The Cosmic Steering Wheel: Galaxy NGC 1269 in Eridanus | Victor Blanco Telescope

The Cosmic Steering Wheel: Galaxy NGC 1269 in Eridanus | Victor Blanco Telescope

This image of NGC 1269 was taken utilizing the Department of Energy-fabricated Dark Energy Camera (DECam), mounted on the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) Víctor M. Blanco 4-meter Telescope at NSF Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory, a Program of NSF NOIRLab. 

NGC 1269 is an early-type spiral galaxy located about 33 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Eridanus. A bar, a feature common to many spiral galaxies, slices through the center of the galaxy. Surrounding the galactic core are both inner and outer disks, seeming to form ‘wheels’ around the core. Their presence is thought to be the result of a merger with another galaxy, and the inner disk is also believed to have been further shaped by density waves radiating outward from the galactic center. 

Data for this image came from the archive of the Dark Energy Survey (DES), operated by the DOE and NSF between 2013 and 2019 with the specially-designed DECam. The survey sought to study the nature of the elusive dark matter by imaging hundreds of millions of galaxies. Today, the DECam is available to other scientists for use on the Blanco telescope.

Dark Energy Camera (DECam)

https://noirlab.edu/public/programs/ctio/victor-blanco-4m-telescope/decam/

Learn about the Víctor M. Blanco Telescope:
https://noirlab.edu/science/programs/ctio/telescopes/victor-blanco-4m-telescope

Credit: Dark Energy Survey/DOE/FNAL/DECam/CTIO/NOIRLab/NSF/AURA
Image Processing: R. Colombari & M. Zamani (NSF NOIRLab)
Release Date: Feb. 25, 2026

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Galaxies #NGC1269 #CosmicSteeringWheel #EridanusConstellation #Cosmos #Universe #VictorBlancoTelescope #DECam #CTIO #CerroTololo #Chile #NOIRLab #NSF #DOE #AURA #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

NASA Artemis II Moon Rocket Rollback to Kennedy's Vehicle Assembly Building

NASA Artemis II Moon Rocket Rollback to Kennedy's Vehicle Assembly Building

NASA’s crawler-transporter 2, carrying NASA’s Artemis II Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft secured to mobile launcher 1, rolled back from Launch Complex 39B to the Vehicle Assembly Building (VAB) at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida to troubleshoot the flow of helium to the rocket’s upper stage, the interim cryogenic propulsion stage (ICPS). Once complete, the SLS rocket will return to Launch Complex 39B. A revised launch window has not yet been confirmed.

The Artemis II test flight will take Commander Reid Wiseman, Pilot Victor Glover, and Mission Specialist Christina Koch from NASA and Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen from the Canadian Space Agency (CSA), around the Moon and back to Earth 

Artemis II will pave the way for new U.S. crewed missions on the lunar surface in preparation to send the first astronauts to Mars. 

Read more about NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) rocket: nasa.gov/sls

Learn about United Launch Alliance's ICPS:

https://www.ulalaunch.com/interim-cryogenic-propulsion-stage-(icps)

NASA Artemis II Mission page updates:
https://www.nasa.gov/mission/artemis-ii/

Artemis Program blog: 

https://blogs.nasa.gov/artemis/

Image Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett/Brandon Hancock/John Kraus/Cory S Huston
Dates: Jan. 28-Feb. 25, 2026

#NASA #Space #Science #Earth #Moon #ArtemisProgram #ArtemisII #OrionSpacecraft #SLS #SLSRocket #ICPS #CrewedMissions #Astronauts #DeepSpace #MoonToMars #Engineering #SpaceTechnology #HumanSpaceflight #SolarSystem #SpaceExploration #KSC #MerrittIsland #Florida #UnitedStates #CSA #Canada #STEM #Education

The Landsat 9 Earth Satellite | NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

The Landsat 9 Earth Satellite | NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

For over 50 years, the Landsat program has provided the longest continuous satellite record of Earth's land surface from space. Landsat 9, launched in 2021, is the latest mission in this remarkable legacy—building on decades of Earth observation with upgraded technology, including enhanced radiometric resolution, improved signal-to-noise performance, and polar night thermal imaging. Working in tandem with Landsat 8 to map the entire planet every eight days, Landsat 9's data is being fused with the European Space Agency's Sentinel-2 satellites to enable near-daily global observations, delivering sharper, more detailed observations that help scientists and communities monitor a changing planet.

