Astrophysics Collection (page 20)

SDO view of the Sun eclipsed by Earth. The Solar Dynamics Observatory (SDO) is an Earth-orbiting spacecraft launched in 2010 by NASA and used to observe the Sun

Cosmic rays, artwork
Cosmic rays. Artwork of high-energy particles and radiation from space (cosmic rays) impacting molecules and atoms in the Earths atmosphere

Nemesis star, artwork
Nemesis star. Computer artwork of the star Nemesis, a hypothetical companion star to the Sun (upper left). It is thought that Nemesis is either a red or brown dwarf that moves in an elliptical orbit

Northern Lights explained, artwork C016 / 8113
Northern Lights explained. Computer artwork showing the explosion of energy (bright, right) responsible for sudden increases in the brightness and movement of the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis)

1874 Transit of Venus chart, egress 2 (exterior contact). This transit took place on 8-9 December 1874. Such transits (where Venus passes across the Sun as seen from the Earth) are rare

1874 Transit of Venus chart, ingress 2 (interior contact). This transit took place on 8-9 December 1874. Such transits (where Venus passes across the Sun as seen from the Earth) are rare

1874 Transit of Venus chart, egress 1 (interior contact). This transit took place on 8-9 December 1874. Such transits (where Venus passes across the Sun as seen from the Earth) are rare

Crawford Observatory, Queens College (now University College), Cork, Ireland. This observatory, erected in 1880, is named after William Crawford who funded its construction and outfitting

Windsor Observatory, Windsor, New South Wales, Australia. This observatory was built in 1864 by Australian astronomer John Tebbutt (1834-1916)

Sydney Observatory, Observatory Hill, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. This hilltop area, overlooking the bay below, was originally the site of a windmill in 1796, then a fort in 1803

US Naval Observatory, Washington DC, USA. The USNO was established in 1830 to provide astronomical timings and data for US shipping

Greenwich Observatory, 1851
Greenwich Observatory. 19th-century chromolithograph of people and deer in Greenwich Park, London, England, with Flamsteed House, the main building of the Royal Observatory, Greenwich

Observatory House, Princeton, 1883. This building and its telescope dome (left) was erected in 1877 to provide Princeton University, New Jersey, USA, with a working telescope

Bidston Hill Observatory and Lighthouse. Postcard of the observatory (left, 1866) and lighthouse (1873) erected at Bidston Hill, on the Wirral Peninsula, near Birkenhead, UK

Bidston Hill Observatory. Postcard of the observatory erected in 1866 at Bidston Hill, on the Wirral Peninsula, near Birkenhead, UK

Ochtertyre Observatory. Amateur astronomers using telescopes at Ochtertyre Observatory, Perthshire, Scotland. This observatory was erected in 1852 by Scottish baronet Sir William Keith Murray

Dark matter, conceptual image C013 / 5592
Dark matter, conceptual image. Computer artwork representing the presence of dark matter in the universe. Dark matter is a form of matter that cannot be detected by telescopes as it emits no

Carina Nebula features, HST image C013 / 5586
Carina Nebula features, HST image. These pillars of gas and dust (upper centre) within the Carina Nebula are Herbig-Haro Objects (HH 901 and HH 902)

Spiral galaxy M66, HST image C013 / 5579
Spiral galaxy M66, Hubble Space Telescope (HST) image. It is thought the asymmetric arms of this galaxy are due to gravitational interactions with two neighbouring galaxies M65 and NGC3627

Solar system planetary orbits, artwork. The Sun is at centre, with planetary orbits marked by blue ellipses. The four rocky planets of the inner solar system, moving outwards from the Sun

Star types, artwork
Star types. Computer artwork showing the various sizes and types of stars in the Universe

Big Bang vs Big Bounce, artwork
Big Bounce vs Big Bang. Computer artwork comparing the Big Bang theory (bottom) with the Big Bounce theory (top) of the formation of the known universe

Big Bounce cyclic double universe, conceptual image. Computer artwork representing the presence of a cyclic double universe as proposed by the Big Bounce theory of the formation of the known

Alien planet HD 189733b and stellar flare. Artwork of the exoplanet HD 189733b seen from its moon during a stellar flare. This Jupiter-sized planet is around 63 light years away in the constellation

Triangulum Galaxy, 19th century
Triangulum Galaxy. 19th-century astronomical observation of the Triangulum Galaxy (M33, NGC 598). North is at top. At the time, such objects were still thought to be nebulae

Whirlpool Galaxy, 19th century
Whirlpool Galaxy. 19th-century astronomical observation of the Whirlpool Galaxy (M51a, NGC 5194) and its smaller companion galaxy (NGC 5195, M51b). North is at top

Andromeda Galaxy, 19th century
Andromeda Galaxy. 19th-century astronomical observation of the Andromeda Galaxy (M31, NGC 224). North is at left. At the time, such objects were still thought to be nebulae

Pleiades open star cluster, 19th century
Pleiades open star cluster. 19th-century astronomical observation of the Pleiades open star cluster (M45) and its associated nebulosity. North is at top

Ring Nebula, 19th century
Ring Nebula. 19th-century astronomical observation of the planetary nebula now called the Ring Nebula (M57, NGC 6720). North is at top

Orion Nebula, 19th century
Orion Nebula. 19th-century astronomical observation of the Orion Nebula (M42, NGC 1976). North is at top. This active region of star formation is visible to the naked eye

