The text and images in this article were originally published on March 4, 1999, and reflect information about the asteroid trail in Centaurus available at that time. A Mote in Hubble's Eye On April 6, 1994 NASA's Hubble Space Telescope (HST) was performing a detailed study of the Sun's nearest stellar neighbor, Proxima Centauri, using... Continue Reading →

The text and images in this article were originally published on February 4, 1999 and reflect information about SN1987A available at that time. SN 1987A in the Large Magellanic Cloud Glittering stars and wisps of gas create a breathtaking backdrop for the self-destruction of a massive star—called supernova 1987A—in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a nearby... Continue Reading →

The text and images in this article were originally published on December 3, 1998, and reflect information about NGC 253 available at that time. Behind a Dusty Veil Lies a Cradle of Star Birth NGC 253 is a large, almost edge-on spiral galaxy, and is one of the nearest galaxies beyond our local neighborhood of galaxies.... Continue Reading →

The text and images in this article were originally published on November 5, 1998, and reflect information about NGC 3132 available at that time. A GLOWING POOL OF LIGHT NGC 3132 is a striking example of a planetary nebula. This expanding cloud of gas, surrounding a dying star, is known to amateur astronomers in the southern... Continue Reading →