Learn more about Landsat-9
https://www.usgs.gov/landsat-missions/landsat-9

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center Chris Burns (eMITS): Writer/Producer
Ross Walter (SSAI): Visualizer
Duration: 6 minutes
Release Date: Feb. 26, 2026

 

#NASA #Space #Science #Satellites #LandsatProgram #Landsat9 #Landsat #Planets #Earth #Geology #Weather #Meteorology #EarthObservation #RemoteSensing #Environment #NaturalResources #GSFC #USGS #NorthropGrumman #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Star Trails and Earth City Lights | International Space Station

Star Trails and Earth City Lights | International Space Station

Expedition 74 Flight Engineer and NASA Astronaut Chris Williams aboard the International Space Station shared this photo. Star trails and city lights streak by in this long-duration photograph—exposed for nearly nine-and-a-half minutes—taken from the International Space Station as it orbited 260 miles above the Middle East. In the upper foreground is the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency's HTV-X1 cargo craft, berthed to the Harmony module’s Earth-facing port, with the Canadarm2 robotic arm attached to a portable data grapple fixture in front. At bottom right is a portion of the Northrop Grumman Cygnus XL cargo craft. 

Follow Expedition 74:
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 74 Crew
Station Commander: Sergey-Kud Sverchkov (Russia)
Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineers: Andrey Fedyaev, Sergei Mikaev

European Space Agency Flight Engineer: Sophie Adenot

NASA Flight Engineers: Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Chris Williams

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada.

Credit: NASA/Chris Williams
Release Date: Feb. 19, 2026

#NASA #Space #ISS #Science #Earth #MiddleEast #HTV-X1CargoSpacecraft #CygnusXLCargoSpacecraft #Astronauts #ChrisWilliams #AstronautPhotography #Cosmonauts #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #HumanSpaceflight #InternationalCooperation #Expedition74 #JSC #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

"Star Light, Star Bright" | International Space Station

"Star Light, Star Bright" | International Space Station

Former Expedition 74 flight engineer and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) astronaut Kim Yui captured this view of the sun beginning to set above Earth's atmospheric glow (airglow) blanketing a cloudy Atlantic Ocean. The International Space Station was orbiting 260 miles above the Earth off the coast of Florida when this photograph was taken. In the foreground, are a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft (lower left) and a set of the orbital outpost's solar arrays (right). 

You will notice red and green airglow in this image. Airglow occurs when atoms and molecules in the Earth's upper atmosphere, excited by sunlight, emit light to shed their excess energy. Or, it can happen when atoms and molecules that have been ionized by sunlight collide with and capture a free electron. In both cases, they eject a particle of light—called a photon—in order to relax again. The phenomenon is similar to auroras, but where auroras are driven by high-energy particles originating from the solar wind, airglow is energized by ordinary, day-to-day solar radiation.

The nursery rhyme "Star Light, Star Bright" is a traditional English-language nursery rhyme of American origin, with documented beginnings tracing back to the mid to late 19th century. It is rooted in the superstition that wishing upon the first star seen at night can lead to a true wish being granted. The rhyme has been recorded in various works since at least 1866 and has spread worldwide, becoming a beloved part of childhood tradition.

"Star light, star bright,
First star I see tonight;
I wish I may, I wish I might
Have the wish I wish tonight."

Follow Expedition 74:
https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 74 Crew
Station Commander: Sergey-Kud Sverchkov (Russia)
Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineers: Andrey Fedyaev, Sergei Mikaev

European Space Agency Flight Engineer: Sophie Adenot

NASA Flight Engineers: Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Chris Williams

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada.