Dumbbell Nebula, 19th century
Dumbbell Nebula. 19th-century astronomical observation of the Dumbbell Nebula (M27, NGC 6853). North is at top. This planetary nebula consists of an expanding shell of material ejected from a star

S Monocerotis star, 19th century
S Monocerotis star. 19th-century astronomical observation of the stars Monocerotis (15 Monocerotis). North is at top. The star is at centre

Leviathan of Birr, Ireland, 19th century
Leviathan of Birr. 19th-century artwork of the 6-foot telescope erected in 1845 at Birr Castle, Parsonstown, Ireland, by the Irish astronomer William Parsons (1800-1867), 3rd Earl of Rosse

Open star cluster M46, 19th century
Open star cluster M46. 19th-century astronomical observation of the open star cluster M46 (NGC 2437). North is at top. Also visible near centre as a nebulosity around one of the stars is

Centaurus A galaxy, HST image
Centaurus A galaxy. Hubble Space Telescope (HST) image of the active galaxy Centaurus A, which is thought to house a massive black hole

Spiral galaxy, HST image
Spiral galaxy. Hubble Space Telescope (HST) image of the barred spiral glaxay NGC 6384, with stars of our galaxy, the Milky Way in the foreground

Monkey Head Nebula, HST image C013 / 5760
Monkey Head Nebula. Hubble Space Telescope (HST) image of pillars of glowing gas and dark dust in the Monkey Head Nebula (NGC 2174)

Nebula and star cluster NGC 6604 C014 / 5043
Nebula and star cluster NGC 6604, optical and ultraviolet image. NGC 6604 is the bright grouping of stars at upper left. It is a young star cluster that is the densest part of a more widely scattered

Von Neumann probe at planet, artwork C015 / 0805
Von Neumann probe at planet. Artwork of a self-replicating spacecraft (upper left) exploring a distant alien world. This type of self-replicating spacecraft

W33A protostar accretion disc, artwork C015 / 0806
W33A protostar accretion disc. Artwork of the accretion disc (yellow-orange), the outer torus (cloudy, dusty ring), and polar outflow jets (blue)

Matterhorn and observatory. View past the observatory on the Gornergrat ridge towards the east face of the Matterhorn. The Matterhorn (German), Monte Cervino (Italian) or Mont Cervin (French)

Planetary dust ring changes, artwork C015 / 0803
Planetary dust ring changes. Artwork showing a post-dust stage in the formation of planets around the parent star of the TYC 8241 2652 system

Planetary dust ring changes, artwork C015 / 0804
Planetary dust ring changes. Artwork showing a dusty stage in the formation of planets around the parent star of the TYC 8241 2652 system

COSMOS region in Sextans, VISTA image C014 / 5041
COSMOS region in Sextans. Deep-field image obtained by the VISTA (Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy) telescope

Supernova and Earth, artwork C015 / 0802
Supernova and Earth. Artwork of a supernova (upper right) occurring relatively near Earth. This is the explosive death of a massive star as it collapses after running out of fuel

NGC 4889 galactic black hole, artwork C015 / 0801
NGC 4889 galactic black hole. Artwork of stars in an elliptical galaxy clustered around a supermassive black hole (upper right) of about 10 billion solar masses

T Cha system and dust ring, artwork C014 / 5045
T Cha system and dust ring. Artwork showing the dusty ring and disc (blue) surrounding the young star T Cha (bright object, upper left)

Solar Probe at the Sun, artwork
Solar Probe at the Sun. Artwork of the Solar Probe spacecraft at the Sun. This proposed NASA mission to study the Sun was an early version of what is now called Solar Probe Plus

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Astrophysics, the captivating realm where science and wonder intertwine, unveils the secrets of our vast universe. From the iconic "Pale Blue Dot" image captured by Voyager 1 to the mesmerizing Hubble Ultra Deep Field 2012 photograph, astrophysics continues to expand our cosmic understanding. In 1919, during a solar eclipse, Sir Arthur Eddington's groundbreaking experiment confirmed Einstein's theory of general relativity. This pivotal moment paved the way for further astronomical breakthroughs. Gazing at Orion's Belt in awe, we are reminded of its celestial beauty and significance within our night sky. The Hubble Ultra Deep Field galaxies capture our imagination as they reveal countless distant galaxies scattered across space-time. The MAP microwave background survey provided us with an unprecedented glimpse into the early universe, uncovering ancient patterns imprinted on cosmic radiation. Meanwhile, the ethereal glow of the Orion Nebula showcases stellar birth in all its splendor. Amongst these wonders lies one of nature's most breathtaking creations: The Pillars of Creation. These colossal gas and dust structures within M16 remind us that even amidst chaos, beauty emerges. Delving deeper into nebulae like Sh 2-106 through stunning images from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope leaves us awestruck by their intricate formations and vibrant colors. Witnessing gas pillars in the Eagle Nebula evokes a sense of both fragility and resilience found throughout space. Revisiting history once more brings us back to that transformative moment during a solar eclipse in 1919 when scientific theories were validated against nature itself. It was then that humanity took another step towards unraveling universal mysteries. Lastly, we encounter the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), an echo from nearly fourteen billion years ago when light first permeated our expanding cosmos after the Big Bang. This faint radiation holds vital clues about our origins and paints a vivid picture of how everything began.