Images Dated 20th May 2004

Light echoes from exploding star

Light echoes from an exploding star. Hubble Space Telescope image of an illuminated dust shell around the star v838 Monocerotis. This star underwent a massive brightening in January 2002, temporarily becoming the brightest star in the galaxy. The light from this outburst reflects from a series of dust shells around the star, which are thought to have been ejected during previous activity. The phenomenon allows study of the fine structure of the dust shells, which could help explain why the star behaves as it does. This image was taken on 8th February 2004 by the Advanced Camera for Surveys

© NASA/ESA/STSCI/H.BOND/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Flame violet (Episcia sp.), a tropical plant native to Central and South America

Flame violet (Episcia sp.), tropical plant much cultivated as house plant for its attractive foliage. Native to Central and South America

© Muriel Hazan - Biosphoto / AUSCAPE

Decorative Plant, Episcia, Foliage, Gesneriaceae, Pot Plant, Tropical Plant

An A-10 Thunderbolt, F-86 Sabre, P-38 Lightning and P-51 Mustang in flight

A US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt attack aircraft (left), a F-86 Sabre jet fighter (middle), a vintage P-38 Lightning fighter aircraft (bottom), and a P-51 Mustang fighter aircraft participate in a Heritage Flight formation showing four generations of Air Force Fighters. The Heritage Flight was part of the Airpower over Hampton Roads show at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia

© Stocktrek Images