Images From Hubble Space Telescope

399256%2001%3A%20Glowing%20dark%20clouds%20float%20in%20this%20undated%20recent%20image%20taken%20with%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope.%20These%20dense%2C%20opaque%20dust%20clouds%20%26%238211%3B%20known%20as%20%26%238220%3Bglobules%26%238221%3B%20%26%238211%3B%20are%20silhouetted%20against%20nearby%20bright%20stars%20in%20the%20busy%20star-forming%20region%2C%20IC%202944.%20These%20stars%20are%20much%20hotter%20and%20much%20more%20massive%20than%20our%20Sun.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

401816%2002%3A%20The%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20is%20backdropped%20against%20black%20space%20as%20the%20Space%20Shuttle%20Columbia%2C%20with%20a%20crew%20of%20seven%20astronauts%20on%20board%2C%20eases%20closer%20March%203%2C%202002%20in%20order%20to%20latch%20its%2050-foot-long%20robotic%20arm%20onto%20a%20fixture%20on%20the%20giant%20telescope.%20As%20Columbia%20flew%20350%20miles%20above%20the%20Pacific%20Ocean%20southwest%20of%20Mexico%2C%20with%20astronaut%20Nancy%20J.%20Currie%2C%20mission%20specialist%2C%20in%20control%20of%20the%20arm%20and%20astronaut%20Scott%20D.%20Altman%2C%20mission%20commander%2C%20at%20the%20controls%20of%20the%20shuttle%2C%20the%20crew%20went%20on%20to%20capture%20the%20Hubble.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

In%20this%20stunning%20picture%20of%20the%20giant%20galactic%20nebula%20NGC%203603%2C%20the%20crisp%20resolution%20of%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20captures%20various%20stages%20of%20the%20life%20cycle%20of%20stars%20in%20one%20single%20view.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%29

The%20majestic%20spiral%20galaxy%20NGC%204414%20as%20photographed%20by%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%29

The%20majestic%20spiral%20galaxy%20NGC%204414%20as%20photographed%20by%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%29

This%20group%20of%20four%20galaxies%2C%20as%20photographed%20by%20the%20Hubble%20telescope%2C%20known%20as%20the%20Hickson%20Compact%20Group%2087%20%28HCG%2087%29%2C%20has%20been%20performing%20an%20intricate%20dance%20orchestrated%20by%20the%20mutual%20gravitational%20forces%20acting%20between%20them%20over%20a%20time%20span%20of%20hundreds%20of%20millions%20of%20years.%20These%20galaxies%20are%20so%20close%20to%20one%20another%20that%20gravitational%20forces%20disrupt%20their%20structure%20and%20alter%20their%20evolution.%20%28courtesy%20of%20NASA%29

UNDATED%20FILE%20PHOTO%3A%20NASA%26%238217%3Bs%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20being%20refurbished%20during%20the%20STS%2061%20flight%20in%20this%20undated%20file%20photo.%20The%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20suffered%20a%20system%20failure%20over%20the%20weekend%20that%20will%20leave%20it%20unable%20to%20transmit%20any%20pictures%20to%20Earth%20until%20the%20next%2C%20much-delayed%2C%20space%20shuttle%20mission%2C%20the%20space%20agency%20said%20on%20Monday%2C%20Nov.%2015%2C%201999.%20%28Courtesy%20of%20NASA%29

402108%2001%3A%20Astronaut%20James%20H.%20Newman%20moves%20while%20working%20in%20the%20Space%20Shuttle%20Columbia%26%238217%3Bs%20cargo%20bay%20March%205%2C%202002%20during%20an%20extravehicular%20activity%20%28EVA%29%20in%20space.%20Astronaut%20Newman%20and%20the%20rest%20of%20his%20crew%20are%20in%20space%20to%20try%20and%20upgrade%20some%20components%20of%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20%28HST%29.%20Part%20of%20the%20giant%20telescope%26%238217%3Bs%20base%2C%20latched%20down%20in%20the%20payload%20bay%2C%20can%20be%20seen%20behind%20Newman.%20%28Photo%20courtesy%20NASA%2F%20Getty%20Images%29

402108%2005%3A%20Astronauts%20James%20H.%20Newman%20and%20Michael%20J.%20Massimino%20participate%20in%20the%20first%20science%20instrument%20upgrade%20of%20the%20fourth%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20%28HST%29%20servicing%20mission%20March%207%2C%202002%20during%20the%20Space%20Shuttle%20Columbia%26%238217%3Bs%20fourth%20day%20of%20extravehicular%20activity%20%28EVA%29%20in%20space.%20Astronauts%20Newman%20and%20Massimino%20and%20the%20rest%20of%20their%20crew%20are%20in%20space%20to%20try%20and%20upgrade%20some%20components%20of%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope.%20%28Photo%20courtesy%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

403971%2001%3A%20Astronaut%20John%20M.%20Grunsfeld%2C%20payload%20commander%2C%20waves%20at%20a%20crewmate%20inside%20Space%20Shuttle%20Columbia%26%238217%3Bs%20crew%20cabin%20during%20a%20brief%20break%20in%20work%20on%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20%28HST%29%20in%20the%20cargo%20bay%20of%20the%20shuttle%20during%20the%20STS-109%20mission%26%238217%3Bs%20third%20space%20walk%2C%20March%206%2C%202002.%20The%20primary%20purpose%20of%20the%20extravehicular%20activity%20%28EVA%29%20of%20astronauts%20Grunsfeld%20and%20Richard%20M.%20Linnehan%20was%20to%20replace%20the%20Power%20Control%20Unit%20on%20the%20giant%20telescope.%20%28Photo%20by%20Getty%20Images%29

392007%2001%3A%20This%20image%20recorded%20by%20the%20Hubble%20telescope%20on%20July%2010%2C%202001%20shows%20two%20clusters%20of%20stars%2C%20called%20NGC%201850%2C%20located%20in%20a%20neighboring%20galaxy%20called%20the%20Large%20Magellanic%20Cloud.%20The%20photo%26%238221%3Bs%20centerpiece%20is%20a%20young%2C%20%26%238220%3Bglobular-like%26%238221%3B%20star%20cluster%20%26%238211%3B%20a%20type%20of%20object%20unknown%20in%20our%20own%20Milky%20Way%20Galaxy.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

391238%2001%3A%20This%20photo%20shows%20a%20view%20from%20the%20Hubble%20Telescope%20released%20June%2027%2C%202001%20of%20the%20globular%20cluster%20M22.%20The%20giant%20space%20telescope%20uncovered%20tantalizing%20clues%20to%20what%20could%20be%20a%20strange%20and%20unexpected%20population%20of%20wandering%2C%20planet-sized%20objects.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

392439%2004%3A%20An%20image%20of%20NASA%26%238221%3Bs%20Chandra%20X-ray%20Observatory%20and%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20shows%20a%20halo%20of%20hot%20gas%20surrounding%20spiral%20galaxy%20NGC%204631%20that%20is%20similar%20to%20the%20Milky%20Way%20galaxy%2C%20June%2019%2C%202001.%20The%20orange%20color%20in%20the%20middle%20of%20the%20image%20represents%20ultraviolet%20radiation%20as%20observed%20by%20UIT%2C%20tracing%20massive%20stars%20in%20the%20galaxy.%20%28Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

392439%2005%3A%20An%20image%20from%20NASA%26%238221%3Bs%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20of%20a%20vast%2C%20sculpted%20landscape%20of%20gas%20and%20dust%20where%20thousands%20of%20stars%20are%20being%20born%2C%20July%2026%2C%202001.%20The%20star-forming%20region%2C%20called%20the%2030%20Doradus%20Nebula%2C%20has%20the%20largest%20cluster%20of%20massive%20stars%20within%20the%20closest%2025%20galaxies.%20%28Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

392439%2006%3A%20An%20image%20from%20the%20Hubble%20telescope%20of%20compact%20galaxies%20known%20as%20Stephan%26%238221%3Bs%20Quintet%2C%20July%2019%2C%202001.%20At%20least%20two%20of%20the%20galaxies%20have%20been%20involved%20in%20high-speed%20collisions%20which%20have%20ripped%20stars%20and%20gas%20from%20neighboring%20galaxies%20and%20caused%20the%20development%20of%20more%20than%20100%20star%20clusters%20and%20several%20dwarf%20galaxies.%20%28Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%3A%20%20In%20this%20NASA%20handout%2C%20a%20view%20of%20%20deepest%20view%20of%20the%20visible%20universe%20ever%20achieved%20are%20seen%20in%20a%20Hubble%20Telescope%20composite%20photograph%20released%20March%209%2C%202004.%20The%20Hubble%20Ultra%20Deep%20Field%20%28HUDF%29%20photograph%20is%20a%20composite%20of%20a%20million%20one-second%20exposures%20and%20reveals%20galaxies%20from%20the%20time%20shortly%20after%20the%20big%20bang.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%3A%20%20In%20this%20NASA%20handout%2C%20a%20view%20of%20%20deepest%20view%20of%20the%20visible%20universe%20ever%20achieved%20are%20seen%20in%20a%20Hubble%20Telescope%20composite%20photograph%20released%20March%209%2C%202004.%20The%20Hubble%20Ultra%20Deep%20Field%20%28HUDF%29%20photograph%20is%20a%20composite%20of%20a%20million%20one-second%20exposures%20and%20reveals%20galaxies%20from%20the%20time%20shortly%20after%20the%20big%20bang.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%3A%20%20In%20this%20NASA%20handout%2C%20a%20view%20of%20%20deepest%20view%20of%20the%20visible%20universe%20ever%20achieved%20are%20seen%20in%20a%20Hubble%20Telescope%20composite%20photograph%20released%20March%209%2C%202004.%20The%20Hubble%20Ultra%20Deep%20Field%20%28HUDF%29%20photograph%20is%20a%20composite%20of%20a%20million%20one-second%20exposures%20and%20reveals%20galaxies%20from%20the%20time%20shortly%20after%20the%20big%20bang.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

