A powerful coronal mass ejection (CME) erupted from the Sun
January 8, 2012
The broad front of the particle cloud had already expanded to about 120 degrees when this image was taken. Here the Sun itself has been enlarged about 50% and superimposed on the background image to cover the coronagraph’s occulting disk. The occulting disk blocks out the Sun’s bright light so that the fainter structures in the corona can be observed. Both images are from NASA’s STEREO (Ahead) spacecraft.
(Credit: NASA STEREO)
“Mystic Mountain” (in the Carina Nebula)
A mountain of dust and gas rising in the Carina Nebula. The top of a three-light-year tall pillar of cool hydrogen is being worn away by the radiation of nearby stars, while stars within the pillar unleash jets of gas that stream from the peaks.
(image: NASA, ESA, and M. Livio & Hubble 20th Anniv. Team (STScI))
Grand Canyon Star Trails
Image Credit & Copyright: Babak Tafreshi (TWAN)
Moonrise Through Mauna Kea’s Shadow
Credit & Copyright: Michael Connelley
The Outer Shells of Centaurus A
Image Credit: E. Peng and H. Ford (JHU), K. Freeman (ANU), R. White (STScI), CTIO, NOAO, NSF
A pinkish-purple filament of hot plasma connects two sunspots in this ultraviolet view recorded by NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory spacecraft on Aug. 4, 2012. Credit: NASA/SDO (via Amazing Video Captures Magical-Looking Sun Storm)
SN 1957D in M83 in 60 Seconds (by cxcpub)
Over fifty years ago, a supernova was discovered in M83, a spiral galaxy about 15 million light years from Earth.
Anticrepuscular Rays Over Colorado
Credit & Copyright: John Britton
Mars Porn of the Day: NASA has just released a 360-degree interactive panoramic (embiggen image) of Mars, created from footage taken by the Opportunity rover between Dec. 21, 2011, and May 8, 2012, while the rover was stationed on an outcrop of the rim of the ancient Endeavour Crater.
While there are no alien life forms to be found — and, really, it’s pretty much just a tease for what is sure to be amazing footage from the much more technologically advanced Curiosity rover in the weeks to come — we’ll take it.
A message to future Martian settlers, appropriate today as we have wandered there, yet again. Hear the full beautiful message at the link.
(via melodicnotes)
