Measuring the mass and diameter of a planet reveals its density, which can give scientists clues about its composition. Scientists now know the density of the seven TRAPPIST-1 planets with a higher precision than any other planets in the universe, other than those in our own solar system
Shoemaker-Levy 3
Jupiter-Family Comet Shoemaker-Levy 3
This infrared image of the Jupiter-family comet Shoemaker-Levy 3 was taken with Spitzer's multiband imaging photometer (MIPS) at a wavelength of 24 microns.
Comet Johnson
Jupiter-Family Comets Johnson and Shoemaker-Levy 3
These infrared images of the Jupiter-family comets Johnson (top) and Shoemaker-Levy 3 (bottom) were both taken with Spitzer's multiband imaging photometer (MIPS) at a wavelength of 24 microns.
Comet Johnson
Jupiter-Family Comet Johnson
This infrared image of the Jupiter-family comet Johnson was taken with Spitzer's multiband imaging photometer (MIPS) at a wavelength of 24 microns.
Crab Nebula
Crab Nebula Supernova Remnant (Spitzer/IRAC-MIPS Image)
The Crab Nebula is the shattered remnant of a massive star that ended its life in a massive supernova explosion. This image obtained by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows the combined near-infrared and mid-infrared view of this complex object.
Crab Nebula
Crab Nebula Supernova Remnant (Spitzer/IRAC-MIPS Image)
The Crab Nebula is the shattered remnant of a massive star that ended its life in a massive supernova explosion. This image obtained by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows the combined near-infrared and mid-infrared view of this complex object.
GRB 050525a
Gamma-Ray Burst 050525a
Heat generated from a gamma-ray burst has been detected for the first time by a team of astronomers led by University of Notre Dame physicist Peter Garnavich.
Cassiopeia A
Dead Star Rumbles
This Spitzer Space Telescope composite shows the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A (white ball) and surrounding clouds of dust (gray, orange and blue). It consists of two processed images taken one year apart. Dust features that have not changed over time appear gray, while those that have changed...
Cassiopeia A
Cassiopeia A: Death Becomes Her
This stunning multi-mission picture shows off the many sides of the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A. It is made up of images taken by three of NASA's Great Observatories, using three different wavebands of light. Infrared data from the Spitzer Space Telescope are colored red; visible data from the...
Arp 107
Interacting Galaxy Pair Arp 107
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope's sensitive infrared detectors map out faint regions of new star formation in this pair of colliding galaxies known as Arp 107.
Cassiopeia A
Cassiopeia A Infrared Light Echo
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope imaged the region around the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A and surrounding clouds of dust. This picture, along with an image taken one year later, illustrate that a blast of light from Cassiopeia A is waltzing outward through through the dusty skies. This dance,...
Cassiopeia A
Cassiopeia A Infrared Light Echo
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope imaged the region around the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A and surrounding clouds of dust. This picture, along with an image taken one year earlier, illustrate that a blast of light from Cassiopeia A is waltzing outward through through the dusty skies. This...
Arp 65
Interacting Galaxy Pair Arp 65
High resolution images from NASA's Spitzer infrared telescope and GALEX ultraviolet telescope show the difference in the distribution of young and old stars in the Arp 65 pair of interacting galaxies.
Arp 107
Interacting Galaxy Pair Arp 107
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope's sensitive infrared detectors map out faint regions of new star formation in this pair of colliding galaxies known as Arp 107.
Cassiopeia A
Cassiopeia A Rumbles
This Spitzer Space Telescope composite shows the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A and surrounding clouds of dust. It consists of two processed infrared images taken one year apart. Dust features that have not changed over time appear gray, while those that have changed are colored blue or orange....
Cas A
Illustration of a Light Echo
Across the vast distances of space, light can 'echo' off of distant dust clouds in much the same way that sound can echo off of distant walls.
Cassiopeia A
Hubble, Spitzer and Chandra Image of Cassiopeia A
This stunning multi-mission picture shows off the many sides of the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A. It is made up of images taken by three of NASA's Great Observatories, using three different wavebands of light. Infrared data from the Spitzer Space Telescope are colored red; visible data from the...
Cassiopeia A
A Year in the Life of an Infrared Echo
These Spitzer Space Telescope images, taken one year apart, show the supernova remnant Cassiopeia A and surrounding clouds of dust. The pictures illustrate that a blast of light from Cassiopeia A is waltzing outward through the dusty skies. This dance, called an "infrared echo," began when the...
Tempel 1
Space Eyes See Comet Tempel 1
These artist's concepts of Tempel 1 simulate an optical view of the comet (left), next to the simulated infrared view (right). The images illustrate the comet's shape, reflectivity, rotation rate and surface temperature, based on information from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope and Spitzer Space...
Crab Nebula
Crab Nebula Supernova Remnant (Spitzer/IRAC Image)
The Crab Nebula is the shattered remnant of a massive star that ended its life in a massive supernova explosion. This infrared view of the supernova remnant was obtained by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope.