Image Credit: JAXA/Kimiya Yui
Image Date: Jan. 6, 2026

#NASA #Space #ISS #Science #Planets #Earth #Airglow #Stars #Sun #NurseryRhymes #Astronauts #UnitedStates #KimiyaYui #AstronautPhotography #Japan #日本 #JAXA #宇宙航空研究開発機構 #Cosmonauts #Russia #Roscosmos #HumanSpaceflight #SpaceLaboratory #InternationalCooperation #Expedition74 #STEM #Education

Zooming into Gas at The Milky Way's Core | ALMA

Zooming into Gas at The Milky Way's Core | ALMA

This video zooms into the complex molecular gas in the center of the Milky Way—a chaotic and extreme environment where stars do not necessarily form in the same way as they do in the outskirts of our galaxy. It is called the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ). 

The video combines images taken with telescopes at various times and wavelengths. The clip begins with a wide view of the night sky in visible light, and ends with an image taken at millimeter wavelengths with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). Molecules are shown in distinct colors.

Cold molecular gas flows along filaments feeding into clumps of matter that stars can grow from. In the outskirts of the Milky Way we know how this process happens, but within the central region the events are much more extreme. “The CMZ hosts some of the most massive stars known in our galaxy, many of which live fast and die young, ending their lives in powerful supernova explosions, and even hypernovae,” says ACES leader Steve Longmore, a professor of astrophysics at Liverpool John Moores University, UK. With ACES, astronomers hope to better understand how these phenomena influence the birth of stars and whether our theories of star formation hold in extreme environments.

“By studying how stars are born in the CMZ, we can also gain a clearer picture of how galaxies grew and evolved,” Longmore adds. “We believe the region shares many features with galaxies in the early Universe, where stars were forming in chaotic, extreme environments.”

Credit: ESO/L. Calçada/N. Risinger/Digitized Sky Survey 2/ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/S. Longmore et al.
Duration: 51 seconds
Release Date: Feb. 25, 2026

#NASA #Astronomy #Science #Space #CentralMolecularZone #CMZ #MolecularGas #MilkyWayGalaxy #Universe #ESO #ALMA #RadioAstronomy #Europe #UnitedStates #VISTA #InfraredAstronomy #Chile #STEM #Education #HD #Video

The Hidden Chemistry at The Heart of Our Galaxy | ALMA

The Hidden Chemistry at The Heart of Our Galaxy | ALMA

   

This video explores the molecular gas in the center of the Milky Way in unprecedented detail. This new image, obtained with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), shows the distribution of molecules, each displayed in a distinct color. This map will allow astronomers to understand how stars form in the extreme and chaotic environment in the center of our galaxy.

This map is part of ACES—the ALMA CMZ Exploration Survey—a project designed to understand how gas condenses into stars in the extreme and chaotic environment at the heart of our galaxy. The survey has charted the distribution of dozens of molecule types, five are shown here: sulphur monoxide (cyan), silicon monoxide (green), isocyanic acid (red), cyanoacetylene (blue), and carbon monosulphide (magenta).

Cold molecular gas flows along filaments feeding into clumps of matter out of which stars can grow. In the outskirts of the Milky Way we know how this process happens, but within the central region the events are much more extreme. “The CMZ hosts some of the most massive stars known in our galaxy, many of which live fast and die young, ending their lives in powerful supernova explosions, and even hypernovae,” says ACES leader Steve Longmore, a professor of astrophysics at Liverpool John Moores University, UK. With ACES, astronomers hope to better understand how these phenomena influence the birth of stars and whether our theories of star formation hold in extreme environments.

“By studying how stars are born in the CMZ, we can also gain a clearer picture of how galaxies grew and evolved,” Longmore adds. “We believe the region shares many features with galaxies in the early Universe, where stars were forming in chaotic, extreme environments.”

Credit: ALMA (ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/S. Longmore et al. Background: ESO/D. Minniti et al.
Script: J. C. Muñoz
Editing: M. Martins
Duration: 1 minute
Release Date: Feb. 25, 2026

#NASA #Astronomy #Science #Space #CentralMolecularZone #CMZ #MolecularGas #MilkyWayGalaxy #Universe #ESO #ALMA #RadioAstronomy #Europe #UnitedStates #VISTA #InfraredAstronomy #Chile #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) of The Milky Way | ALMA

Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) of The Milky Way | ALMA

This image shows the complex distribution of molecular gas in the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) of the Milky Way. It was obtained with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). The European Southern Observatory is a partner. This map is as long as three full Moons side-by-side in the sky, and it is in fact the largest ALMA image ever obtained.

