What is "true color"? Is it what our eyes see, or is it something else entirely?
What Color Is Mars?
The Fading Stingray: A Case Study in Science and Aesthetics
We often make the case here that astronomical imagery created to support the dissemination of Hubble’s scientific results to the general public relies on a delicate balance of aesthetics and science. The image above provides a great study in how these two aspects of the image come together in the publication of a press release.... Continue Reading →
Guest Post: The Yin and Yang of the Visible and Invisible in Spiral Galaxies
Jayanne English, an astronomer with a visual arts background, outlines the process of making an illuminating image for the public from a rich set of research data. Exploring how galaxies change with time requires the study of how visible light and non-visible radiation are interconnected. With the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) we can map, often in... Continue Reading →
What’s Up with Jupiter and Saturn?
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 →
Does Angular Momentum Make Your Head Spin?
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 →
Hubble Heritage Archive: Elliptical Galaxy NGC 4889
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 →
Hubble Heritage Archive: Center of the Milky Way Galaxy
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 →
Hubble Heritage Archive: Mars Near Opposition 2016
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 →
Hubble Heritage Archive: Bubble Nebula, NGC 7635
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 →
Hubble Heritage Archive: Crab Nebula, M1
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 →