Saturn's Rings from the Other Side
Credit:Cassini Imaging Team, SSI, JPL, ESA, NASA
We normally see Saturn's rings the side from which the sun shines on them. This picture was taken from the other side by the robot Cassini spacecraft. I think it's still spectacular.
An Antarctic Total Solar Eclipse
Credit and Copyright:Fred Bruenjes (moonglow.net)
From the location of Antarctica, this mind boggling picture was taken of the Sun's total eclipse behind the Moon. This picture shows the Sun's corona around the Moon. A photographer and his deck chair are also caught up in the middle.
The Fox Fur Nebula
Credit & Copyright: Jean-Charles Cuillandre (CFHT) & Giovanni Anselmi (Coelum Astronomia), Hawaiian Starlight
Simply put, this is a load of dust and gas. Named Fox Fur Nebula, this particular interstellar event is a mixture of that dust and gas, together with lights and winds from stars. They can be found about 2,500 light years away.
If you lean your head towards the right, the left of this picture looks like the head and neck of a grizzly bear and not a fox (from my interpretation anyway).
Phobos: Doomed Moon of Mars
Credit:HiRISE, MRO, LPL (U. Arizona), NASA
Mars, the red planet in our magnificent solar system, has two moons - Phobos and Deimos. These names are derived from Greek, meaning Fear and Panic.
The one in this picture, Phobos, orbits so close to Mars that gravity is pulling it down. Scientists believe that gradually, the stress would shatter it. Poor thing!
Cat's Eye Hubble Remix
Credit & Copyright: Vicent Peris (OAUV / PTeam), MAST, STScI, AURA, NASA
The Cat's Eye Nebula is 3,000 light years away from Earth. Even people who're not really interested in Astronomy know of this well-known sky dweller.
This is actually a sad picture of a dying sun-like star. The picture has been reprocessed to sharpen the visibility of the details.
Hole in the Sun
Credit:SOHO - EIT Consortium, ESA, NASA
Welcome to our Sun, and welcome to its coronal hole. Sometimes high-speed solar winds, atoms and electrons flow out from this hole causing colourful displays of auroral lights visible from Earth.
Lunation
Credit & Copyright: António Cidadão
This is actually a slide show, so if it doesn't work properly from this page, go here (press control and click) because you simply must see it. This shows what our Moon looks like during all the phases of its lunar cycle. This full cycle takes about 29 and a half days, not unlike the menstrual cycle of a woman.
The surface of Mars
Credit:Viking Project, NASA
The Viking Lander 2 captured a fine image of Mars' surface which is covered by a thin layer of ice. Either that, or this is a close-up of a ham and cheese pizza.
The Eclipsed Earth
Credit: Mir 27 Crew; Copyright: CNES
This is a picture of Earth during a solar eclipse. The relatively tiny shadow which can be seen darkening the surface is that of the Moon. This shadow moved across the Earth at about 2,000 km per hour. Only people at the very middle of the dark circle can see a total solar eclipse, people further away are able to see a partial one. If you look carefully, you'll see two bright spots at the top left, which are thought to be Jupiter and Saturn.
I'm always impressed by these space pictures. I could see them again and again and still find something new to look at every time. Time after time, I shall be getting some more of these together. These are my favourite ones at the minute, what's yours?
The second instalment is now available here.
