Newborn stars, hidden behind thick dust, are revealed in this image of a section of the Christmas Tree Cluster from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope, created in joint effort between Spitzer's Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) and Multiband Imaging Photometer (MIPS) instruments. The newly revealed...
Fomalhaut
Fomalhaut
This NASA Spitzer Space Telescope image of Fomalhaut, the 18th brightest star in the sky, shows its surrounding dust disc for the first time in the infrared. This 70-micron image reveals important new details about Fomalhaut's circumstellar disc, showing an asymmetry in the dust distribution.
HH 46/47
Bok Globule containing HH 46/47
Visible light view of a dark cloud (known as a 'Bok globule') which is illuminated by the nearby Gum Nebula. Located at a distance of 1140 light-years and found in the constellation Vela, this cloud contains the protostar HH46/47 which hidden from view in this visible-light image.
Lyman Spitzer, Jr.
The man the Spitzer Space Telescope is named after.
Bode's Galaxy
Visible-light view of Messier 81
This image shows a visible-light view of the nearby galaxy Messier 81. 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.
Fomalhaut
Fomalhaut
Radio image of Fomalhaut, the 18th brightest star in the sky, taken at 450 microns. Located in the constellation Piscis Austrinus, the parent star and its putative planetary system are found at a distance of 25 light-years.
Elephant's Trunk Nebula
Spitzer/IRAC composite image of a dark globule in IC 1396
This NASA Spitzer Space Telescope image reveals a glowing stellar nursery embedded within the dark Elephant's Trunk Nebula. Spitzer pierces through the obscuration to reveal the birth of new protostars, or embryonic stars, and previously unseen young stars.
Fomalhaut
Fomalhaut Circumstellar Disk
The NASA Spitzer Space Telescope has obtained the first infrared images of the dust disc surrounding Fomalhaut, the 18th brightest star in the sky. Planets are believed to form from such a flattened disc-like cloud of gas and dust orbiting a star very early in its life.
Bode's Galaxy
Multiwavelength composite image of Messier 81
The magnificent spiral arms of the nearby galaxy Messier 81 are highlighted in this image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. 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.
Fomalhaut
Fomalhaut
This NASA Spitzer Space Telescope image of Fomalhaut, the 18th brightest star in the sky, shows its surrounding dust disc for the first time in the infrared. This image is a composite of data taken at 24 and 70 microns.
P-29
Comet Schwassmann-Wachmann 1
NASA Spitzer Space Telescope image of periodic comet Schwassmann-Wachmann I (P/SW-1) - an unusual comet that experiences frequent outbursts, which produce abrupt changes in brightness. P/SW-1 has a nearly circular orbit just outside that of Jupiter, with an orbital period of 14.9 years.
Bode's Galaxy
24-micron image of the Spiral Galaxy Messier 81
The magnificent spiral arms of the nearby galaxy Messier 81 are highlighted in this image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. 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.
Fomalhaut
Fomalhaut
This NASA Spitzer Space Telescope image of Fomalhaut, the 18th brightest star in the sky, shows its surrounding dust disc for the first time in the infrared. This 24 micron image shows the warm inner disc of dust which lies in the region most likely to be occupied by planets.
Bode's Galaxy
Spiral Galaxy Messier 81
The magnificent spiral arms of the nearby galaxy Messier 81 are highlighted in this image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. 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.
Lyman Spitzer, Jr.
The man the Spitzer Space Telescope is named after.
Elephant's Trunk Nebula
Spitzer/MIPS 24-micron image of a dark globule in IC 1396
This NASA Spitzer Space Telescope image reveals a glowing stellar nursery within a dark globule 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
This image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope transforms a dark cloud into a silky translucent veil, revealing 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.
Bode's Galaxy
8-micron image of the Spiral Galaxy Messier 81
The magnificent spiral arms of the nearby galaxy Messier 81 are highlighted in this image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. 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 image of a glowing stellar nursery provides a spectacular contrast to the opaque cloud seen in visible light. The Elephant's Trunk Nebula is an elongated dark globule within the emission nebula IC 1396 in the constellation of Cepheus.
Bode's Galaxy
Messier 81
The magnificent and dusty spiral arms of the nearby galaxy Messier 81 are highlighted in these NASA Spitzer Space Telescope images. 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.
Delta 7920H ELV
The Rocket that Didn't Launch Spitzer
A Delta II rocket, initially intended to launch the Spitzer Space Telescope on April 18, 2003. However, due to additional engineering tests that were needed on the rocket, the launch was delayed and the rocket was instead used to launch a Mars mission. Spitzer launched on a different rocket on...
Delta 7920H ELV
Spitzer Launch in Infrared
Screen grab from an infrared video of the launch of the Spitzer Space Telescope on August 25, 2003
Delta 7920H ELV
The Launch of Spitzer
The Spitzer Space Telescope was launched on a Delta II rocket on August 25, 2003 from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Delta 7920H ELV
Spitzer Launch in Infrared
Screen grab from an infrared video of the launch of the Spitzer Space Telescope on August 25, 2003
Delta 7920H ELV
The Launch of Spitzer
The Spitzer Space Telescope was launched on August 25, 2003 from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Delta 7920H ELV
The Launch of Spitzer
The Spitzer Space Telescope was launched on a Delta II rocket on August 25, 2003 from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Delta 7920H ELV
The Launch of Spitzer
The Spitzer Space Telescope was launched on a Delta II rocket on August 25, 2003 from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Delta 7920H ELV
Spitzer Launch in Infrared
Screen grab from an infrared video of the launch of the Spitzer Space Telescope on August 25, 2003
Delta 7920H ELV
Spitzer Launch in Infrared
Screen grab from an infrared video of the launch of the Spitzer Space Telescope on August 25, 2003
Delta 7920H ELV
Spitzer Launch in Infrared
Screen grab from an infrared video of the launch of the Spitzer Space Telescope on August 25, 2003
Delta 7920H ELV
The Launch of Spitzer
The Spitzer Space Telescope was launched on a Delta II rocket on August 25, 2003 from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Delta 7920H ELV
Spitzer Launch in Infrared
Screen grab from an infrared video of the launch of the Spitzer Space Telescope on August 25, 2003
Delta 7920H ELV
Spitzer Launch in Infrared
Screen grab from an infrared video of the launch of the Spitzer Space Telescope on August 25, 2003
Delta 7920H ELV
The Launch of Spitzer
The Spitzer Space Telescope was launched on a Delta II rocket on August 25, 2003 from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Delta 7920H ELV
Spitzer Launch in Infrared
Screen grab from an infrared video of the launch of the Spitzer Space Telescope on August 25, 2003
Delta 7920H ELV
Spitzer Launch in Infrared
Screen grab from an infrared video of the launch of the Spitzer Space Telescope on August 25, 2003
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Gantry Rollback
The gantry on the Delta II rocket that launched Spitzer is rolled back the day before the launch.
Delta 7920H ELV
Gantry Rollback
The gantry on the Delta II rocket that launched Spitzer is rolled back the day before the launch.
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Delta II in Visible and Infrared
Spitzer's Delta II rocket seen in visible and infrared light.
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Spitzer's Rocket
The rocked that launched the Spitzer Space Telescope, seen here on August 24, 2003, the day before the launch.
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Spitzer's Rocket
The rocked that launched the Spitzer Space Telescope, seen here on August 24, 2003, the day before the launch.
Delta 7920H ELV
Spitzer's Rocket
The rocked that launched the Spitzer Space Telescope, seen here on August 24, 2003, the day before the launch.
Delta 7920H ELV
Spitzer's Rocket
The rocked that launched the Spitzer Space Telescope, seen here on August 24, 2003, the day before the launch.
Delta 7920H ELV
Spitzer's Rocket
The rocked that launched the Spitzer Space Telescope, seen here on August 24, 2003, the day before the launch.
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Delta II in Visible and Infrared
Spitzer's Delta II rocket seen in visible and infrared light.
Delta 7920H ELV
Gantry Rollback
The gantry on the Delta II rocket that launched Spitzer is rolled back the day before the launch.
Delta 7920H ELV
Spitzer's Rocket
The rocked that launched the Spitzer Space Telescope, seen here on August 24, 2003, the day before the launch.
Delta 7920H ELV
Spitzer's Rocket
The rocked that launched the Spitzer Space Telescope, seen here on August 24, 2003, the day before the launch.
Delta 7920H ELV
Gantry Rollback
The gantry on the Delta II rocket that launched Spitzer is rolled back the day before the launch.
Spitzer Space Telescope
Spitzer Points Its High-Gain Antenna Towards the Earth
The Spitzer Space Telescope points its high-gain antenna towards the Earth for downlinking recent observations and uplinking new observing instructions.
Spitzer Space Telescope
Infrared View of Spitzer
Spitzer seen against the infrared sky. The band of light is the glowing dust emission from the Milky Way galaxy seen at 100 microns (as seen by the IRAS/COBE missions).
Spitzer Space Telescope
Spitzer Departing the Earth Soon After Launch
Spitzer departing the Earth soon after launch. Africa is prominently visible. The radio dish facilities at Hartebeesthoek, South Africa, played a vital role in early communications after launch.
Spitzer Space Telescope
Scale Model of Spitzer
A photograph of a one-fifth scale model of the Spitzer Space Telescope.
Spitzer Space Telescope
Spitzer Rendered against an Infrared (100 Micron) Sky
Spitzer seen against the infrared sky. The band of light is the glowing dust emission from the Milky Way galaxy seen at 100 microns (as seen by the IRAS/COBE missions).
Spitzer Space Telescope
Five Views of Spitzer
Spitzer rendered from five different angles. The Spitzer Space Telescope rendered from five different angles.
Spitzer Space Telescope
Artist's Conception of Spitzer Ejecting its Dust Cover
The Spitzer Space Telescope was launched with a dust cover protecting the telescope. This image shows the dust cover being ejected into space shortly after launch.
Spitzer Space Telescope
Scale Model of Spitzer
A photograph of a one-fifth scale model of the Spitzer Space Telescope.
Spitzer Space Telescope
Infrared View of Spitzer
Spitzer seen against the infrared sky. The band of light is the glowing dust emission from the Milky Way galaxy seen at 100 microns (as seen by the IRAS/COBE missions).
Spitzer Space Telescope
On the Rocket
Spitzer on its Delta II rocket. The Spitzer Space Telescope on August 14, 2003, atop the Delta II rocket that would launch it into space on August 25, 2003.
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Spitzer On Top
The Spitzer Space Telescope being enclosed into the faring on top of its Delta II rocket.
Spitzer Space Telescope
On the Rocket
Spitzer on its Delta II rocket. The Spitzer Space Telescope on August 14, 2003, atop the Delta II rocket that would launch it into space on August 25, 2003.