This image shows the location of the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ), a region at the core of our galaxy rich in dense and intricate gas clouds. This zone has been mapped with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), as part of the ALMA CMZ Exploration Survey or ACES. The inset is an ACES image where molecules are displayed in a variety of colors. The entire image – the largest ever made with ALMA—is as long as three full Moons side-by-side in the sky.

A wispy cosmic cloud against a dark starry background. The cloud is horizontally elongated. It has an overall pinkish shade, but it is full of intricate filaments in distinct colors.

This image shows the complex distribution of molecular gas in the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) of the Milky Way. It was obtained with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA). The European Southern Observatory is a partner. This map is as long as three full Moons side-by-side in the sky, and it is in fact the largest ALMA image ever obtained.

This map is part of ACES—the ALMA CMZ Exploration Survey—a project designed to understand how gas condenses into stars in the extreme and chaotic environment at the heart of our galaxy. The survey has charted the distribution of dozens of molecule types, five are shown here: sulphur monoxide (cyan), silicon monoxide (green), isocyanic acid (red), cyanoacetylene (blue), and carbon monosulphide (magenta).

The stars in the foreground of this image were observed at infrared wavelengths (Y, Z and J filters) with ESO’s Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA) telescope as part of another project. The actual density of stars in the CMZ is much higher than what is shown here, where we have opted to highlight the details in the molecular cloud. Note that the edges of the ALMA map appear sharper because the ALMA observations do not cover the entire rectangular area here.

Cold molecular gas flows along filaments feeding into clumps of matter that stars can grow from. In the outskirts of the Milky Way we know how this process happens, but within the central region the events are much more extreme. “The CMZ hosts some of the most massive stars known in our galaxy, many of which live fast and die young, ending their lives in powerful supernova explosions, and even hypernovae,” says ACES leader Steve Longmore, a professor of astrophysics at Liverpool John Moores University, UK. With ACES, astronomers hope to better understand how these phenomena influence the birth of stars and whether our theories of star formation hold in extreme environments.

“By studying how stars are born in the CMZ, we can also gain a clearer picture of how galaxies grew and evolved,” Longmore adds. “We believe the region shares many features with galaxies in the early Universe, where stars were forming in chaotic, extreme environments.”

Credit: ALMA(ESO/NAOJ/NRAO)/S. Longmore et al. Background: ESO/D. Minniti et al.
Release Date: Feb. 25, 2026

#NASA #Astronomy #Science #Space #CentralMolecularZone #CMZ #MolecularGas #MilkyWayGalaxy #Universe #ESO #ALMA #RadioAstronomy #Europe #UnitedStates #VISTA #InfraredAstronomy #Chile #STEM #Education

A Quick Listen to This Month's "Planetary Parade" | NASA Chandra

A Quick Listen to This Month's "Planetary Parade" | NASA Chandra

In late February 2026, people in the northern hemisphere can look up for a special sight—six planets will all be visible from clear and dark night skies. Since the planets in our Solar System travel around the Sun in same plane, known as the ecliptic, they will sometimes appear bunched together on the sky if their orbits find them on the same side of the Sun at the same time. When this happens, it looks like the planets have roughly formed a line from our vantage point on Earth.

New sonifications from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory help commemorate this latest so-called planetary parade. In the latest sonifications, three of the planets that will be on display—Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus—can be seen and heard in ways that they cannot from the ground on Earth.

While Chandra is best known for its X-ray insight into black holes and other extreme objects, the telescope has also played an important role in the exploration of our Solar System. The Sun gives off X-rays that travel out into the Solar System and can be reflected by planets, moons, and other bodies. This gives astronomers a unique window into certain physics that cannot be discovered through other kinds of telescopes.

The sonification of Jupiter combines X-ray data from Chandra with an infrared image from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. Woodwind sounds reveal Chandra’s X-ray data including emission from the planet’s auroras. More instruments join in to represent the planet’s complex cloud layers. Next, by combining an optical image from NASA’s Cassini mission with X-rays from Chandra, we can experience Saturn like never before. A siren-like sound follows the arc of the rings and tones of synthesizers play as the scan passes the planet itself. Finally, we can hear the ice giant of Uranus through the data collected by Chandra and the W.M. Keck Observatory. The data in this sonification reflect the amount of the different light detected from the planet and the orientation of its ring.

Sonifications are translations of astronomical data into sounds. This process of translation preserves the integrity of the data that arrives on Earth as a series of ones and zeroes (binary code), and shifts it into a form that our brains can process through hearing. Sonifications expand options for people to explore what telescopes discover in space, an example of NASA’s ongoing commitment to share its data as widely as possible.

Video Credit: NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory
Duration: 46 seconds

Release Date: Feb. 25, 2026

#NASA #ESA #Astronomy #Space #Science #SolarSystem #Planets #Jupiter #Saturn #Uranus  #Cosmos #Universe #NASAChandra #XrayAstronomy #CXC #UnitedStates #Canada #Europe #STEM #Education #Sonifications #Audio #HD #Video

A "Planetary Parade" of Sonifications | NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory

A "Planetary Parade" of Sonifications | NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory

In late February 2026, people in the northern hemisphere can look up for a special sight—six planets will all be visible from clear and dark night skies. Since the planets in our Solar System travel around the Sun in same plane, known as the ecliptic, they will sometimes appear bunched together on the sky if their orbits find them on the same side of the Sun at the same time. When this happens, it looks like the planets have roughly formed a line from our vantage point on Earth.

New sonifications from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory help commemorate this latest so-called planetary parade. In the latest sonifications, three of the planets that will be on display—Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus—can be seen and heard in ways that they cannot from the ground on Earth.

While Chandra is best known for its X-ray insight into black holes and other extreme objects, the telescope has also played an important role in the exploration of our Solar System. The Sun gives off X-rays that travel out into the Solar System and can be reflected by planets, moons, and other bodies. This gives astronomers a unique window into certain physics that cannot be discovered through other kinds of telescopes.

The sonification of Jupiter combines X-ray data from Chandra with an infrared image from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope. Woodwind sounds reveal Chandra’s X-ray data including emission from the planet’s auroras. More instruments join in to represent the planet’s complex cloud layers. Next, by combining an optical image from NASA’s Cassini mission with X-rays from Chandra, we can experience Saturn like never before. A siren-like sound follows the arc of the rings and tones of synthesizers play as the scan passes the planet itself. Finally, we can hear the ice giant of Uranus through the data collected by Chandra and the W.M. Keck Observatory. The data in this sonification reflect the amount of the different light detected from the planet and the orientation of its ring.

Sonifications are translations of astronomical data into sounds. This process of translation preserves the integrity of the data that arrives on Earth as a series of ones and zeroes (binary code), and shifts it into a form that our brains can process through hearing. Sonifications expand options for people to explore what telescopes discover in space, an example of NASA’s ongoing commitment to share its data as widely as possible.

Video Credit: NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory
Duration: 3 minutes, 18 seconds

Release Date: Feb. 25, 2026

#NASA #ESA #Astronomy #Space #Science #SolarSystem #Planets #Jupiter #Saturn #Uranus  #Cosmos #Universe #NASAChandra #XrayAstronomy #CXC #UnitedStates #Canada #Europe #STEM #Education #Sonifications #Audio #HD #Video

PMR 1: The Exposed Cranium Nebula in Vela (MIRI image) | Webb Telescope

PMR 1: The Exposed Cranium Nebula in Vela (MIRI image) | Webb Telescope

Exposed Cranium Nebula (MIRI image)

The differences in what Webb’s infrared instruments reveal and conceal within the PMR 1 “Exposed Cranium” nebula is apparent in this side-by-side view. More stars and background galaxies shine through the view of Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), while cosmic dust glows more prominently in the light captured by the Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI).

In this image captured by the NASA/European Space Agency/Canadian Space Agency James Webb Space Telescope’s Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), more of the dusty material in the nebula PMR located in the Vela constellation shows up. Fewer stars and background galaxies appear in this image than in the near-infrared light captured by Webb’s  Near-Infrared Camera NIRCam instrument. Seeing the nebula in distinct wavelengths of infrared light gives astronomers a better idea of how much material the dying star at the heart of the nebula is shedding, and what phase of its decline Webb has captured.

Distance from Earth: ~5,000 light years

Like NIRCam, MIRI also shows two distinct phases of the nebula’s formation—an outer shell primarily of hydrogen that was blown off first, then a more complex and structured mix of material closer to the centre of the nebula. Together, these give the nebula the unusual appearance of a brain inside a semi-transparent skull.

The MIRI instrument shows the ejection of material at the top of the nebula more prominently than NIRCam, interrupting the overall oval, brain-like shape. Less prominent is a potential twin ejection on the opposite, bottom side, hinting at a potential bipolar outflow that, with further analysis, can shed light on the dynamics at play inside this “exposed cranium.”

Image Description: A nebula appears like a transparent bubble with a blue edge, inside which are two hemispheres of off-white material being blown out from the center, interspersed vertically by a dark lane that gives the overall appearance of a brain seen from above. At the top of the nebula the dark lane ends in an oval with the inner off-white material arcing overtop, giving the impression of an eruption. The bottom of the nebula mirrors this effect, but less dramatically. A few scattered background galaxies can be seen around the outer bubble.

Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, 

Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI) 
Release Date: Feb. 25, 2026

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Nebulae #PlanetaryNebulae #PMR1 #ExposedCraniumNebula #VelaConstellation #Cosmos #Universe #JWST #NIRCam #InfraredAstronomy #SpaceTelescopes #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #ESA #Europe #CSA #Canada #STEM #Education

PMR 1—The Exposed Cranium Nebula: MIRI & NIRCam images | Webb Telescope

PMR 1—The Exposed Cranium Nebula: MIRI & NIRCam images | Webb Telescope

Nebula PMR 1 is a cloud of gas and dust located in the Vela constellation that bears an uncanny resemblance to a brain in a transparent skull, inspiring its nickname, the “Exposed Cranium” nebula. The NASA/European Space Agency/Canadian Space Agency James Webb Space Telescope Webb captured its unusual features in both near- and mid-infrared light using two instruments that reveal enhancing details of the nebula’s brain-like appearance.

Distance from Earth: ~5,000 light years

The first image shown that reveals the light captured by Mid-Infrared Instrument (MIRI), while stars and background galaxies shine through in the second image from Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam).

The dark center lane that contributes to this nebula’s distinctive brain-like appearance is more noticeable in NIRCam, but its apparent role in the ejection of material at the top and bottom of the nebula is seen more clearly in MIRI’s view. Observing the cosmos in multiple wavelengths of light provides a more complete picture of how the universe works.

Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, N. Bartmann (ESA/Webb)

Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI)

Duration: 30 seconds
Release Date: Feb. 25, 2026

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Nebulae #PlanetaryNebulae #PMR1 #ExposedCraniumNebula #VelaConstellation #Cosmos #Universe #JWST #NIRCam #MIRI #InfraredAstronomy #SpaceTelescopes #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #ESA #Europe #CSA #Canada #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Close-up: PMR 1—The Exposed Cranium Nebula in Vela | Webb Telescope

Close-up: PMR 1—The Exposed Cranium Nebula in Vela | Webb Telescope

A distinct dark lane between two cosmic clouds adds to the brainy appearance of the planetary nebula PMR 1 located in the Vela constellation. The Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) instrument on the NASA/European Space Agency/Canadian Space Agency James Webb Space Telescope shows multiple phases of a dying star’s outbursts in one image—the skull-like, whitish outer bubble is from an initial ejection, mostly of hydrogen, followed by other heavier material, shown in orange in the nebula’s interior. As with many NIRCam images, many stars and even distant galaxies can be seen behind the nebula.

Distance from Earth: ~5,000 light years

Beyond its unusual appearance there is still much to be uncovered about PMR 1. It is unclear if the star creating the nebula is massive enough to undergo a supernova, or if it will evolve into a dense white dwarf once it has shed all its outer layers.

Image Description: A nebula appears like a transparent bubble with a white edge. Inside are two hemispheres of orange clouds being blown out from the center, split by a dark lane, giving the overall appearance of a see-through skull with a brain inside, as seen from above. A few stars appear with six points, and small background galaxies can be seen around and through the outer bubble.

Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, N. Bartmann (ESA/Webb)

Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI)

Duration: 30 seconds
Release Date: Feb. 25, 2026

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Nebulae #PlanetaryNebulae #PMR1 #ExposedCraniumNebula #VelaConstellation #Cosmos #Universe #JWST #NIRCam #InfraredAstronomy #SpaceTelescopes #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #ESA #Europe #CSA #Canada #STEM #Education #HD #Video

PMR 1: The Exposed Cranium Nebula in Vela (NIRCam image) | Webb Telescope

PMR 1: The Exposed Cranium Nebula in Vela (NIRCam image) | Webb Telescope

A distinct dark lane between two cosmic clouds adds to the brainy appearance of the planetary nebula PMR 1 located in the Vela constellation. The Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) instrument on the NASA/European Space Agency/Canadian Space Agency James Webb Space Telescope shows multiple phases of a dying star’s outbursts in one image—the skull-like, whitish outer bubble is from an initial ejection, mostly of hydrogen, followed by other heavier material, shown in orange in the nebula’s interior. As with many NIRCam images, many stars and even distant galaxies can be seen behind the nebula.

Distance from Earth: ~5,000 light years

Beyond its unusual appearance there is still much to be uncovered about PMR 1. It is unclear if the star creating the nebula is massive enough to undergo a supernova, or if it will evolve into a dense white dwarf once it has shed all its outer layers.

Image Description: A nebula appears like a transparent bubble with a white edge. Inside are two hemispheres of orange clouds being blown out from the center, split by a dark lane, giving the overall appearance of a see-through skull with a brain inside, as seen from above. A few stars appear with six points, and small background galaxies can be seen around and through the outer bubble.

Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, 

Image Processing: Joseph DePasquale (STScI) 
Release Date: Feb. 25, 2026

#NASA #Astronomy #Space #Science #Nebulae #PlanetaryNebulae #PMR1 #ExposedCraniumNebula #VelaConstellation #Cosmos #Universe #JWST #NIRCam #InfraredAstronomy #SpaceTelescopes #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #ESA #Europe #CSA #Canada #STEM #Education

Saturn Quadruple Moon Transit | Hubble Space Telescope

Saturn Quadruple Moon Transit | Hubble Space Telescope

This Hubble video shows four of Saturn's moons moving across the face of their parent planet on February 24, 2009. Icy moons Enceladus and Dione are on the far left, while the large orange moon Titan and icy Mimas are on the right. The closer the moon is to Saturn, the faster it orbits, according to the laws of gravity.

In astronomy, a transit (or astronomical transit) is the passage of a celestial body directly between a larger body and the observer. As viewed from a particular vantage point, the transiting body appears to move across the face of the larger body, covering a small portion of it.

Credit: NASA, ESA, and G. Bacon (STScI)
Duration: 33 seconds
Release Date: Feb. 24, 2026

#NASA #Hubble #Astronomy #Space #Science #Planets #Saturn #Moons #Titan #Enceladus #Dione #Mimas #SolarSystem #HubbleSpaceTelescope #HST #ESA #GSFC #STScI #STEM #Education #Timelapse #HD #Video

Open Star Cluster NGC 2477 in Puppis | European Southern Observatory

Open Star Cluster NGC 2477 in Puppis | European Southern Observatory

NGC 2477 (also known as Caldwell 71) is an open star cluster in the constellation Puppis. It contains about 300 stars, and was discovered by Abbe Lacaille in 1751. The cluster's age has been estimated at about 700 million years.

Distance from Earth: ~3600 light years

NGC 2477 is a stunning cluster, almost as extensive in the sky as the full moon. It has been called "one of the top open clusters in the sky", like a highly-resolved globular cluster without the dense center characteristic of globular clusters.

Credit: ESO/J.Pérez
Release Date: April 16, 2013

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