Crab Nebula
Crab Nebula Supernova Remnant (Spitzer/IRAC Image)
The Crab Nebula is the shattered remnant of a massive star that ended its life in a massive supernova explosion. This infrared view of the supernova remnant was obtained by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope.
Carina Nebula
Carina Nebula
This false-color image taken by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows the "South Pillar" region of the star-forming region called the Carina Nebula. Like cracking open a watermelon and finding its seeds, the infrared telescope "busted open" this murky cloud to reveal star embryos tucked inside...
Carina Nebula
Carina Nebula in Visible Light
This visible-light picture of the Carina Nebula comes from a National Optical Astronomy Observatory telescope in Chile at the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory. image taken by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows the "South Pillar" region of the star-forming region called the Carina...
Carina Nebula
All Pillars Point To Eta
This false-color image taken by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows the "South Pillar" region of the star-forming region called the Carina Nebula. Like cracking open a watermelon and finding its seeds, the infrared telescope "busted open" this murky cloud to reveal star embryos tucked inside...
Sombrero Galaxy
Spitzer and Hubble View of the Sombrero Galaxy
NASA's Spitzer and Hubble Space Telescopes joined forces to create this striking composite image of one of the most popular sights in the universe. Messier 104 is commonly known as the Sombrero galaxy but in this striking visible-infrared view, the galaxy looks more like a "bull's eye."
Sombrero Galaxy
Spitzer Spies Spectacular Sombrero
NASA's Spitzer and Hubble Space Telescopes joined forces to create this striking composite image of one of the most popular sights in the universe. Messier 104 is commonly known as the Sombrero galaxy because in visible light, it resembles the broad-brimmed Mexican hat. However, in Spitzer's...
Sombrero Galaxy
Spitzer Spies Spectacular Sombrero
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescopes created this striking infrared image of one of the most popular sights in the universe. Messier 104 is commonly known as the Sombrero galaxy because in visible light, it resembles the broad-brimmed Mexican hat. However, in Spitzer's striking infrared view, the...
Sombrero Galaxy
Hubble Image of the Sombrero Galaxy
The Hubble Space Telescopes obtained this image of one of the most popular sights in the universe. Messier 104 is commonly known as the Sombrero galaxy because in visible light, it resembles the broad-brimmed Mexican hat.
HD 69830
Alien Asteroid Belt Compared to our Own
This artist's concept illustrates what the night sky might look like from a hypothetical alien planet in a star system with an asteroid belt 25 times as massive as the one in our own solar system (alien system above, ours below).
Hints of Our Own Asteroid Belt
In our solar system, anybody observing the skies on a moonless night far from city lights can see the sunlight that is scattered by dust in our asteroid belt. Called zodiacal light and sometimes the "false dawn," this light appears in this artist's concept as a dim band stretching up from the...
HD 69830
It's a Rocky World
This artist's concept show a massive asteroid belt in orbit around a star the same age and size as our Sun. Evidence for this possible belt was discovered by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope when it spotted warm dust around the star, presumably from asteroids smashing together.
HD 69830
Alien Asteroid Belt
This artist's concept illustrates what the night sky might look like from a hypothetical alien planet in a star system with an asteroid belt 25 times as massive as the one in our own solar system.
HD 69830
Super-Comet or Big Asteroid Belt
This graph of data from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope demonstrates that the dust around a nearby star called HD 69830 (upper line) has a very similar composition to that of Comet Hale-Bopp. Spitzer spotted large amounts of this dust in the inner portion of the HD 69830 system.
Splinter Galaxy
NGC 5907 in the Infrared
The spiral galaxy NGC 5907, sometimes known as the "Splinter Galaxy" because of its unusual appearance, is located in the constellation Draco. NGC 5907 has a strong set of dust lanes, visible in this image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope as red features.
Splinter Galaxy
Splendid Splinter
The spiral galaxy NGC 5907, sometimes known as the "Splinter Galaxy" because of its unusual appearance, is located in the constellation Draco. It is fairly bright, and appears elongated because it has an edge-on alignment when viewed from Earth. This infrared image comes from NASA's Spitzer Space...
Blinded by the Light
This artist's concept shows what a fiery hot star and its close-knit planetary companion might look close up if viewed in visible. In visible light, a star shines brilliantly, overwhelming the little light that is reflected by its planet.
HD 209458b
The Language of Planetary Light
This graph of data from NASA's Spitzer Space telescope shows changes in the infrared light output of two star-planet systems (one above, one below) located hundreds of light-years away. The data were taken while the planets, called HD 209458b and TrES-1, disappeared behind their stars in what is...
Blinded by the Light
This artist's concept shows what a fiery hot star and its close-knit planetary companion might look close up if viewed in infrared light. In infrared, a star is less blinding, and its planet perks up with a fiery glow.
Blinded by the Light
This artist's concept shows what a fiery hot star and its close-knit planetary companion might look close up if viewed in visible (left) and infrared light. In visible light, a star shines brilliantly, overwhelming the little light that is reflected by its planet.
HD 209458b
The Language of Planetary Light
This graph of data from NASA's Spitzer Space telescope shows changes in the infrared light output of two star-planet systems (one above, one below) located hundreds of light-years away. The data were taken while the planets, called HD 209458b and TrES-1, disappeared behind their stars in what is...
Cigar Galaxy
Huge Hidden Halo!
This image composite compares a visible-light view (left) of the "Cigar galaxy" to an infrared view from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope of the same galaxy. While the visible image shows a serene galaxy looking cool as a cucumber, the infrared image reveals a smokin' hot "cigar."
Double Helix Nebula
Double Helix Nebula
The double helix nebula as revelaed in the infrared by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. The spots are infrared-luminous stars, mostly red giants and red supergiants. Many other stars are present in this region, but are too dim to appear even in this sensitive infrared image.
Shimmering in Infrared Light
This artist's conception shows what a dusty and bright galaxy located billions of light-years away might look like close up if viewed in infrared light. Galaxies like these are so far away and so drenched in dust, they appear invisible to optical telescopes.
Hyperluminous Galaxy
Fingerprints in the Light
This graph, or spectrum, shows the light from a dusty, distant galaxy located 11 billion light-years away. The galaxy is invisible to optical telescopes, but NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope was able to capture the light from it and dozens of other similar galaxies using heat-seeking infrared eyes.
Ring Nebula
Ring Beholds a Delicate Flower
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope finds a delicate flower in the Ring Nebula, as shown in this image. The outer shell of this planetary nebula looks surprisingly similar to the delicate petals of a camellia blossom. A planetary nebula is a shell of material ejected from a dying star.
Ring Nebula
Infrared Ring Nebula
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope finds a delicate flower in the Ring Nebula, as shown in this infrared image. The outer shell of this planetary nebula looks surprisingly similar to the delicate petals of a camellia blossom. A planetary nebula is a shell of material ejected from a dying star.
OTS 44
'Mini-Me' Solar System
This artist's conception shows the relative size of a hypothetical brown dwarf-planetary system (below) compared to our own solar system.
OTS 44
Mini Solar System in the Making
A brown dwarf surrounded by a swirling disk of planet-building dust. The brown dwarf, called OTS 44, is only 15 times the size of Jupiter, making it the smallest brown dwarf known to host a planet-forming, or protoplanetary disk.
Trifid Nebula
Spitzer/IRAC Image of the Trifid Nebula
This image shows a close-up infrared view from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope of the glowing Trifid Nebula, a giant star-forming cloud of gas and dust located 5,400 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius.
Trifid Nebula
New Views of a Familiar Beauty
This image composite compares the well-known visible-light picture of the glowing Trifid Nebula (left panel) with infrared views from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope (remaining three panels). The Trifid Nebula is a giant star-forming cloud of gas and dust located 5,400 light-years away in the...
Trifid Nebula
Spitzer/IRAC+MIPS View of the Trifid Nebula
The glowing Trifid Nebula is revealed with near- and mid-infrared views from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. The Trifid Nebula is a giant star-forming cloud of gas and dust located 5,400 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius.
Trifid Nebula
Spitzer/MIPS View of the Trifid Nebula
The glowing Trifid Nebula is revealed with a mid-infrared view from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. The Trifid Nebula is a giant star-forming cloud of gas and dust located 5,400 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius.
Trifid Nebula
Visible-Light Picture of the Trifid Nebula
This image shows the well-known visible-light picture of the glowing Trifid Nebula. The Trifid Nebula is a giant star-forming cloud of gas and dust located 5,400 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius.
Trifid Nebula
Spitzer/IRAC View of the Trifid Nebula
The glowing Trifid Nebula is revealed in an infrared view from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. The Trifid Nebula is a giant star-forming cloud of gas and dust located 5,400 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius.
Comet Encke
Riding a Trail of Debris
This image taken by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows the comet Encke riding along its pebbly trail of debris (long diagonal line) between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. This material actually encircles the solar system, following the path of Encke's orbit.
At the Heart of Blobs
This artist's concept illustrates one possible answer to the puzzle of the "giant galactic blobs." These blobs (red), first identified about five years ago, are mammoth clouds of intensely glowing material that surround distant galaxies (white).
J2143-4423
Mysterious Blob Galaxies Revealed in Infrared
This image composite shows a giant galactic blob, and the three merging galaxies NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope discovered within it.
Vega
Tiny Particles, So Far Away
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope recently captured these images of the star Vega, located 25 light years away in the constellation Lyra. Spitzer was able to detect the heat radiation from the cloud of dust around the star and found that the debris disk is much larger than previously thought.
Massive Smash-Up at Vega
This artist concept illustrates how a massive collision of objects, perhaps as large as the planet Pluto, smashed together to create the dust ring around the nearby star Vega. New observations from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope indicate the collision took place within the last one million years.
TLRBSE Spitzer Teachers
The "Teacher Leaders in Research Based Science Education" Spitzer Teachers in front of the National Optical Astronomy Observatory main buildiing in Tucson, Ariz.
A Distant Solar System
This artist's concept depicts a distant hypothetical solar system, similar in age to our own. Looking inward from the system's outer fringes, a ring of dusty debris can be seen, and within it, planets circling a star the size of our Sun.
