The Seven Sisters, also known as the Pleiades, seem to float on a bed of feathers in a new infrared image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. Clouds of dust sweep around the stars, swaddling them in a cushiony veil. The Pleiades, located more than 400 light-years away in the Taurus...
Spitzer Science Center
Spitzer Science Center
Spitzer Science Center
Spitzer Science Center
Spitzer Science Center
Spitzer Science Center
OTS 44
Planetary Building Blocks Found in Surprising Place
This graph of data from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows that an extraordinarily low-mass brown dwarf, or "failed star," is circled by a disk of planet-building dust. The brown dwarf, called OTS 44, is only 15 times the mass of Jupiter, making it the smallest known brown dwarf to host a...
NGC 7331
Spitzer Composite View of NGC 7331
This composite infrared image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has captured a nearby spiral galaxy that resembles our own Milky Way. The galaxy, known as NGC 7331 and sometimes referred to as our galaxy's twin, is found in the constellation Pegasus at a distance of 50 million light-years.
NGC 7331
Spitzer Near-Infrared View of NGC 7331
This infrared image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has captured a nearby spiral galaxy that resembles our own Milky Way. The galaxy, known as NGC 7331 and sometimes referred to as our galaxy's twin, is found in the constellation Pegasus at a distance of 50 million light-years.
NGC 7331
Spitzer Mid-Inrared View of NGC 7331
This infrared image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has captured a nearby spiral galaxy that resembles our own Milky Way. The galaxy, known as NGC 7331 and sometimes referred to as our galaxy's twin, is found in the constellation Pegasus at a distance of 50 million light-years.
NGC 7331
Morphology of Our Galaxy's Twin
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has captured these infrared images of a nearby spiral galaxy that resembles our own Milky Way. The targeted galaxy, known as NGC 7331 and sometimes referred to as our galaxy's twin, is found in the constellation Pegasus at a distance of 50 million light-years.
NGC 7331
Visible-light view of NGC 7331
NGC 7331 is one of the brightest galaxies which is not included in Messier's catalog. It shows a fine spiral structure despite its small inclination from the edge-on position. Several companions and background galaxies are also visible in this image.
Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey
Old and 'Red' Distant Galaxies
This image provides a close-up look at two of the extremely bright infrared galaxies revealed by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. While they are very faint (bottom) or even completely invisible (top) in the deepest-ever optical images obtained by NASA's Hubble Space Telescope, Spitzer easily...
Centaurus A
A Parallelogram-Shaped Meal
This image taken by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows in unprecedented detail the galaxy Centaurus A's last big meal: a spiral galaxy seemingly twisted into a parallelogram-shaped structure of dust. Spitzer's ability to see dust and also see through it allowed the telescope to peer into the...
Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey
Hidden Black Holes
Astronomers have probed the deep sky with NASA's three Great Observatories for hidden black holes and come to the conclusion that most black holes cannot be seen in visible images. This data suggests that the X-ray sources are black holes hidden behind a screen of dust.
Centaurus A
Dusty Elliptical Galaxy Centaurus A
This image taken by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows in unprecedented detail the galaxy Centaurus A's last big meal: a spiral galaxy seemingly twisted into a parallelogram-shaped structure of dust. Spitzer's ability to see dust and also see through it allowed the telescope to peer into the...
Centaurus A
A Parallelogram-Shaped Meal
This image taken by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows in unprecedented detail the galaxy Centaurus A's last big meal: a spiral galaxy seemingly twisted into a parallelogram-shaped structure of dust. An elliptical galaxy located 10 million light-years from Earth, Centaurus A is one of the...
Great Observatories Origins Deep Survey
Infrared Detective to the Rescue
In a collaborative effort between NASA's three Great Observatories, astronomers have solved a cosmic mystery by identifying some of the oldest and most distant black holes.
RCW 49
Locations of RCW 49 and Taurus Star-Forming Regions
This image shows the relative locations of the RCW 49 and Taurus star-forming regions.
