Images Dated 16th March 2005

Constellation Auriga with halo effect

The constellation Auriga (the Charioteer). The brightest star seen here is Capella, a yellow giant some 48.5 light years distant. Just to the right of Capella is Epsilon Aurigae, a famous eclipsing binary about 3, 200 light years away. The visible star of Epsilon Aurigae is an extremely luminous supergiant, with an invisible partner, possibly a black hole. Auriga is a northern hemisphere constellation, near Orion in the Milky Way. The images of the stars of the constellation have been enhanced by a photographic technique

© John Sanford/Science Photo Library

Rp6Drnassmad

A Pink flamingo bird is seen at the Santillana del Mar's Zoo in northern Spain, March 16, 2005. Pictures of the Month March 2005. NO RIGHTS CLEARANCES OR PERMISSIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR THIS IMAGE. REUTERS/Victor Fraile VF/MD
Also See Image GF1DUBYFBGAA

Artwork of the Ariane 5 launcher with 2 satellites

Ariane 5 rocket. Artwork showing a cut-away view of the European Ariane 5 launcher. Ariane 5 consists of a large first stage (lower 2/3rds of the central vehicle) flanked by two solid rocket boosters, with a smaller second stage (top 1/3rd). Inside the second stage can be seen a pay- load of two satellites. Most of the first stage is taken up by the vast liquid hydrogen and liquid oxygen tanks, which feed the single Vulcain motor (bottom left). The second stage is powered by a DASA engine which uses storable propellants (dinitrogen tetroxide and monomethyl hydrazine). Ariane 5 may be used to launch satellites or a shuttle into orbit or for interplanetary missions

© DAVID DUCROS/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY