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Have a Cosmic Christmas! Panning across Galaxy NGC 4696 | Hubble
This picture, taken by Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys, is not just a beautiful snapshot of NGC 4696, the largest galaxy in the Centaurus Cluster (galaxy cluster Abell 3526). It is also an illustration of the rich variety of objects that astronomers can see with the NASA/European Space Agency Hubble Space Telescope.
Credit: European Space Agency (ESA)/Hubble and NASA
This picture, taken by Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys, shows NGC 4696, the largest galaxy in the Centaurus Cluster.
Distance:120 million light years
The huge dust lane, around 30,000 light-years across, that sweeps across the face of the galaxy makes NGC 4696 look different from most other elliptical galaxies. Viewed at certain wavelengths, strange thin filaments of ionized hydrogen are visible within it. In this picture, these structures are visible as a subtle marbling effect across the galaxy’s bright center.
Credit: European Space Agency (ESA)/Hubble and NASA
¡Feliz Navidad desde la Estación Espacial Internacional!
"Del espacio a tu casa: ¡El astronauta de la NASA Frank Rubio, junto con sus compañeros de la Expedición 68 de la Estación Espacial Internacional, te desean una feliz Navidad!"
NASA Astronauts Frank Rubio, Nicole Mann, Josh Cassada, and JAXA astronaut Koichi Wakata (Japan) wish everyone Happy Holidays from the International Space Station.
This Year @NASA: An Astronomical and Historic 2022: What We Did!
In 2022, we launched our mega Moon rocket for the first time—sending the uncrewed Orion spacecraft around the Moon, we kicked off a new era in astronomy with record-breaking new imagery from the Webb Space Telescope, we moved an asteroid in humanity’s first ever planetary defense demonstration and much more. Here’s a look back at those and other things we did, this year @NASA!
Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
A spectacular head-on collision between two galaxies has been captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, which has the unusual triangular-shaped star-birthing frenzy.
The interacting galaxy duo is collectively called Arp 143. The pair contains the distorted, star-forming spiral galaxy NGC 2445, at right, along with its less flashy companion, NGC 2444, at left. This frenzied action takes place against the tapestry of distant galaxies. Some of them can be seen through the interacting pair.
Credit: NASA, European Space Agency (ESA), Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), and J. Dalcanton (Center for Computational Astrophysics/Flatiron Inst., UWashington)
Panning across Interacting Galaxies Arp 143 | Hubble
A spectacular head-on collision between two galaxies has been captured by the NASA/European Space Agency Hubble Space Telescope, which has the unusual triangular-shaped star-birthing frenzy.
The interacting galaxy duo is collectively called Arp 143. The pair contains the distorted, star-forming spiral galaxy NGC 2445, at right, along with its less flashy companion, NGC 2444, at left. This frenzied action takes place against the tapestry of distant galaxies. Some of them can be seen through the interacting pair.
Credit: NASA, European Space Agency (ESA), Space Telescope Science Institute (STScI), and J. Dalcanton (Center for Computational Astrophysics/Flatiron Inst., UWashington)
What Happens to Old Satellites? We Asked a NASA Expert
What happens to old satellites? Currently, they either burn up safely upon reentry into the atmosphere or they remain in space. However, NASA is working on new technology that could make spaceflight more sustainable by refueling or upgrading satellites in space, greatly expanding their lifespans.
Here's more about the On-orbit Servicing, Assembly and Manufacturing 1 (OSAM-1) Mission: https://go.nasa.gov/3FtsBHV
Credit: National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
What is Winter Like on Mars? | NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory
NASA Mars News Report | Dec. 21, 2022: Snow falls and ice and frost form on Mars, too. NASA's spacecraft on and orbiting the Red Planet reveal the similarities to and differences from how we experience winter on Earth.
Mars scientist Sylvain Piqueux of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory explains how images and data collected from NASA’s Viking, Phoenix, Mars Odyssey, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter missions can help scientists better understand the processes behind a winter on Mars. On the Red Planet, where both carbon dioxide and water can take the form of ice and frost, scientists study these frosty landscapes and unusual formations to understand the climate of Mars today and in its past. Analyzing the ice on Mars will also help future human missions.
For more information on NASA's Mars missions, visit mars.nasa.gov
NASA Spacewalker Josh Cassada | International Space Station
In these images, Expedition 68 Flight Engineer and NASA spacewalker Josh Cassada prepares a roll-out solar array for its deployment on the International Space Station's Port-4 truss segment as the orbiting lab flew over 260 miles above the Earth.
Expedition 68 Flight Engineers Josh Cassada and Frank Rubio of NASA concluded their spacewalk at 3:27 p.m. EST on Nov. 22, 2022, after 7 hours and 8 minutes.
Cassada and Rubio completed their major objectives for today to install an International Space Station Roll-Out Solar Array (iROSA) on the 4A power channel on the port truss. The iROSAs will increase power generation capability by up to 30%, increasing the station’s total available power from 160 kilowatts to up to 215 kilowatts.
It was the 257th spacewalk in support of space station assembly, upgrades, and maintenance, and was the third spacewalk for both astronauts.
Cassada and Rubio are in the midst of a planned six-month science mission living and working aboard the microgravity laboratory to advance scientific knowledge and demonstrate new technologies for future human and robotic exploration missions, including lunar missions through NASA’s Artemis program.
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. The ISS has been the most politically complex space exploration program ever undertaken.
Apollo 17 Legends and Artemis Leaders Event | Space Center Houston
NASA participated in a Space Center Houston celebration of the 50th anniversary of Apollo 17 on Friday, Dec. 16, 2022. On the heels of the successful Artemis I mission, NASA Johnson Space Center Director Vanessa Wyche, astronaut Reid Wiseman, Artemis flight controller Jessi Horelica, and Artemis engineer Antja Chambers, joined Apollo legends in a panel discussion at Johnson’s official visitor center. Gerry Griffin, Apollo 17 lead flight director, Gene Kranz, Apollo 17 flight director, and Charlie Duke, Apollo 16 moonwalker and Apollo 17 backup lunar module pilot, participated in the discussion
Apollo 17 was the most recent mission to land humans on the Moon—and our next one is not far away. As our Artemis missions prepare to return humans to the Moon and build a sustainable lunar presence, join us for a look back at Apollo 17.
NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center: Year 2022 Highlights
The NASA Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC) is an aeronautical research center. Its primary campus is located inside Edwards Air Force Base in California and is considered NASA's premier site for aeronautical research.
Armstrong Flight Research Center (AFRC) in California:
New Mars Images: Dec. 2022 | NASA's Curiosity & Perseverance Rovers | JPL
Perseverance Rover Deposits First Sample on Mars Surface for Earth Return
Mars2020 - Sol 653 - Watson
MSL - Sol 3688 - MAHLI - Stretched
MSL - Sol 3688 - MAHLI - White Balanced
Mars2020 - Sol 652 - Mastcam-Z
MSL - Sols 3671 - 3684 - MastCam Right
MSL - Sol 3684 - Mastcam Left
MSL - Sol 3684 - Mastcam
MSL - Sol 3684 - MAHLI
A titanium tube containing a rock sample is resting on the Red Planet’s surface after being placed there on Dec. 21, 2022, by NASA’s Perseverance Mars rover. Over the next two months, the rover will deposit a total of 10 tubes at the location, called “Three Forks,” building humanity’s first sample depot on another planet. The depot marks a historic early step in the Mars Sample Return campaign.
Perseverance has been taking duplicate samples from rock targets the mission selects. The rover currently has the other 17 samples (including one atmospheric sample) taken so far in its belly. Based on the architecture of the Mars Sample Return campaign, the rover would deliver samples to a future robotic lander. The lander would, in turn, use a robotic arm to place the samples in a containment capsule aboard a small rocket that would blast off to Mars orbit, where another spacecraft would capture the sample container and return it safely to Earth.
The depot will serve as a backup if Perseverance can’t deliver its samples. In that case, a pair of Sample Recovery Helicopters would be called upon to finish the job.
The first sample to drop was a chalk-size core of igneous rock informally named “Malay,” which was collected on Jan. 31, 2022, in a region of Mars’ Jezero Crater called “South Séítah.”
Celebrating 10 Years on Mars! (2012-2022)
Mission Name: Mars Science Laboratory (MSL)
Rover Name: Curiosity
Main Job: To determine if Mars was ever habitable to microbial life.
Launch: Nov. 6, 2011
Landing Date: Aug. 5, 2012, Gale Crater, Mars
Mission Name: Mars 2020
Rover Name: Perseverance
Main Job: Seek signs of ancient life and collect samples of rock and regolith (broken rock and soil) for possible return to Earth.
Launch: July 30, 2020
Landing: Feb. 18, 2021, Jezero Crater, Mars
For more information on NASA's Mars missions, visit: mars.nasa.gov
Image Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASU/MSSS/Kevin M. Gill
NASA's Johnson Space Center: The Year 2022 in Review
Happy Holidays from Friends of NASA.org! | NASA’s Johnson Space Center (JSC) has served as a hub of human spaceflight activity for more than half a century. It is home to the nation’s astronaut corps, the International Space Station mission operations, the Orion Program, and a host of future space developments. The center plays a pivotal role in enhancing scientific and technological knowledge to benefit all of humankind.
Vanessa E. Wyche is the director of NASA’s Johnson Space Center, home to America’s astronaut corps, Mission Control Center, International Space Station, Orion and Gateway programs and its more than 10,000 civil service and contractor employees.
JSC Director Vanessa E. Wyche's Official NASA Biography
Seasons Greetings 2022 from The European Southern Observatory (ESO)!
"As we are closing in on 2022, we want to send our best wishes to each and every one of you out there, from all of us at the European Southern Observatory (ESO), for the holidays and the new year."
"This year marked our 60th anniversary and we want to thank you for following along our journey of exploring the Universe. We wish you a healthy end of the year and a wonderful start to 2023!"
Happy Holidays from the International Space Station!
NASA Astronauts Frank Rubio, Nicole Mann, Josh Cassada, and JAXA astronaut Koichi Wakata share some of their favorite holiday traditions from back home, and a few from space.
A Wreath of Star Formation in Galaxy NGC 7469 | James Webb Space Telescope
This image is dominated by NGC 7469, a luminous, face-on spiral galaxy approximately 90,000 light-years in diameter that lies roughly 220 million light-years from Earth in the constellation Pegasus. Its companion galaxy IC 5283 is partly visible in the lower left portion of this image.
Image Description: This image shows a spiral galaxy that is dominated by a bright central region. The galaxy has blue-purple hues with orange-red regions filled with stars. Also visible is large diffraction spike, which appears as a star pattern over the central region of the galaxy. Lots of stars and galaxies fill the background scene.
This spiral galaxy has recently been studied as part of the Great Observatories All-sky LIRGs Survey (GOALS) Early Release Science program with the NASA/European Space Agency/Canadian Space Agency James Webb Space Telescope, which aims to study the physics of star formation, black hole growth, and feedback in four nearby, merging luminous infrared galaxies.
NGC 7469 is home to an active galactic nucleus (AGN), which is an extremely bright central region that is dominated by the light emitted by dust and gas as it falls into the galaxy’s central black hole. This galaxy provides astronomers with the unique opportunity to study the relationship between AGNs and starburst activity because this particular object hosts an AGN that is surrounded by a starburst ring at a distance of a mere 1,500 light-years.
A prominent feature of this image is the striking six-pointed star that perfectly aligns with the heart of NGC 7469. Unlike the galaxy, this is not a real celestial object, but an imaging artifact known as a diffraction spike, caused by the bright, unresolved AGN. Diffraction spikes are patterns produced as light bends around the sharp edges of a telescope. Webb’s primary mirror is composed of hexagonal segments that each contain edges for light to diffract against, giving six bright spikes. There are also two shorter, fainter spikes, which are created by diffraction from the vertical strut that helps support Webb’s secondary mirror.
Credit: European Space Agency (ESA)/Webb, NASA & Canadian Space Agency (CSA), L. Armus, A. S. Evans
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