2019 August 22 Nearby Spiral Galaxy NGC 4945 Image Credit & Copyright: Martin Pugh Explanation: Large spiral galaxy NGC 4945 is seen edge-on near the center of this cosmic galaxy portrait. In fact, it’s almost the size of our Milky Way Galaxy. NGC 4945’s own dusty disk, young blue st […]
2019 August 21 The Orion You Can Almost See Image Credit & Copyright: John Gleason & Rogelio Bernal Andreo Explanation: Do you recognize this constellation? Although it is one of the most recognizable star groupings on the sky, this is a more full Orion than you can see — an Orion only
2019 August 20 Animation: Spiral Disk around a Black Hole Illustrated Animation Credit: ESA, NASA, Hubble, M. Kornmesser Explanation: What would it look like to orbit a black hole? Many black holes are surrounded by swirling pools of gas known as accretion disks. These disks can be extremely hot, an
2019 August 19 Lenticular Clouds over Mount Etna Image Credit & Copyright: Dario Giannobile Explanation: What’s happening above that volcano? Although Mount Etna is seen erupting, the clouds are not related to the eruption. They are lenticular clouds formed when moist air is forced upwards
2019 August 17 1901 Photograph: The Orion Nebula Image Credit: George Ritchey, Yerkes Observatory – Digitization Project: W. Cerny, R. Kron, Y. Liang, J. Lin, M. Martinez, E. Medina, B. Moss, B. Ogonor, M. Ransom, J. Sanchez (Univ. of Chicago) Explanation: By the turn of the 20th century advan
2019 August 16 The Elephant’s Trunk Nebula in Cepheus Image Credit & Copyright: Chuck Ayoub Explanation: Like an illustration in a galactic Just So Story, the Elephant’s Trunk Nebula winds through the emission nebula and young star cluster complex IC 1396, in the high and far off con
2019 August 15 The Perseids and the Plough Image Credit & Copyright: Jeff Dai (TWAN) Explanation: Despite interfering moonlight, many denizens of planet Earth were able to watch this year’s Perseid meteor shower. This pastoral scene includes local skygazers admiring the shower’s brie
2019 August 13 Supernova Cannon Expels Pulsar J0002 Image Credit: F. Schinzel et al. (NRAO, NSF), Canadian Galactic Plane Survey (DRAO), NASA (IRAS); Composition: Jayanne English (U. Manitoba) Explanation: What could shoot out a neutron star like a cannon ball? A supernova. About 10,000 years ago, t
