Jupiter and Saturn made a big splash last month due to the historic conjunction of our solar system’s two largest planets. From our vantage point here on Earth, looking out onto the flat plane of the sky, a conjunction occurs when two or more celestial bodies seem to slide right past each other in the... Continue Reading →
I was recently asked about things that spin in the universe. Planets spin. Stars spin. Galaxies spin. Why do they spin, and how do they acquire that spin? This blog post contains my response. I’m going to go through things slowly, and build up concepts, so bear with me. A spinning top [Credit: randomname123 at... Continue Reading →
The text and images in this article were originally published on February 8, 2016, and reflect information about NGC 4889 available at that time. The Sleeping Giant—Elliptical Galaxy NGC 4889 The majestic yet placid appearance of this serene galaxy, NGC 4889, is deceiving to the unsuspecting observer. Captured in this NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope image,... Continue Reading →
The text and images in this article were originally published on March 6, 2003, and reflect information about the Milky Way available at that time. Hubble's Virtual Journey to the Center of Our Milky Way Galaxy Peering deep into the heart of our Milky Way galaxy, NASA's Hubble Space Telescope reveals a rich tapestry of... Continue Reading →
The text and images in this article were originally published on May 19, 2016, and reflect information about Mars available at that time. Hubble Takes Mars Portrait Near Closest Approach Bright, frosty polar caps, and clouds above a vivid rust-colored landscape reveal Mars as a dynamic seasonal planet in this NASA Hubble Space Telescope view... Continue Reading →
The text and images in this article were originally published on April 21, 2016, and reflect information about NGC 7635 available at that time. Hubble Sees a Star 'Inflating' a Giant Bubble For the 26th birthday of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, astronomers are highlighting a Hubble image of an enormous bubble being blown into space... Continue Reading →
The text and images in this article were originally published on July 7, 2016, and reflect information about M1 available at that time. Hubble Captures the Beating Heart of the Crab Nebula Peering deep into the core of the Crab Nebula, this close-up image reveals the beating heart of one of the most historic and... Continue Reading →
The text and images in this article were originally published on January 5, 2015, and reflect information about NGC 6611 available at that time. Hubble Goes High Def to Revisit the Iconic 'Pillars of Creation' NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has revisited the famous Pillars of Creation, revealing a sharper and wider view of the structures... Continue Reading →
The text and images in this article were originally published on May 6, 1999 and reflect information about NGC 4650A available at that time. RING AROUND A GALAXY Space Telescope Science Institute astronomers are giving the public chances to decide where to aim NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. Guided by 8,000 Internet voters, Hubble has already... Continue Reading →
The text and images in this article were originally published on February 5, 2013 and reflect information about M106 available at that time. Amateur and Professional Astronomers Team Up to Create a Cosmological Masterpiece Working with astronomical image processors at the Space Telescope Science Institute in Baltimore, Md., renowned astro-photographer Robert Gendler has taken science... Continue Reading →
