Phenomenon Imitates Art in Universe’s Version of van Gogh Painting
- Credit
Color Info
Color InfoA brief description of the methods used to convert telescope data into the color image being presented.
Blue" F435W (B) Green: F606W (V) Red: F814W (I)
Compass and Scale
Compass and ScaleAn astronomical image with a scale that shows how large an object is on the sky, a compass that shows how the object is oriented on the sky, and the filters with which the image was made.
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Last Updated
Mar 28, 2025
Contact
Media
Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov
