Picture This – Page 6 – Astronomy Now

A rung on the cosmic measuring ladder

25 May 2022 Keith Cooper

When measuring the Hubble constant by mapping the properties of the cosmic microwave background radiation to the standard model of cosmology, astronomers get a value of about 69 kilometres per second per megaparsec.

The monster stars in the monster’s hand

20 May 2022 Keith Cooper

In 2014, a quite remarkable collage was released by scientists who used NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope to image the entirety of the Milky Way in infrared light.

A hidden giant

18 May 2022 Keith Cooper

The star hidden inside this spectacular dusty cocoon is not only a red giant, but also a rare stellar breed known as a carbon star.

Juno captures spectacular view of Ganymede’s shadow on Jupiter’s cloud tops

2 May 2022 Astronomy Now

NASA’s Juno probe captures a stunning image of Ganymede’s shadow moving across Jupiter’s cloud tops, providing a unique perspective on an event familiar to amateur astronomers.

Phobos transits the Sun, captured by Mars Rover

27 April 2022 Mark Armstrong

NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover’s Mastcam-Z camera has captured Phobos, the larger of Mars’ two small moons (27 x 22 x 18 kilometres), as it transited the Sun’s disc on 2 April

Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys marks 20th year in space

7 March 2022 Astronomy Now

The Advanced Camera for Surveys aboard the Hubble Space Telescope has provided many of the observatory’s most spectacular – and scientifically valuable – images. NASA and ESA present samples of its work in a 20th anniversary collection.

A galactic train wreck triggers spasms of star birth

23 February 2022 Astronomy Now

Two galaxies passing through one another in a head-on collision generate a burst of star formation in an intriguing triangular shape caused by ongoing gravitational interactions.

Two galaxies with active galactic nuclei interact in dramatic fashion

13 February 2022 Astronomy Now

Hubble captures a dramatic view of two galaxies, both with active galactic nuclei, interacting in a close encounter that is pulling gas, dust and entire star systems from one toward the other.

The Hubble Space Telescope checks up on an oddball galaxy

8 February 2022 Astronomy Now

Taking a second look with a more powerful camera, Hubble reveals thousands of emission nebulae in an oddball irregular dwarf galaxy 17 million light years from Earth

Rippling sand dunes across the floor of a crater at zero longitude on Mars

24 January 2022 Astronomy Now

Rippling sand dunes across the floor of a martian crater provide an intriguing backdrop for map makers using the depression to identify zero longitude on the red planet.