UNDATED%3A%20This%20NASA%20image%20shows%20ladder-like%20structures%20within%20a%20dying%20star.%20This%20new%20image%2C%20taken%20with%20NASA%26%238217%3Bs%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%2C%20reveals%20startling%20new%20details%20of%20one%20of%20the%20most%20unusual%20nebulae%20known%20in%20our%20Milky%20Way.%20Cataloged%20as%20HD%2044179%2C%20this%20nebula%20is%20more%20commonly%20called%20the%20%26%238220%3BRed%20Rectangle%26%238221%3B%20because%20of%20its%20unique%20shape%20and%20color%20as%20seen%20with%20ground-based%20telescopes.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

404441%2001%3A%20Pushing%20The%20Limits%20Of%20Its%20Powerful%20Vision%2C%20Nasa%26%238217%3Bs%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20Has%20Uncovered%20The%20Oldest%20Burned-Out%20Stars%20In%20Our%20Milky%20Way%20Galaxy.%20These%20Extremely%20Old%2C%20Dim%20Stars%20Provide%20A%20Completely%20Independent%20Reading%20Of%20The%20Universe%26%238217%3Bs%20Age%20Without%20Relying%20On%20Measurements%20Of%20The%20Universe%26%238217%3Bs%20Expansion.%20The%20Ancient%20White%20Dwarf%20Stars%2C%20As%20Seen%20By%20Hubble%2C%20Turn%20Out%20To%20Be%2012%20To%2013%20Billion%20Years%20Old.%20Because%20Earlier%20Hubble%20Observations%20Show%20That%20The%20First%20Stars%20Formed%20Less%20Than%201%20Billion%20Years%20After%20The%20Universe%26%238217%3Bs%20Birth%20In%20The%20Big%20Bang%2C%20Finding%20The%20Oldest%20Stars%20Puts%20Astronomers%20Well%20Within%20Arm%26%238217%3Bs%20Reach%20Of%20Calculating%20The%20Absolute%20Age%20Of%20The%20Universe.%20%20%28Photo%20By%20Getty%20Images%29

%28Credit%3A%20Nasa%2FGetty%20Images%29%3Cbr%20%2F%3EThe%20Sharpest%20View%20Of%20Mars%20Ever%20Taken%20From%20Earth%20Was%20Obtained%20By%20The%20Recently%20Refurbished%20Nasa%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20%28Hst%29.%20This%20Stunning%20Portrait%20Was%20Taken%20With%20The%20Hst%20Wide%20Field%20Planetary%20Camera-2%20%28Wfpc2%29%20On%20March%2010%2C%201997%2C%20Just%20Before%20Mars%20Opposition%2C%20When%20The%20Red%20Planet%20Made%20One%20Of%20Its%20Closest%20Passes%20To%20The%20Earth%20%28About%2060%20Million%20Miles%20Or%20100%20Million%20Km%29%20%20%28Photo%20By%20Nasa%2FGetty%20Images%29

SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20APRIL%2025%3A%20%20In%20this%20handout%20image%20released%20from%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20the%20Whirlpool%20Galaxy%20is%20seen%20%2C%20April%2025%2C%202005%20released%20for%20the%20Hubble%2015th%20anniversary.%20Nasa%26%238217%3Bs%20Space%20Telescope%20has%20obited%20the%20Earth%20for%2015%20years%20and%20has%20taken%20more%20than%20700%2C000%20images%20of%20the%20comos.%20This%20image%20is%20one%20of%20the%20sharpest%20images%20Hubble%20has%20ever%20produced%2C%20taken%20with%20the%20newest%20camera.%20%28Photo%20by%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%2FNasa%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20APRIL%2025%3A%20%20In%20this%20handout%20image%20released%20from%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20the%20Eagle%20Nebula%20is%20seen%2C%20April%2025%2C%202005.%20Released%20for%20the%20Hubble%26%238217%3Bs%2015th%20anniversary.%20Nasa%26%238217%3Bs%20Space%20Telescope%20has%20orbited%20the%20Earth%20for%2015%20years%20and%20has%20taken%20more%20than%20700%2C000%20images%20of%20the%20cosmos.%20This%20image%20is%20one%20of%20the%20sharpest%20images%20Hubble%20has%20ever%20produced%2C%20taken%20with%20the%20newest%20camera.%28Photo%20by%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%2FNasa%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20APRIL%2025%3A%20%20In%20this%20composite%20handout%20image%20released%20from%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20the%20Whirlpool%20Galaxy%20and%20Eagle%20Nebula%20%28L%29%20are%20seen%20%2C%20April%2025%2C%202005%20released%20for%20the%20Hubble%26%238217%3Bs%2015th%20anniversary.%20Nasa%26%238217%3Bs%20Space%20Telescope%20has%20obited%20the%20Earth%20for%2015%20years%20and%20has%20taken%20more%20than%20700%2C000%20images%20of%20the%20comos.%20These%20images%20are%20two%20of%20the%20sharpest%20images%20Hubble%20has%20ever%20produced%2C%20taken%20with%20the%20newest%20camera.%20%28Photo%20by%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%2FNasa%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

%28Credit%3A%20NASA%20via%20Getty%20Images%29%3Cbr%20%2F%3EIN%20SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20DECEMBER%201%3A%20In%20this%20handout%20from%20NASA%2C%20%20the%20mosaic%20image%2C%20one%20of%20the%20largest%20ever%20taken%20by%20NASA%26%238217%3Bs%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20of%20the%20Crab%20Nebula%2C%20shows%20six-light-year-wide%20expanding%20remnant%20of%20a%20star%26%238217%3Bs%20supernova%20explosion%20as%20released%20December%202%2C%202005.%20Japanese%20and%20Chinese%20astronomers%20witnessed%20this%20violent%20event%20nearly%201%2C000%20years%20ago%20in%201054%2C%20together%20with%2C%20possibly%2C%20Native%20Americans.%20The%20orange%20filaments%20are%20the%20remains%20of%20the%20star%20and%20consist%20mostly%20of%20hydrogen.%20The%20rapidly%20spinning%20neutron%20star%20embedded%20in%20the%20center%20of%20the%20nebula%20is%20the%20dynamo%20powering%20the%20nebula%26%238217%3Bs%20eerie%20interior%20bluish%20glow.%20The%20blue%20light%20comes%20from%20electrons%20whirling%20at%20nearly%20the%20speed%20of%20light%20around%20magnetic%20field%20lines%20from%20the%20neutron%20star.%20The%20neutron%20star%2C%20the%20crushed%20ultra-dense%20core%20of%20the%20exploded%20star%2C%20ejects%20twin%20beams%20of%20radiation%20that%20appear%20to%20pulse%2030%20times%20a%20second%20due%20to%20the%20neutron%20star%26%238217%3Bs%20rotation.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20%20This%20undated%20image%20taken%20by%20the%20Hubble%20telescope%20shows%20Pluto%20and%20its%20moons%3A%20Charon%2C%20Nix%2C%20and%20Hydra.The%20International%20Astronomical%20Union%20announced%20on%20August%2024%2C%202006%20that%20it%20no%20longer%20considers%20Pluto%20a%20planet%2C%20a%20status%20it%20has%20held%20since%20its%20discovery%20in%201930.%20%20The%20announcement%20reduces%20the%20solar%20system%20from%20nine%20planets%20to%20eight.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

IN%20SAPCE%20%26%238211%3B%20UNDATED%3A%20%20This%20handout%20image%20of%20the%20giant%2C%20active%20galaxy%20NGC%201275%2C%20obtained%20August%2021%2C%202008%20was%20taken%20using%20the%20NASA%2FESA%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%3Fs%20Advanced%20Camera%20for%20Surveys%20in%20July%20and%20August%202006.%20It%20provides%20amazing%20detail%20and%20resolution%20of%20fragile%20filamentary%20structures%2C%20which%20show%20up%20as%20a%20reddish%20lacy%20structure%20surrounding%20the%20central%20bright%20galaxy.%20These%20filaments%20are%20cool%20despite%20being%20surrounded%20by%20gas%20that%20is%20around%2055%20million%20%3FC.%20They%20are%20suspended%20in%20a%20magnetic%20field%20which%20maintains%20their%20structure%20and%20demonstrates%20how%20energy%20from%20the%20supermassive%20black%20hole%20hosted%20at%20the%20centre%20of%20the%20galaxy%20is%20transferred%20to%20the%20surrounding%20gas.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FESA%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20UNDATED%3A%20%20In%20this%20handout%20provided%20by%20NASA%2C%20a%20visible-light%20image%20from%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20shows%20a%20red%20ring%20of%20dust%20and%20debris%20that%20surrounds%20the%20star%20Fomalhaut%20and%20the%20newly%20discovered%20planet%2C%20Fomalhaut%20b%2C%20orbiting%20its%20parent%20star.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20MAY%204%3A%20%20In%20this%20handout%20image%20provided%20by%20NASA%2C%20a%20colourful%20cloud%20of%20gas%20and%20dust%2C%20a%20nebula%20named%20Knockout%204-55%20%28or%20K%204-55%29%2C%20is%20photographed%20by%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20on%20May%204%2C%202009%20in%20Space.%20The%20nebula%20has%20an%20eye%20that%20appears%20to%20be%20looking%20right%20back%20at%20Hubble.%20It%20is%20the%20penultimate%20images%20the%20camera%20will%20take%20before%20NASA%20plans%20to%20send%20the%20shuttle%20Atlantis%20into%20space%20to%20make%20upgrades%20and%20repairs%20to%20Hubble%2C%20when%20astronauts%20will%20replace%20the%20telescope%26%238217%3Bs%20camera%20with%20the%20Wide%20Field%20Camera%203.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

FLORIDA%20%26%238211%3B%20MAY%2012%3A%20%20In%20this%20tightly%20cropped%20handout%20image%20provided%20by%20NASA%2C%20the%20NASA%20space%20shuttle%20Atlantis%20is%20seen%20in%20silhouette%20during%20solar%20transit%2C%20May%2012%2C%202009%2C%20from%20Florida.%20This%20image%20was%20made%20before%20Atlantis%20and%20the%20crew%20of%20STS-125%20had%20grappled%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope.%20%20%20%28Photo%20by%20Thierry%20Legault%2FNASA%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

UNDATED%20PHOTO%3A%20%20An%20image%20of%20a%20Cas%20A%20supernova%20reveals%20the%20remnants%20of%20a%20section%20of%20the%20upper%20rim%20of%20the%20youngest%20known%20supervova%20identified%20in%20our%20Milky%20Way%20galaxy.%20Dozens%20of%20tiny%20clumps%20near%20the%20top%20of%20the%20image%20are%20actually%20small%20fragments%20of%20the%20star%20and%20each%20clump%20is%20approximately%20ten%20times%20larger%20than%20the%20diameter%20of%20our%20solar%20system.%20The%20varying%20colors%20of%20the%20supernova%20are%20caused%20by%20glowing%20atoms.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20%28UNDATED%20PHOTO%29%20Multiple%20images%20of%20the%20Crab%20Nebula%20made%20over%20a%20span%20of%20several%20months%20are%20shown%20in%20this%20undated%20photo.%20The%20images%2C%20made%20over%20several%20months%20with%20NASA%26%238217%3Bs%20Chandra%20X-ray%20Observatory%2C%20provide%20moving%20pictures%20of%20matter%20and%20antimatter%20propelled%20to%20nearly%20the%20speed%20of%20light%20by%20the%20Crab%20pulsar%2C%20a%20rapidly%20rotating%20neutron%20star%20the%20size%20of%20Manhattan.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20%28UNDATED%20PHOTO%29%20A%20composite%20image%20of%20the%20Crab%20Nebula%20showing%20X-ray%20%28blue%29%2C%20and%20optical%20%20%28red%29%20images%20superimposed%20is%20shown%20in%20this%20undated%20photo.%20%20Multiple%20observations%20made%20over%20several%20months%20with%20NASA%26%238217%3Bs%20Chandra%20X-ray%20Observatory%20and%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20captured%20the%20spectacle%20of%20matter%20and%20antimatter%20propelled%20to%20nearly%20the%20speed%20of%20light%20by%20the%20Crab%20pulsar%2C%20a%20rapidly%20rotating%20neutron%20star%20the%20size%20of%20Manhattan.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20NOVEMBER%207%3A%20%20The%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20took%20this%20image%20of%20a%20dying%20star%20named%20%26%238220%3BNGC%206369%26%238243%3B%20on%20November%207%2C%202002.%20The%20star%2C%20also%20known%20as%20the%20%26%238220%3BLittle%20Ghost%20Nebula%2C%26%238221%3B%20is%202000%20to%205000%20light%20years%20from%20earth%20and%20is%20similar%20in%20mass%20to%20our%20Sun.%20The%20ghostly%20halo%20surrounding%20the%20star%20is%20caused%20by%20the%20shedding%20of%20the%20stars%20outer%20layers%20during%20the%20final%20stages%20of%20its%20life%20cycle.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20UNDATED%3A%20%20%28FILE%20IMAGE%29%20This%20undated%20artist%26%238217%3Bs%20interpretation%20of%20the%20star-sized%20black%20hole%20GRO%20J1655-40%2C%20currently%20traveling%20in%20our%20solar%20system%20at%20250%2C000%20miles%20per%20hour%2C%20was%20released%20on%20November%2018%2C%202002.%20According%20to%20astronomers%20using%20data%20from%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20telescope%20this%20black%20hole%2C%20also%20known%20as%20a%20%26%238220%3Bmicroquasar%2C%26%238221%3B%20is%20assimilating%20material%20from%20a%20its%20companion%20star.%20%28Photo%20by%20FAECIASP%2FNASA%2F%20Conicet%20of%20Argentina%2FGetty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20NOVEMBER%2019%3A%20%20An%20optical%20and%20x-ray%20observation%20of%20the%20galaxy%20NGC6240%20is%20shown%20in%20this%20handout%20image%20from%20the%20NASA%26%238217%3Bs%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20and%20the%20Chandra%20X-Ray%20observatory%20on%20November%2019%2C%202002.%20The%20new%20x-ray%20observations%20of%20the%20galaxy%20have%20revealed%20two%20super-massive%20black%20holes%20at%20the%20center%20of%20the%20galaxy.%20The%20black%20holes%20will%20eventually%20merge%20in%20a%20cataclysmic%20event%20that%20will%20cause%20warps%20or%20gravitational%20waves%20in%20space.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FCXC%2FMPE%2FS.Komossa%2FGetty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%3A%20%20%28FILE%20IMAGE%29%20This%20image%2C%20from%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%2C%20shows%20a%20cluster%20of%20stars%20called%20N30B%20reflecting%20light%20on%20a%20cloud%20of%20dust.%20The%20cluster%20of%20stars%20is%20located%20inside%20the%20Large%20Magellanic%20Cloud%20160%2C000%20light-years%20away.%20The%20image%20was%20released%20by%20NASA%20on%20December%205%2C%202002%20and%20is%20a%20composite%20of%20images%20from%201998%20and%202001.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20DECEMBER%2011%3A%20This%20image%20of%20galaxies%20in%20the%20farthest%20reaches%20of%20deep%20space%20was%20released%20by%20the%20European%20Southern%20Observatory%20%28ESO%29%20on%20December%2011%2C%202002.%20An%20international%20group%20of%20scientists%20captured%20this%20image%20in%20a%20weeklong%20exposure%20with%20the%20European%20Southern%20Observatory%26%238217%3Bs%2027-foot%20%288.2-meter%29%20Very%20Large%20Telescope%20and%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope.%20%28Photo%20by%20ESO%2FGetty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%2C%20UNDATED%20PHOTO%3A%20%20NASA%26%238217%3Bs%20Hubble%20space%20telescope%20shows%20a%20grouping%20of%20galaxies%20engaging%20in%20a%20slow%20dance%20of%20destruction%20that%20will%20last%20for%20billions%20of%20years.%20The%20tightly%20packed%20galaxies%20are%20are%20beginning%20to%20rip%20stars%20from%20reach%20other%20and%20distort%20their%20shapes.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2F%20Getty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20VARIOUS%20DATES%3A%20%20This%20image%2C%20released%20by%20NASA%20on%20December%2019%2C%202002%2C%20shows%20the%20young%2C%20forming%20galaxy%20POX%20186%20and%20is%20a%20composite%20of%20three%20images%20taken%20by%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20in%20March%20and%20June%2C%202000.%20The%20900%20light-year%20wide%20galaxy%20is%20very%20small%20in%20galactic%20terms%20and%20is%20made%20up%20of%20only%2010%20million%20young%20stars.%20POX%20189%20lies%20in%20the%20constellation%20Virgo%20and%20is%2068%20million%20light%20years%20from%20earth.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FCSC%2FSTSci%2FMichael%20Corbin%2FGetty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20JANUARY%207%3A%20%20This%20image%20is%20a%20computer%20generated%20interpretation%20of%20a%20new%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20image%20of%20a%20cloud%20of%20dust%20around%20a%20young%20star%20320%20light-years%20from%20Earth%20on%20January%207%2C%202003.%20The%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%26%238217%3Bs%20Advanced%20Camera%20for%20Surveys%20captured%20the%20image%20of%20the%20star%20called%20HD%20141569A.%20According%20to%20NASA%2C%20it%20is%20the%20%26%238220%3Bclearest%20view%20yet%26%238221%3B%20of%20planet%20forming%20dust%20around%20a%20star.%20This%20image%20shows%20what%20the%20star%20would%20look%20like%20if%20we%20were%20directly%20above.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FESA%2FGetty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20JANUARY%207%3A%20%20This%20deep-space%20image%20was%20created%20using%20a%20gravitational%20lens%20created%20by%20a%20cluster%20of%20galaxies%20on%20January%207%2C%202003.%20The%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20made%20a%2013-hour%20exposure%20through%20a%20tight%20cluster%20of%20galaxies%20called%20Abell%201689%20located%202.2%20billion%20light-years%20away.%20The%20galaxies%20seen%20through%20the%20cluster%20are%2013%20billion%20light-years%20away%20and%20are%20magnified%20by%20gravity%20from%20Abell%201689.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FSTScI%2FACS%2FESA%2FGetty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20JANUARY%208%3A%20%20This%20composite%20image%20shows%20a%20giant%20radio-emitting%20jet%20shooting%20out%20from%20the%20spiral%20galaxy%200313-192%20on%20January%208%2C%202003.%20The%20image%20of%20the%20red%20streaks%20coming%20from%20the%20center%20of%20the%20galaxy%20was%20captured%20by%20the%20Vary%20Large%20Array%20%28VLA%29%20radio%20telescope%20was%20superimposed%20on%20a%20true%20color%20image%20of%20the%20galaxy%20captured%20by%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope.%20Astronomers%20are%20puzzled%20by%20the%20radio-jets%20because%20they%20believed%20spiral%20galaxies%20were%20incapable%20of%20producing%20this%20type%20of%20radiation.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%20%2FGetty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20JANUARY%208%3A%20%20This%20composite%20image%20shows%20a%20giant%20radio-emitting%20jet%20shooting%20out%20from%20the%20spiral%20galaxy%200313-192%20on%20January%208%2C%202003.%20The%20image%20of%20the%20red%20streaks%20coming%20from%20the%20center%20of%20the%20galaxy%20was%20captured%20by%20the%20Vary%20Large%20Array%20%28VLA%29%20radio%20telescope%20was%20superimposed%20on%20a%20true%20color%20image%20of%20the%20galaxy%20captured%20by%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope.%20Astronomers%20are%20puzzled%20by%20the%20radio-jets%20because%20they%20believed%20spiral%20galaxies%20were%20incapable%20of%20producing%20this%20type%20of%20radiation.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%20%2FGetty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20JANUARY%2010%3A%20%20This%20image%20of%20the%20quasar%203C%20273%20was%20released%20by%20NASA%20on%20January%2010%2C%202003.%20The%20image%20was%20created%20by%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20using%20a%20coronagraph%20camera%2C%20which%20blocks%20light%20from%20the%20center%20of%20the%20quasar%20allowing%20astronomers%20to%20glimpse%20the%20quasar%26%238217%3Bs%20surrounding%20galaxy%20which%20is%20usually%20obscured%20by%20intense%20light.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20FEBRUARY%2011%3A%20%20This%20image%20from%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20shows%20the%20%26%238220%3BDumbbell%20Nebula%26%238221%3B%20or%20M27%20on%20February%2011%2C%202003.%20The%20nebula%2C%20which%20lies%201%2C200%20light-years%20away%2C%20was%20formed%20when%20an%20old%20star%20shed%20its%20outer%20layers.%20%20Charles%20Messier%20discovered%20the%20Dumbbell%20Nebula%20in%201764.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FHubble%20Heritage%20Team%2FGetty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20FEBRUARY%2025%3A%20%20This%20NASA%20composite%20image%20of%20galaxy%20NGC%203079%20was%20created%20by%20combining%20images%20from%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20and%20the%20Chandra%20X-Ray%20Observatory%20on%20February%2025%2C%202003.%20%20Large%20filaments%20of%20gas%20blown%20out%20from%20the%20center%20of%20the%20galaxy%20by%20%26%238220%3Bsuper%20winds%26%238221%3B%20from%20either%20a%20black%20hole%20or%20an%20exploding%20star%2C%20are%20visible%20in%20the%20Chandra%20image%20%28blue%29%20superimposed%20over%20the%20Hubble%20optical%20spectrum%20image%20%28red%20and%20green%29.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FCXC%2FU.%20North%20Carolina%2FG.%20Cecil%2FGetty%20Images%29

ARTIST%26%238217%3BS%20IMPRESSION%20%26%238211%3B%20MARCH%2012%3A%20%20This%20handout%20image%20from%20the%20European%20Space%20Agency%20shows%20an%20artist%26%238217%3Bs%20impression%20of%20the%20hydrogen%20atmosphere%20of%20transiting%20planet%20HD%20209458b%20streaming%20off%20of%20the%20planet%20as%20it%20orbits%20close%20to%20its%20parent%20star%20on%20March%2012%2C%202003.%20According%20to%20the%20ESA%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20made%20observations%20of%20the%20planet%2C%20which%20is%20described%20as%20a%20%26%238220%3Bhot%20Jupiter%26%238221%3B%20because%20the%20gas%20giant%20is%20similar%20to%20Jupiter%20in%20our%20solar%20system%20and%20because%20orbits%20precariously%20close%20to%20its%20parent%20star.%20%28Photo%20by%20Alfred%20Vidal-Madjar%2FESA%2FNASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20VARIOUS%20DATES%3A%20These%20images%20from%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%26%238217%3Bs%20Advanced%20Camera%20for%20Surveys%2C%20showing%20%26%238220%3Bthe%20reverberation%20of%20light%20through%20space%20caused%20by%20an%20unusual%20stellar%20outburst%26%238221%3B%20starting%20on%20May%2020%2C%202002%2C%20were%20released%20by%20NASA%20on%20March%2026%2C%202003.%20The%20outburst%20came%20from%20the%20red%20super-giant%20star%20called%20V838%20Monocerotis.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20MAY%208%3A%20This%20NASA%20photo%20released%20May%208%2C%202003%20was%20made%20from%20250%20separate%20exposures%20taken%20by%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20from%20December%202%2C%202002%20to%20January%2011%2C%202003%20and%20shows%20the%20nearest%20neighboring%20spiral%20galaxy%2C%20Andromeda.%20According%20to%20NASA%2C%20this%20is%20the%20deepest%20visible-light%20image%20ever%20taken%20of%20the%20sky%20and%20shows%20approximately%20300%2C000%20stars%20in%20the%20halo%20of%20the%20Andromeda%20galaxy.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20SEPTEMBER%207%3A%20%20%28FILE%20PHOTO%29%20%20In%20this%20image%20released%20by%20the%20National%20Aeronautics%20and%20Space%20Administration%20%28NASA%29%2C%20the%20galaxy%20NGC%203310%2C%20a%20starburst%20galaxy%20that%20is%20forming%20clusters%20of%20new%20stars%20at%20a%20prodigious%20rate%2C%20is%20shown%20taken%20by%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20%28HST%29%20Septemer%207%2C%202001%20while%20in%20space.%20Nasa%20plans%20to%20replace%20the%20Hubble%20telescope%20with%20the%20new%20James%20Webb%20Space%20Telescope%20%28JWST%29%20and%20plans%20to%20deorbit%20the%20Hubble%20telescope%20sometime%20in%202010.%20According%20to%20Anne%20Kinney%2C%20division%20director%20of%20astronomy%20and%20physics%20at%20NASA%20headquarters%2C%20NASA%20states%20August%201%2C%202003%20that%20it%20is%20firmly%20committed%20to%20the%20new%20JWST%2C%20a%20deep-space%20observatory%20due%20for%20launch%20in%202011%20on%20a%20European%20Ariane%205%20rocket.%20%20%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20JUNE%2019%3A%20%20%28FILE%20PHOTO%29%20%20In%20this%20image%20released%20by%20the%20National%20Aeronautics%20and%20Space%20Administration%20%28NASA%29%2C%20the%20Chandra%20X-ray%20Observatory%20and%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20shows%20a%20halo%20of%20hot%20gas%20surrounding%20spiral%20galaxy%20NGC%204631%20that%20is%20similar%20to%20the%20Milky%20Way%20galaxy%20June%2019%2C%202001%20while%20in%20space.%20NASA%20plans%20to%20replace%20the%20Hubble%20telescope%20with%20the%20new%20James%20Webb%20Space%20Telescope%20%28JWST%29%20and%20plans%20to%20deorbit%20the%20Hubble%20telescope%20sometime%20in%202010.%20According%20to%20Anne%20Kinney%2C%20division%20director%20of%20astronomy%20and%20physics%20at%20NASA%20headquarters%2C%20NASA%20states%20August%201%2C%202003%20that%20it%20is%20firmly%20committed%20to%20the%20new%20JWST%2C%20a%20deep-space%20observatory%20due%20for%20launch%20in%202011%20on%20a%20European%20Ariane%205%20rocket.%20%20%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20AUGUST%2026%3A%20%20This%20image%20released%20August%2027%2C%202003%20captured%20by%20NASA%26%238217%3Bs%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20shows%20a%20close-up%20of%20the%20red%20planet%20Mars%20when%20it%20was%20just%2034%2C648%2C840%20miles%20%2855%2C760%2C220%20km%29%20away.%20This%20color%20image%20was%20assembled%20from%20a%20series%20of%20exposures%20taken%20between%206%3A20%20p.m.%20and%207%3A12%20p.m.%20EDT%20%20August%20%2026%2C%202003%20with%20Hubble%26%238217%3Bs%20Wide%20Field%20and%20Planetary%20Camera%202.%20The%20picture%20was%20taken%20just%2011%20hours%20before%20the%20planet%20made%20its%20closest%20approach%20to%20Earth%20in%2060%2C000%20years.%20Many%20small%2C%20dark%2C%20circular%20impact%20craters%20can%20be%20seen%2C%20attesting%20to%20the%20Hubble%20telescope%26%238217%3Bs%20ability%20to%20reveal%20fine%20detail%20on%20the%20planet%26%238217%3Bs%20surface.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

UNDATED%20PHOTO%3A%20This%20festively%20colorful%20nebula%2C%20called%20NGC%20604%2C%20is%20one%20of%20the%20largest%20known%20seething%20cauldrons%20of%20star%20birth%20in%20a%20nearby%20galaxy.%20This%20star-birth%20region%20contains%20more%20than%20200%20brilliant%20blue%20stars%20within%20a%20cloud%20of%20glowing%20gases%20some%201%2C300%20light-years%20across%2C%20nearly%20100%20times%20the%20size%20of%20the%20Orion%20Nebula.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

UNDATED%20PHOTO%3A%20Resembling%20a%20flaming%20creature%20on%20the%20run%2C%20this%20image%20exposes%20the%20hidden%20interior%20of%20a%20dark%20and%20dusty%20cloud%20in%20the%20emission%20Nebula%20IC%201396.%20Young%20stars%20previously%20obscured%20by%20dust%20can%20be%20seen%20here%20for%20the%20first%20time.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%3A%20%20In%20this%20NASA%20handout%2C%20a%20view%20of%20%20deepest%20view%20of%20the%20visible%20universe%20ever%20achieved%20are%20seen%20in%20a%20Hubble%20Telescope%20composite%20photograph%20released%20March%209%2C%202004.%20The%20Hubble%20Ultra%20Deep%20Field%20%28HUDF%29%20photograph%20is%20a%20composite%20of%20a%20million%20one-second%20exposures%20and%20reveals%20galaxies%20from%20the%20time%20shortly%20after%20the%20big%20bang.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%3A%20%20In%20this%20NASA%20handout%2C%20a%20view%20of%20nearly%2010%2C000%20galaxies%20are%20seen%20in%20a%20Hubble%20Telescope%20composite%20photograph%20released%20March%209%2C%202004.%20The%20Hubble%20Ultra%20Deep%20Field%20%28HUDF%29%20photograph%20is%20a%20composite%20of%20a%20million%20one-second%20exposures%20and%20reveals%20galaxies%20from%20the%20time%20shortly%20after%20the%20big%20bang.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%3A%20%20In%20this%20NASA%20handout%2C%20a%20view%20of%20%20deepest%20view%20of%20the%20visible%20universe%20ever%20achieved%20are%20seen%20in%20a%20Hubble%20Telescope%20composite%20photograph%20released%20March%209%2C%202004.%20The%20Hubble%20Ultra%20Deep%20Field%20%28HUDF%29%20photograph%20is%20a%20composite%20of%20a%20million%20one-second%20exposures%20and%20reveals%20galaxies%20from%20the%20time%20shortly%20after%20the%20big%20bang.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

F%20336143%20002%20N81%20In%20The%20Small%20Magellanic%20Cloud%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20Wfpc2%20%20%28Photo%20By%20Nasa%2FGetty%20Images%29

Hefty%20Stars.Jpg%20%26%238211%3B%20Hubble%20Telescope%20Image%20F%20358487%20001%20Space%20New%20Hubble%20Images%20Uncover%20Important%20Clues%20About%20The%20Galaxy%26%238217%3Bs%20Origins%20And%20Beginnings.%20%20%28Photo%20By%20Nasa%2FGetty%20Images%29

F%20358487%20002%20Space%20New%20Hubble%20Images%20Uncover%20Important%20Clues%20About%20The%20Galaxy%26%238217%3Bs%20Origins%20And%20Beginnings.%20%20%28Photo%20By%20Nasa%2FGetty%20Images%29

F%20358487%20003%20Space%20New%20Hubble%20Images%20Uncover%20Important%20Clues%20About%20The%20Galaxy%26%238217%3Bs%20Origins%20And%20Beginnings.%20%20%28Photo%20By%20Nasa%2FGetty%20Images%29

UNITED%20STATES%3A%20%20NASA%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20image%20of%20the%20planet%20Uranus%20taken%2014%20August%201994%2C%20reveals%20the%20planet%26%238217%3Bs%20rings%20and%20bright%20clouds%20and%20a%20high%20altitude%20haze%20above%20the%20planet%26%238217%3Bs%20south%20pole.%20Hubble%20resolves%20several%20of%20Uranus%26%238217%3B%20rings%2C%20including%20the%20outermost%20Epsilon%20ring.%20%28Photo%20credit%20should%20read%20AFP%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20JUNE%205%3A%20An%20image%20of%20the%20tip%20of%20the%20Cone%20Nebula%2C%20%20which%20is%20about%20half%20a%20light-year%20long%20as%20taken%20by%20the%20Near%20Infrared%20Camera%20and%20Multi-Object%20Spectrometer%20%28NICMOS%29%20aboard%20NASA%26%238217%3Bs%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20as%20it%20penetrated%20layers%20of%20dust%20in%20a%20star-forming%20cloud%20to%20uncover%20a%20dense%2C%20craggy%20edifice%20of%20dust%20and%20gas%2C%20released%20June%205%2C%202002.%20The%20entire%20nebula%20is%207%20light-years%20long.%20The%20Cone%20resides%20in%20a%20turbulent%20star-forming%20region%2C%20located%202%2C500%20light-years%20away%20in%20the%20constellation%20Monoceros.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

IN%20SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20JUNE%205%3A%20An%20image%20of%20the%20tip%20of%20the%20Cone%20Nebula%2C%20%20which%20is%20about%20half%20a%20light-year%20long%20as%20taken%20by%20the%20Near%20Infrared%20Camera%20and%20Multi-Object%20Spectrometer%20%28NICMOS%29%20aboard%20NASA%26%238217%3Bs%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%2C%20released%20June%205%2C%202002.%20The%20entire%20nebula%20is%207%20light-years%20long.%20The%20Cone%20resides%20in%20a%20turbulent%20star-forming%20region%2C%20located%202%2C500%20light-years%20away%20in%20the%20constellation%20Monoceros.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

388345%2001%3A%20An%20close-up%20image%20of%20the%20Horsehead%20nebula%20taken%20from%20NASA%26%238217%3Bs%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20reveals%20the%20cloud%26%238217%3Bs%20intricate%20structure%20and%20resemblance%20to%20a%20giant%20seahorse%2C%20April%2024%2C%202001.%20The%20detailed%20view%20of%20the%20horse%26%238217%3Bs%20head%20was%20released%20in%20celebration%20of%20the%20the%20orbiting%20observatory%26%238217%3Bs%20eleventh%20anniversary.%20%28Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20NASA%2FNewsmakers%29

387524%2001%3A%20%20New%20pictures%20from%20the%20Hubble%20telescope%2C%20made%20available%20April%205%2C%202001%20are%20giving%20astronomers%20a%20detailed%20view%20of%20the%20Whirlpool%20galaxy%26%238217%3Bs%20spiral%20arms%20and%20dust%20clouds%2C%20which%20are%20the%20birth%20sites%20of%20massive%20and%20luminous%20stars.%20This%20galaxy%2C%20also%20called%20M51%20or%20NGC%205194%2C%20is%20having%20a%20close%20encounter%20with%20a%20nearby%20companion%20galaxy%2C%20NGC%205195%2C%20just%20off%20the%20upper%20edge%20of%20this%20image.%20%20The%20companion%26%238217%3Bs%20gravitational%20influence%20is%20triggering%20star%20formation%20in%20the%20Whirlpool%2C%20as%20seen%20by%20the%20numerous%20clusters%20of%20bright%2C%20young%20stars%20%5Bhighlighted%20in%20red%5D.%20%0D%0A%28Photo%20courtesy%20NASA%2FThe%20Hubble%20Heritage%20Team%2FNewsmakers%29

386160%2001%3A%20An%20image%20produced%20by%20the%20Hubble%20telescope%20of%20the%20perfectly%20%26%238220%3Bedge-on%26%238221%3B%20galaxy%2C%20or%20NGC%204013%20%2C%20March%201%2C%202001.%20This%20new%20Hubble%20picture%20reveals%2C%20with%20great%20detail%2C%20huge%20clouds%20of%20dust%20and%20gas%20extending%20along%2C%20as%20well%20as%20far%20above%2C%20the%20galaxy%26%238217%3Bs%20main%20disk.%20NGC%204013%20is%20a%20spiral%20galaxy%2C%20similar%20to%20the%20Milky%20Way%2C%20lying%20some%2055%20million%20light-years%20from%20Earth%20in%20the%20direction%20of%20the%20constellation%20Ursa%20Major.%20Viewed%20face-on%2C%20it%20would%20look%20like%20a%20nearly%20circular%20pinwheel%2C%20but%20NGC%204013%20happens%20to%20be%20seen%20edge-on%20from%20our%20vantage%20point.%20Even%20at%2055%20million%20light-years%2C%20the%20galaxy%20is%20larger%20than%20Hubble%26%238217%3Bs%20field%20of%20view%2C%20and%20the%20image%20shows%20only%20a%20little%20more%20than%20half%20of%20the%20object%2C%20albeit%20with%20unprecedented%20detail.%20%28Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20NASA%2FNewsmakers%29

387401%2001%3A%20The%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20has%20spied%20the%20most%20distant%20supernova%20ever%2C%20an%2011%20billion%20year%20old%20exploding%20star%20whose%20existence%20suggests%20that%20a%20repulsive%20%26%238220%3Bdark%20energy%26%238221%3B%20is%20spurring%20the%20expansion%20of%20the%20universe.%20Astronomers%20saw%20the%20supernova%20in%201997%20but%20did%20not%20know%20until%20recently%20that%20it%20was%20the%20furthest%20and%20therefore%20the%20oldest%20of%20its%20kind%20ever%20observed%2C%20scientists%20said%20April%202%2C%202001%20in%20a%20briefing%20at%20NASA%20headquarters.%20The%20photo%20at%20bottom%20left%20is%20a%20close-up%20view%20of%20that%20region%20where%20the%20supernova%20dwells.%20The%20white%20arrow%20points%20to%20the%20exploding%20star%26%238217%3Bs%20home%20galaxy%2C%20a%20faint%20elliptical.%20Its%20redness%20is%20due%20to%20the%20billions%20of%20old%20stars%20residing%20there.%20The%20picture%20at%20bottom%20right%20shows%20the%20supernova%20itself%2C%20distinguished%20by%20the%20white%20dot%20in%20the%20center.%20%28Photo%20courtesy%20of%20NASA%2FNewsmakers%29

388402%2001%3A%20According%20to%20observations%20made%20by%20astronomers%2C%20planet%20formation%20is%20a%20hazardous%20and%20violent%20process%2C%20April%2026%2C%202001.%20These%20four%20snapshots%2C%20taken%20by%20NASA%26%238217%3Bs%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20on%20February%2026%2C%201998%20and%20January%2011%2C%201999%2C%20show%20dust%20disks%20around%20embryonic%20stars%20in%20the%20Orion%20Nebula%20being%20%26%238220%3Bblowtorched%26%238221%3B%20by%20a%20blistering%20flood%20of%20ultraviolet%20radiation%20from%20the%20region%26%238217%3Bs%20brightest%20star.%20Within%20these%20disks%20are%20the%20seeds%20of%20planets.%20The%20doomed%20systems%20look%20like%20hapless%20comets%2C%20with%20wayward%20tails%20of%20gas%20boiling%20off%20the%20withering%2C%20pancake-shaped%20disks.%20%28Photo%20courtesy%20of%20NASA%2FNewsmakers%29

400704%2001%3A%20This%20image%20shows%20NGC%204622%20and%20its%20outer%20pair%20of%20winding%20arms%20full%20of%20new%20stars%2C%20shown%20in%20blue.%20The%20galaxy%20NGC%204622%20appears%20to%20be%20rotating%20in%20the%20opposite%20direction%20to%20what%20was%20expected.%20Pictures%20from%20NASA%26%238217%3Bs%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20helped%20astronomers%20determine%20that%20the%20galaxy%20may%20be%20spinning%20clockwise%20by%20showing%20which%20side%20of%20the%20galaxy%20is%20closer%20to%20Earth.%20This%20Hubble%20telescope%20photo%20of%20the%20oddball%20galaxy%20is%20presented%20by%20the%20Hubble%20Heritage%20team.%20%28Photo%20Courtesy%20of%20NASA%20and%20The%20Hubble%20Heritage%20Team%2FGetty%20Images%29

N362953%2002%3A%20Isolated%20stellar-mass%20black%20holes%20are%20seen%20in%20this%20Hubble%20photo%20taken%20June%2015%2C%201999%20adrift%20among%20the%20stars%20in%20our%20galaxy.%20Two%20international%20teams%20of%20astronomers%20using%20NASA%26%238217%3Bs%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20and%20ground-based%20telescopes%20in%20Australia%20and%20Chili%20have%20discovered%20the%20first%20examples%20of%20this%20extraterrestrial%20phenomenon.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%29

368100%2002%3A%20FILE%20PHOTO%3A%20The%20Stingray%20Nebula%20as%20photographed%20by%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20April%202%2C%201998.%20the%20Hubble%20celebrates%20its%2010th%20anniversary%20on%20April%2024%2C%202000.%20%28Photo%20courtesy%20NASA%29

383909%2001%3A%20This%20Hubble%20space%20telescope%20image%20released%20January%204%2C%202001%20shows%20the%20Hubble-X%2C%20a%20glowing%20gas%20cloud%20in%20one%20of%20the%20most%20active%20star-forming%20regions%20in%20galaxy%20NGC%206822.%20The%20galaxy%20lies%201.6%20million%20light-years%20from%20Earth%20in%20the%20constellation%20Sagittarius%2C%20one%20of%20the%20Milky%20Way%26%238217%3Bs%20closest%20neighbors.%20This%20hotbed%20of%20star%20birth%20is%20similar%20to%20the%20fertile%20regions%20in%20the%20Orion%20Nebula%20in%20our%20Milky%20Way%20Galaxy%2C%20but%20on%20a%20vastly%20greater%20scale.%20The%20intense%20star%20birth%20in%20Hubble-X%20occurred%20about%204%20million%20years%20ago%2C%20a%20small%20fraction%20of%20the%20approximate%2010-billion-year%20age%20of%20the%20universe.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FNewsmakers%29

385221%2001%3A%20A%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20image%20released%20February%201%2C%202001%20of%20the%20so-called%20%26%238220%3Bant%20nebula%26%238221%3B%20%28Menzel%203%2C%20or%20Mz3%29%20reveals%20the%20%26%238220%3Bant%26%238217%3Bs%26%238221%3B%20body%20as%20a%20pair%20of%20fiery%20lobes%20protruding%20from%20a%20dying%20star.%20The%20Hubble%20images%20directly%20challenge%20old%20ideas%20about%20the%20last%20stages%20in%20the%20lives%20of%20stars.%20By%20observing%20Sun-like%20stars%20as%20they%20approach%20their%20deaths%2C%20the%20Hubble%20Heritage%20image%20of%20Mz3%2C%20along%20with%20pictures%20of%20other%20planetary%20nebulae%2C%20shows%20that%20our%20Sun%26%238217%3Bs%20fate%20probably%20will%20be%20more%20interesting%2C%20complex%2C%20and%20striking%20than%20astronomers%20imagined%20just%20a%20few%20years%20ago.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FNewsmakers%29

387208%2001%3A%20Extremely%20intense%20radiation%20from%20newly%20born%2C%20ultra-bright%20stars%20has%20blown%20a%20glowing%20spherical%20bubble%20in%20the%20nebula%20N83B%2C%20also%20known%20as%20NGC%201748%2C%20March%2028%2C%202001.%20A%20new%20Hubble%20telescope%20image%20has%20helped%20to%20decipher%20the%20complex%20interplay%20of%20gas%20and%20radiation%20of%20a%20star-forming%20region%20in%20the%20nearby%20galaxy%2C%20the%20Large%20Magellanic%20Cloud.%20The%20image%20graphically%20illustrates%20just%20how%20these%20massive%20stars%20sculpt%20their%20environment%20by%20generating%20powerful%20winds%20that%20alter%20the%20shape%20of%20the%20parent%20gaseous%20nebula.%20These%20processes%20are%20also%20seen%20in%20our%20Milky%20Way%20in%20regions%20like%20the%20Orion%20Nebula.%20%28Photo%20courtesy%20of%20NASA%2FNewsmakers%29

394162%2003%3A%20This%20montage%20shows%20two%20sets%20of%20Chandra%20X-ray%20Observatory%20images%20%28L%29%20and%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20images%20%28R%29%20of%20the%20giant%20galaxy%20clusters%20Abell%202390%20and%20MS2137.3-2353.%20The%20clusters%20are%20located%202.5%20and%203.1billion%20light%20years%20from%20Earth%20respectively.%20The%20X-ray%20emission%20comes%20from%20the%20multimillion-degree%20gas%20that%20fills%20the%20clusters.%20Chandra%20provides%20detailed%20temperature%20maps%20for%20this%20gas%20and%20allows%20astronomers%20to%20precisely%20determine%20the%20masses%20of%20the%20clusters.%20Most%20of%20the%20mass%20is%20in%20the%20form%20of%20dark%20matter.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

395823%2001%3A%20%28FILE%20PHOTO%29%20A%20comparison%20image%20of%20the%20planet%20Mars%20reveals%20October%2011%2C%202001%20that%20a%20global%20dust%20storm%20has%20engulfed%20the%20planet.%20The%20storm%20is%20comprised%20of%20fine%20dust%20and%20obscures%20all%20surface%20features.%20This%20image%20was%20captured%20by%20the%20Hubble%20Telescope.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

395823%2002%3A%20%28FILE%20PHOTO%29%20NASA%20researchers%20have%20discovered%20a%20small%20distant%20galaxy%20located%20approximately%2013.4%20billion%20light-years%20away%20from%20our%20planet.%20This%20image%20was%20captured%20by%20the%20Hubble%20Telescope.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

395823%2003%3A%20%28FILE%20PHOTO%29%20Astronomers%20have%20used%20NASA%26%238217%3Bs%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20to%20peer%20into%20the%20center%20of%20a%20dense%20swarm%20of%20stars%20called%20Omega%20Centauri.%20Omega%20Centauri%20is%20a%20massive%20globular%20star%20cluster%2C%20containing%20several%20million%20stars%20swirling%20in%20locked%20orbits%20around%20a%20common%20center%20of%20gravity.%20The%20stars%20are%20packed%20so%20densely%20in%20the%20cluster%26%238217%3Bs%20core%20that%20it%20is%20difficult%20for%20ground-based%20telescopes%20to%20make%20out%20individual%20stars.%20This%20image%20was%20captured%20by%20the%20Hubble%20Telescope.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

381207%2001%3A%20An%20image%20captured%20by%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%2C%20released%20by%20NASA%20November%202%2C%202000%2C%20shows%20a%20striking%20example%20of%20a%20galaxy%20collision%20more%20than%20200%20million%20light%20year%20away%2C%20in%20NGC%206745.%20The%20yellowish%20center%20of%20the%20photo%20shows%20a%20large%20spiral%20galaxy%20with%20its%20core%20still%20intact%2C%20colliding%20with%20a%20smaller%20galaxy%20seen%20in%20the%20bright%20blue%20sections%20of%20the%20image.%20The%20blue%20light%20shows%20the%20distinct%20path%20taken%20by%20the%20smaller%20galaxy%20during%20the%20encounter%2C%20as%20the%20galaxies%20did%20not%20merely%20interact%20gravitationally%20as%20they%20passed%20one%20another%2C%20but%20actually%20collided.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FNewsmakers%29

383068%2001%3A%20This%20image%20captured%20by%20NASA%26%238221%3Bs%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20shows%20a%20dark%20interstellar%20cloud%20being%20destroyed%20by%20the%20passage%20of%20one%20of%20the%20brightest%20stars%20in%20the%20Pleiades%20star%20cluster.%20In%20this%20photo%20released%20December%208%2C%202000%2C%20the%20star%20is%20seen%20reflecting%20light%20off%20the%20surface%20of%20pitch%20black%20clouds%20of%20cold%20gas%20laced%20with%20dust.%20These%20clouds%20are%20called%20reflection%20nebulae.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FNewsmakers%29

390506%2001%3A%20This%20composite%20image%20from%20the%20Chandra%20X-ray%20Observatory%20and%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20shows%20the%20first%20halo%20of%20X-ray%20emission%20detected%20around%20a%20young%20cluster%20of%20stars%2C%20known%20as%20the%20Arches%20cluster.%20The%20photo%20was%20released%20on%20June%206%2C%202001%20by%20NASA.%20The%20Chandra%20data%20is%20seen%20as%20the%20diffuse%20blue%20emission%20in%20the%20inset%20box%20and%20represents%20the%2060-million-degree%20gas%20that%20envelopes%20the%20multitude%20of%20young%20stars%20in%20the%20cluster.%20This%20image%20overlays%20a%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20infrared%20image%20of%20the%20same%20region%2C%20in%20which%20some%20of%20the%20individual%20stars%20in%20the%20cluster%20can%20be%20seen%20as%20point-like%20sources.%20Both%20the%20X-ray%20and%20infrared%20observations%20are%20then%20shown%20in%20context%20of%20the%20spectacular%20filamentary%20structures%20that%20appear%20in%20radio%20wavelengths%20displayed%20in%20red.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

N365890%2001%3A%20A%20spectacular%20color%20panorama%20of%20the%20center%20of%20the%20Orion%20nebula%20is%20one%20of%20the%20largest%20pictures%20ever%20assembled%20from%20individual%20images%20taken%20with%20NASA%26%238217%3Bs%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope.%20The%20picture%2C%20seamlessly%20composited%20from%20a%20mosaic%20of%2015%20separate%20fields%2C%20covers%20an%20area%20of%20sky%20about%20five%20percent%20of%20the%20area%20covered%20by%20the%20full%20moon.%20%28Courtesy%20of%20NASA%29

N366041%2001%3A%20Just%20weeks%20after%20NASA%20astronauts%20repaired%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20in%20December%2C%201999%2C%20the%20Hubble%20Heritage%20Project%20snapped%20this%20picture%20of%20NGC%201999%2C%20a%20nebula%20in%20the%20constellation%20Orion.%20The%20Heritage%20astronomers%2C%20in%20collaboration%20with%20scientists%20in%20Texas%20and%20Ireland%2C%20used%20Hubble%26%238217%3Bs%20Wide%20Field%20Planetary%20Camera%202%20%28WFPC2%29%20to%20obtain%20the%20color%20image.%20%28Courtesy%20of%20NASA%29

368100%2001%3A%20FILE%20PHOTO%3A%20The%20Pistol%20Star%20Nebula%20as%20photographed%20by%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20October%208%2C%201997.%20The%20Hubble%20celebrates%20its%2010th%20anniversary%20on%20April%2024%2C%202000.%20%28Photo%20courtesy%20NASA%29

N365573%2001%3A%20Hubble%20resumes%20gazing%20at%20the%20Heavens%20by%20taking%20a%20look%20at%20the%20%26%238220%3BEskimo%26%238221%3B%20Nebula%20In%20its%20first%20glimpse%20of%20the%20heavens%20following%20the%20successful%20December%201999%20servicing%20mission%20March%206%2C%202000.%20NASA%26%238217%3Bs%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20has%20captured%20a%20majestic%20view%20of%20a%20planetary%20nebula%2C%20the%20glowing%20remains%20of%20a%20dying%2C%20sun-like%20star.%20This%20stellar%20relic%2C%20first%20spied%20by%20William%20Herschel%20in%201787%2C%20is%20nicknamed%20the%20%26%238220%3BEskimo%26%238221%3B%20Nebula%20because%2C%20when%20viewed%20through%20ground-based%20telescopes%2C%20it%20resembles%20a%20face%20surrounded%20by%20a%20fur%20parka.%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%29

392767%2001%3A%20%28UNDATED%20PHOTO%29%20A%20Hubble%20telescope%20edge-on%20view%20of%20the%20ESO%20510-G13%20galaxy%20is%20seen%20in%20this%20undated%20NASA%20photograph.%20The%20image%20shows%20the%20galaxy%26%238221%3Bs%20warped%20dusty%20disk%20and%20shows%20how%20colliding%20galaxies%20spawn%20the%20formation%20of%20new%20generations%20of%20stars.%20The%20dust%20and%20spiral%20arms%20of%20normal%20spiral%20galaxies%2C%20like%20our%20own%20Milky%20Way%2C%20appear%20flat%20when%20viewed%20edge-on.%20This%20galaxy%20by%20contrast%20has%20an%20unusual%20twisted%20disk%20structure.%20%28Photo%20courtesy%20of%20NASA%20via%20Getty%20Images%29

393310%2001%3A%20These%20NASA%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20snapshots%20reveal%20a%20white%20bubble%20of%20activity%20within%20the%20core%20of%20the%20galaxy%20NGC%203079%2C%20as%20hot%20gas%20is%20rises%20from%20glowing%20matter.%20The%20picture%20at%20left%20shows%20the%20bubble%20in%20the%20center%20of%20the%20galaxy%26%238221%3Bs%20disk.%20The%20structure%20is%20more%20than%203%2C000%20light-years%20wide%20and%20rises%203%2C500%20light-years%20above%20the%20galaxy%26%238221%3Bs%20disk.%20The%20smaller%20photo%20at%20right%20is%20a%20close-up%20view%20of%20the%20bubble.%20Astronomers%20suspect%20that%20the%20bubble%20is%20being%20blown%20by%20%26%238220%3Bwinds%26%238221%3B%20%28high-speed%20streams%20of%20particles%29%20released%20during%20a%20burst%20of%20star%20formation.%20The%20two%20white%20dots%20just%20above%20the%20bubble%20are%20probably%20stars%20in%20the%20galaxy.%20%28Photo%20courtesy%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

Credit%3A%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%3Cbr%20%2F%3EIN%20SPACE%20%26%238211%3B%20JUNE%2026%3A%20%20This%20image%20from%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20shows%20a%20group%20of%20galaxies%20called%20the%20Seyfert%26%238217%3Bs%20Sextet%20on%20June%2026%2C%202000.%20Although%20the%20name%20of%20this%20grouping%20suggests%20that%20there%20are%20six%2C%20there%20are%20in%20reality%20only%20four%20galaxies%20in%20the%20group%20that%20are%20slowly%20merging%20into%20one.%20%20%28Photo%20by%20NASA%2FGetty%20Images%29

F%20352524%20001%20Space%201999%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20Images%20Complete%20Image%20Of%20Spiral%20Galaxy%20Ngc%204414%20The%20Image%20Was%20Obtained%20With%20Hubble%26%238217%3BS%20Wide%20Field%20Planetary%20Camera%202%20%28Wfpc2%29%20Through%20Three%20Different%20Color%20Filters.%20Based%20On%20Their%20Discovery%20And%20Careful%20Brightness%20Measurements%20Of%20Variable%20Stars%20In%20Ngc%204414%2C%20The%20Key%20Project%20Astronomers%20Were%20Able%20To%20Make%20An%20Accurate%20Determination%20Of%20The%20Distance%20To%20The%20Galaxy.%20The%20Resulting%20Distance%20To%20Ngc%204414%2C%2019.1%20Megaparsecs%20Or%20About%2060%20Million%20Light-Years%2C%20Along%20With%20Similarly%20Determined%20Distances%20To%20Other%20Nearby%20Galaxies%2C%20Contributes%20To%20Astronomers%26%238217%3B%20Overall%20Knowledge%20Of%20The%20Rate%20Of%20Expansion%20Of%20The%20Universe.%20The%20Hubble%20Constant%20%28H0%29%20Is%20The%20Ratio%20Of%20How%20Fast%20Galaxies%20Are%20Moving%20Away%20From%20Us%20To%20Their%20Distance%20From%20Us.%20This%20Astronomical%20Value%20Is%20Used%20To%20Determine%20Distances%2C%20Sizes%2C%20And%20The%20Intrinsic%20Luminosities%20For%20Many%20Objects%20In%20Our%20Universe%2C%20And%20The%20Age%20Of%20The%20Universe%20Itself.%20%20%28Photo%20By%20Nasa%2FGetty%20Images%29

A%20Nasa%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20Shows%20The%20Spiral%20Galaxy%20Ngc%204603%2C%20The%20Most%20Distant%20Galaxy%20In%20Which%20A%20Special%20Class%20Of%20Pulsating%20Stars%20Called%20Cepheid%20Variables%20Have%20Been%20Found.%20It%20Is%20Associated%20With%20The%20Centaurus%20Cluster%2C%20One%20Of%20The%20Most%20Massive%20Assemblages%20Of%20Galaxies%20In%20The%20Nearby%20Universe.%20The%20Universe%20Is%20A%20Youthful%2012%20Billion%20Years%20Old%20%26%238212%3B%20Not%2020%20Billion%2C%20As%20Astronomers%20Once%20Believed%20%26%238212%3B%20And%20That%20Is%20Old%20Enough%20To%20Support%20The%20Theory%20That%20The%20Big%20Bang%20Started%20It%20All%2C%20Scientists%20Said%20Tuesday.%20%20%28Photo%20By%20Nasa%2FGetty%20Images%29

HUBBLE%26%238217%3Bs%20FIRST%20DIRECT%20LOOK%20AT%20POSSIBLE%20PLANET%20AROUND%20ANOTHER%20STAR.%20This%20NASA%20Hubble%20Telescope%20near-infrared%20image%20of%20newborn%20binary%20stars%20%28image%20center%29%20reveals%20a%20long%20thin%20nebula%20pointing%20toward%20a%20faint%20companion%20object%20%28bottom%20left%29%20which%20could%20be%20the%20first%20extrasolar%20planet%20to%20be%20imaged%20directly%20released%20by%20NASA%20May%2028%2C%201998.

