ESOcast Episode 9:
Celestial Tango Makes for a Gorgeous Nebula
00:00
[Visual starts]
[Narrator]
1. ESO has just released a stunning new image of
a field of stars towards the constellation of Carina.
This striking view is ablaze with a flurry of stars of
all colours and brightness, some of which glow
against a backdrop of gas and dust clouds.
A complex nebula created by previous, violent
ejections surrounds an unusual star in the middle
of this field. Astronomers have discovered that this
star has a companion. Interactions in this double
star system, surrounded by a dusty disc, may be
the engine fuelling the star’s remarkable nebula.
00:42
ESOcast intro
This is the ESOcast! Cutting-edge science and life
behind the scenes of ESO, the European Southern
Observatory. Exploring the far reaches of the
Universe with our host Dr. J, a.k.a. Dr. Joe Liske.
ESOcast intro
00:59
[Narrator]
2. Hello and welcome to this episode of the
ESOcast. My name is Gaitee Hussain. I’m standing
in this time for Dr. J, who is on vacation Today we
will explore a new, beautiful ESO image that shows
a rich field of stars centred on a star called HD
87643. A study using a new set of observations
has provided astronomers with the best ever views
of this exotic type of star.
Slate:
HOST: Gaitee Hussain
EPISODE 9: Celestial Tango Makes for a
Gorgeous Nebula
01:25
[Narrator]
3. The image, taken in the direction of the
constellation of Carina, shows a dense starscape
towards the Carina arm of the Milky Way Galaxy.
As we come closer, we see the star HD 87643, a
so-called B[e] star at a distance of 4,900 light-
years.
Zooming sequence
The image beautifully shows the extended nebula
of gas and dust that reflects the light from the star.
The central star’s wind appears to have shaped the
nebula, leaving bright, ragged tendrils of gas and
dust. A careful investigation of these features
seems to indicate that there are regular ejections of
matter f