NGC 3247
Stellar Jewels Shine in New Spitzer Image
One of the most prolific birthing grounds in our Milky Way galaxy, a nebula called RCW 49, is exposed in superb detail for the first time in this image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. Located 13,700 light-years away in the southern constellation Centaurus, RCW 49 is a dark and dusty stellar...
CoKu Tau 4
Out of the Dust, A Planet is Born
A possible newfound planet spins through a clearing in a nearby star's dusty, planet-forming disc. The possible planet is theorized to be at least as massive as Jupiter, and may have a similar appearance to what the giant planets in our own solar system looked like billions of years ago.
DG Tau B
Ices in Protoplanetary Discs
Using sensitive instruments onboard NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, scientists have seen the first building blocks of planets, and possibly future life, deep within dusty discs around young stars. The image shows spectra, obtained by Spitzer's infrared spectrograph, of two stars that are so young...
NGC 3247
Star Formation in RCW 49
One of the most prolific birthing grounds in our Milky Way galaxy, a nebula called RCW 49, is exposed in superb detail for the first time in this image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. Located 13,700 light-years away in the southern constellation Centaurus, RCW 49 is a dark and dusty stellar...
Spectra Show Protoplanetary Disk Structures
How can you tell if a star has a protoplanetary disk around it, when the disk is too small to image directly? Using the technique of spectroscopy, scientists can deduce the temperature and chemical composition of material around a star, even if they cannot see the disk itself.
DG Tau B
Spitzer Spectra of Protoplanetary Discs
Using sensitive instruments onboard NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, scientists have seen the first building blocks of planets, and possibly future life, deep within dusty discs around young stars. The image shows spectra, obtained by Spitzer's infrared spectrograph, of two stars that are so young...
Sharpless 140
A Natal Microcosm
In the quest to better understand the birth of stars and the formation of new worlds, astronomers have used NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope to examine the massive stars contained in a cloudy region called Sharpless 140. This cloud is a fascinating microcosm of a star-forming region since it...
NGC 300
Spitzer view of Spiral Galaxy NGC 300
NGC 300 is a face-on spiral galaxy located 7.5 million light-years away in the southern constellation Sculptor. This image taken by the infrared array camera on Spitzer readily distinguishes the main star component of the galaxy (blue) from its dusty spiral arms (red).
Sharpless 140
Stellar Nursery Sharpless 140
In the quest to better understand the birth of stars and the formation of new worlds, astronomers have used NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope to examine the massive stars contained in a cloudy region called Sharpless 140. This cloud is a fascinating microcosm of a star-forming region since it...
NGC 300
Dissection of a Galaxy - Spiral Galaxy NGC 300
NGC 300 is a face-on spiral galaxy located 7.5 million light-years away in the southern constellation Sculptor. This image taken by the infrared array camera on Spitzer readily distinguishes the main star component of the galaxy (blue) from its dusty spiral arms (red).
DR21
Near-infrared view of the DR21 Region
This near-infrared image, from the Two-Micron All-Sky Survey (2MASS), of the DR21 region covers an area about two times that of a full moon. Many stars are discerned in this image because near-infrared light pierces through some of the obscuration of the interstellar dust.
DR21
Spitzer IRAC view of Star Formation in the DR21 Region
Hidden behind a shroud of dust in the constellation Cygnus is an exceptionally bright source of radio emission called DR21. NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope allows us to peek behind the cosmic veil and pinpoint one of the most massive natal stars yet seen in our Milky Way galaxy.
DR21
Star Formation in the DR21 Region
Hidden behind a shroud of dust in the constellation Cygnus is a stellar nursery called DR21, which is giving birth to some of the most massive stars in our galaxy. This colorful image is a large-scale composite mosaic of this region assembled from data collected at infrared and visible wavelengths.
DR21
Visible-light view of the DR21 Region
This Digital Sky Survey (DSS) image provides a familiar view of the DR21 region, with stars scattered around a dark field. The reddish hue is from gas heated by foreground stars in this region.
DR21
Spitzer MIPS view of Star Formation in the DR21 Region
Hidden behind a shroud of dust in the constellation Cygnus is an exceptionally bright source of radio emission called DR21. NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope allows us to peek behind the cosmic veil and pinpoint one of the most massive natal stars yet seen in our Milky Way galaxy.
DR21
Star Formation in the DR21 Region
Hidden behind a shroud of dust in the constellation Cygnus is an exceptionally bright source of radio emission called DR21. Visible light images reveal no trace of what is happening in this region because of heavy dust obscuration.
DR21
Star Formation in the DR21 Region
Hidden behind a shroud of dust in the constellation Cygnus is a stellar nursery called DR21, which is giving birth to some of the most massive stars in our galaxy. Visible light images reveal no trace of this interstellar cauldron because of heavy dust obscuration.
Trifid Nebula
Hubble and NOAO Visible-Light Composite of the Trifid Nebula
Visible-light image composite of the Trifid Nebula, a giant star-forming cloud of gas and dust located 5,400 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius.
Trifid Nebula
Stellar 'Incubators' Seen Cooking up Stars
This image composite compares visible-light views with an 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.
Earth
Size Comparisons
The artist's rendition shows the newly discovered planet-like object, dubbed "Sedna," in relation to other bodies in the Solar System, including Earth and its Moon; Pluto; and Quaoar
Sedna
Sedna's Night Sky Location
This shows where the newly discovered planet-like body, dubbed "Sedna," would lie in the evening skies at around 8:00 p.m. local time on the date its discovery was announced (March 15, 2004).
Sedna
Artist's Conception of Sedna
Artist's conception of Sedna, a planet-like object so far away that the Sun appears as an extremely bright star instead of the large, warm disc observed from Earth.
Sedna
Orbit Comparisons
These four panels show the location of the newly discovered planet-like object, dubbed "Sedna," which lies in the farthest reaches of our Solar System. Each panel, moving clockwise from the upper left, successively zooms out to place Sedna in context.
RCW 79
A Bubble Bursts
Revealed by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, RCW 79 is seen in the southern Milky Way, 17,200 light-years from Earth in the constellation Centaurus. The bubble is 70-light years in diameter, and probably took about one million years to form from the radiation and winds of hot young stars.
RCW 79
The Infrared View of RCW 79
Revealed by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, RCW 79 is seen in the southern Milky Way, 17,200 light-years from Earth in the constellation Centaurus. The bubble is 70-light years in diameter, and probably took about one million years to form from the radiation and winds of hot young stars.
Henize 206
Visible-light image of Henize 206
This image shows a visible-light view of the emission nebula, Henize 206, which lies within the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). The LMC is a nearby and irregularly-shaped galaxy seen in the Southern Hemisphere.
Henize 206
Spitzer/IRAC image of Star Formation in Henize 206
Within the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a nearby and irregularly-shaped galaxy seen in the Southern Hemisphere, lies a star-forming region heavily obscured by interstellar dust. NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has used its infrared eyes to poke through the cosmic veil to reveal a striking nebula...
Henize 206
Illustration of Star Formation in Henize 206
This three-panel diagram shows the process of triggered star formation.
Henize 206
Star Formation in Henize 206
Within the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a nearby and irregularly-shaped galaxy seen in the Southern Hemisphere, lies a star-forming region heavily obscured by interstellar dust. NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has used its infrared eyes to poke through the cosmic veil to reveal a striking nebula...
Henize 206
Star Formation in Henize 206
Within the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a nearby and irregularly-shaped galaxy seen in the Southern Hemisphere, lies a star-forming region heavily obscured by interstellar dust. NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has used its infrared eyes to poke through the cosmic veil to reveal a striking nebula...
Henize 206
Spitzer/MIPS image of Star Formation in Henize 206
Within the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC), a nearby and irregularly-shaped galaxy seen in the Southern Hemisphere, lies a star-forming region heavily obscured by interstellar dust. NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has used its infrared eyes to poke through the cosmic veil to reveal a striking nebula...
NGC 7129
Reflection Nebula NGC 7129
A cluster of newborn stars herald their birth in this interstellar Valentine's Day commemorative picture obtained with NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. These bright young stars are found in a rosebud-shaped (and rose-colored) nebulosity known as NGC 7129.
NGC 7129
Reflection Nebula NGC 7129
A cluster of newborn stars herald their birth in this interstellar Valentine's Day commemorative picture obtained with NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. These bright young stars are found in a rosebud-shaped (and rose-colored) nebulosity known as NGC 7129.
Tarantula Nebula
The Tarantula Nebula
NASA's new Spitzer Space Telescope, formerly known as the Space Infrared Telescope Facility, has captured in stunning detail the spidery filaments and newborn stars of the Tarantula Nebula, a rich star-forming region also known as 30 Doradus. This cloud of glowing dust and gas is located in the...
Tarantula Nebula
The Tarantula Nebula
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has captured in stunning detail the spidery filaments and newborn stars of the Tarantula Nebula, a rich star-forming region also known as 30 Doradus. This cloud of glowing dust and gas is located in the Large Magellanic Cloud, the nearest galaxy to our own Milky...
HH 46/47
Embedded Outflow in HH 46/47
This image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope reveals the molecular outflow from an otherwise hidden newborn star. Using near-infrared light, Spitzer pierces through the dark cloud to detect the embedded outflow in an object called HH 46/47.
Elephant's Trunk Nebula
Dark Globule in IC 1396
This image shows a visible light view of the Elephant's Trunk Nebula, an elongated dark globule within the emission nebula IC 1396 in the constellation of Cepheus.
Bode's Galaxy
Spiral Galaxy Messier 81
The magnificent spiral arms of the nearby galaxy Messier 81 are highlighted in this NASA Spitzer Space Telescope image. Located in the northern constellation of Ursa Major (which also includes the Big Dipper), this galaxy is easily visible through binoculars or a small telescope.
Elephant's Trunk Nebula
Spitzer/MIPS+IRAC composite image of a dark globule in IC 1396
This NASA Spitzer Space Telescope image reveals a glowing stellar nursery within a dark globule in IC 1396 that is opaque in visible light. Spitzer pierces through the obscuration to reveal the birth of new protostars, or embryonic stars, and young stars never before seen.
HH 46/47
Embedded Outflow in HH 46/47
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has lifted the cosmic veil to see an otherwise hidden newborn star, while detecting the presence of water and carbon dioxide ices, as well as organic molecules. Using near-infrared light, Spitzer pierces through an optically dark cloud to detect the embedded outflow...
Bode's Galaxy
Spiral Galaxy Messier 81
The magnificent spiral arms of the nearby galaxy Messier 81 are highlighted in this NASA Spitzer Space Telescope image. Located in the northern constellation of Ursa Major (which also includes the Big Dipper), this galaxy is easily visible through binoculars or a small telescope.
Elephant's Trunk Nebula
Dark Globule in IC 1396
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has captured a glowing stellar nursery within a dark globule that is opaque at visible light. These new images pierce through the obscuration to reveal the birth of new protostars, or embryonic stars, and young stars never before seen.
P-29
Comet Schwassmann-Wachmann 1
NASA's new Spitzer Space Telescope has captured an image of an unusual comet that experiences frequent outbursts, which produce abrupt changes in brightness. Periodic comet Schwassmann-Wachmann I (P/SW-1) has a nearly circular orbit just outside that of Jupiter, with an orbital period of 14.9...
IRAS F00183-7111
Galaxy IRAS F00183-7111
NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has detected the building blocks of life in the distant universe, albeit in a violent milieu. Training its powerful infrared eye on a faint object located at a distance of 3.2 billion light-years (inset), Spitzer has observed the presence of water and organic...