N365905%2001%3A%20Previously%20unseen%20details%20of%20a%20mysterious%2C%20complex%20structure%20within%20the%20Carina%20Nebula%20%28NGC%203372%29%20are%20revealed%20by%20this%20image%20of%20the%20%26%238220%3BKeyhole%20Nebula%2C%26%238221%3B%20obtained%20with%20NASA%26%238217%3Bs%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope.%20The%20picture%20is%20a%20montage%20assembled%20from%20four%20different%20April%201999%20telescope%20pointings%20with%20Hubble%26%238217%3Bs%20Wide%20Field%20Planetary%20Camera%202.%20The%20picture%20is%20dominated%20by%20a%20large%2C%20approximately%20circular%20feature%2C%20which%20is%20part%20of%20the%20Keyhole%20Nebula%2C%20about%208000%20light-years%20from%20Earth.%20The%20Carina%20Nebula%20also%20contains%20several%20other%20stars%20that%20are%20among%20the%20hottest%20and%20most%20massive%20known%2C%20each%20about%20ten%20times%20as%20hot%2C%20and%20100%20times%20as%20massive%20as%20the%20sun.%20%28Courtesy%20of%20NASA%29

SPACE%2C%20SPACE%3A%20%20This%20NASA%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20image%20released%2004%20December%2C%202003%20shows%20a%20festively%20colored%20nebula%2C%20called%20NGC%20604%2C%20one%20of%20the%20largest%20known%20seething%20cauldrons%20of%20star%20birth%20in%20a%20nearby%20galaxy.%20NGC%20604%20is%20similar%20to%20familiar%20star-birth%20regions%20in%20our%20Milky%20Way%20galaxy%2C%20such%20as%20the%20Orion%20Nebula%2C%20but%20it%20is%20vastly%20larger%20in%20extent%20and%20contains%20many%20more%20recently%20formed%20stars.%20This%20monstrous%20star-birth%20region%20contains%20more%20than%20200%20brilliant%20blue%20stars%20within%20a%20cloud%20of%20glowing%20gases%20some%201%2C300%20light-years%20across%2C%20nearly%20100%20times%20the%20size%20of%20the%20Orion%20Nebula.%20The%20bright%20stars%20in%20NGC%20604%20are%20extremely%20young%20by%20astronomical%20standards%2C%20having%20formed%20a%20mere%203%20million%20years%20ago.%20AFP%20PHOTO%2FHO%20%20NASA%2FThe%20Hubble%20Heritage%20Team%20%2F%28AURA%2FSTScI%29%20%20%20%20%28Photo%20credit%20should%20read%20NASA%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

F%20334%20814%20001%2009%2F04%2F98%20Deep%20Space%20Image%20Of%20Celestial%20Star%20Factory%20A%20Nasa%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20Image%20Of%20Star%20Cluster%20N81.%2050%20Young%20Bright%20Baby%20Stars%20Pack%20A%20Tiny%20Region%20Of%20Space.%20The%20Radiation%20Given%20Off%20By%20These%20Stars%20Makes%20The%20Nebula%20Glow.%20%20%28Photo%20By%20Nasa%2FGetty%20Images%29

F%20336143%20001%20An%20Image%20From%20Nasa%26%238217%3Bs%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20Reveals%20Clusters%20Of%20Infant%20Stars%20That%20Formed%20In%20A%20Ring%20Around%20The%20Core%20Of%20The%20Barred-Spiral%20Galaxy%20Ngc%204314.%20This%20Stellar%20Nursery%2C%20Whose%20Inhabitants%20Were%20Created%20Within%20The%20Past%205%20Million%20Years%2C%20Is%20The%20Only%20Place%20In%20The%20Entire%20Galaxy%20Where%20New%20Stars%20Are%20Being%20Born.%20The%20Hubble%20Image%20Is%20Being%20Presented%20Today%20%28June%2011%29%20At%20The%20American%20Astronomical%20Society%20Meeting%20In%20San%20Diego%2C%20Calif.The%20Left-Hand%20Image%2C%20Taken%20In%20February%201996%20By%20The%2030-Inch%20Telescope%20Prime%20Focus%20Camera%20At%20The%20Mcdonald%20Observatory%20In%20Texas%2C%20Shows%20The%20Entire%20Galaxy%2C%20Including%20The%20Bar%20Of%20Stars%20Bisecting%20The%20Core%20And%20The%20Outer%20Spiral%20Arms%2C%20Which%20Begin%20Near%20The%20Ends%20Of%20This%20Bar.%20The%20Box%20Around%20The%20Galaxy%26%238217%3Bs%20Core%20Pinpoints%20The%20Focus%20Of%20The%20Hubble%20Image.%20%20%28Photo%20By%20Nasa%2FGetty%20Images%29

Space%2009%2F19%2F98%20%28666.669%29%20Hubble%20Captures%20Galaxy%20Clusters%20%3A%20Gorilla%20Is%20An%20Extremely%20Massive%20Cluster%20Of%20Galaxies.%20%20%28Photo%20By%20Nasa%2FGetty%20Images%29

Space%2009%2F19%2F98%20%28666.669%29%20Hubble%20Captures%20Galaxy%20Clusters%20%3A%20Gorilla%20Is%20An%20Extremely%20Massive%20Cluster%20Of%20Galaxies.%20%20%28Photo%20By%20Nasa%2FGetty%20Images%29

F%20346150%20001%20October%201998%20Combined%20Deep%20View%20Of%20Infrared%20And%20Visible%20Light%20Galaxies%20This%20Narrow%2C%20Deep%20View%20Of%20The%20Universe%20Reveals%20A%20Plethora%20Of%20Galaxies%20%28Reaching%20Fainter%20Than%2028Th%20Magnitude%29%2C%20As%20Seen%20In%20Visible%20And%20Infrared%20Light%20By%20Nasa%3FS%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope.%20The%20Reddish%20Galaxies%20Are%20Glowing%20In%20Infrared%20Light%2C%20And%20The%20Bluish%20Galaxies%20Are%20Glowing%20In%20Visible%20Light.%20Several%20Distinctive%20Types%20Of%20Galaxies%20Can%20Be%20Seen%20In%20These%20Views%3A%20Blue%20Dwarf%20Galaxies%2C%20Disk%20Galaxies%2C%20And%20Very%20Red%20Elliptical%20Galaxies.%20A%20Bright%2C%20Nearby%20Face-On%20Spiral%20Galaxy%20Appears%20At%20Upper%20Right.%20Some%20Of%20The%20Brightest%20Objects%20In%20The%20Field%20Are%20Foreground%20Stars%20In%20The%20Halo%20Of%20Our%20Own%20Milky%20Way%20Galaxy.%20By%20Combining%20Views%20In%20Infrared%20Light%20And%20Visible%20Light%20Astronomers%20Have%20A%20Better%20Idea%20Of%20The%20Shapes%20Of%20Galaxies%20In%20The%20Remote%20Universe%2C%20And%20Of%20The%20Fraction%20Which%20Are%20Old%20Or%20Dust-Obscured%20At%20Early%20Epochs.%20%20%28Photo%20By%20Nasa%2FGetty%20Images%29

Embargoed%20Until%3A%2010%3A20%20Am%20%28Est%29%2F9%3A20%20Am%20%28Cst%29%20January%206%2C%201999%20Photo%20No.%3A%20Stsci-Prc99-01%20Looking%20Down%20A%20Barrel%20Of%20Gas%20At%20A%20Doomed%20Star%20The%20Nasa%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20Has%20Captured%20The%20Sharpest%20View%20Yet%20Of%20The%20Most%20Famous%20Of%20All%20Planetary%20Nebulae%3A%20The%20Ring%20Nebula%20%28M57%29.%20In%20This%20October%201998%20Image%2C%20The%20Telescope%20Has%20Looked%20Down%20A%20Barrel%20Of%20Gas%20Cast%20Off%20By%20A%20Dying%20Star%20Thousands%20Of%20Years%20Ago.%20This%20Photo%20Reveals%20Elongated%20Dark%20Clumps%20Of%20Material%20Embedded%20In%20The%20Gas%20At%20The%20Edge%20Of%20The%20Nebula%3B%20The%20Dying%20Central%20Star%20Floating%20In%20A%20Blue%20Haze%20Of%20Hot%20Gas.%20The%20Nebula%20Is%20About%20A%20Light-Year%20In%20Diameter%20And%20Is%20Located%20Some%202%2C000%20Light-Years%20From%20Earth%20In%20The%20Direction%20Of%20The%20Constellation%20Lyra.%20The%20Colors%20Are%20Approximately%20True%20Colors.%20The%20Color%20Image%20Was%20Assembled%20From%20Three%20Black-And-White%20Photos%20Taken%20Through%20Different%20Color%20Filters%20With%20The%20Hubble%20Telescope%26%238217%3BS%20Wide%20Field%20Planetary%20Camera%202.%20Blue%20Isolates%20Emission%20From%20Very%20Hot%20Helium%2C%20Which%20Is%20Located%20Primarily%20Close%20To%20The%20Hot%20Central%20Star.%20Green%20Represents%20Ionized%20Oxygen%2C%20Which%20Is%20Located%20Farther%20From%20The%20Star.%20Red%20Shows%20Ionized%20Nitrogen%2C%20Which%20Is%20Radiated%20From%20The%20Coolest%20Gas%2C%20Located%20Farthest%20From%20The%20Star.%20The%20Gradations%20Of%20Color%20Illustrate%20How%20The%20Gas%20Glows%20Because%20It%20Is%20Bathed%20In%20Ultraviolet%20Radiation%20From%20The%20Remnant%20Central%20Star%2C%20Whose%20Surface%20Temperature%20Is%20A%20White-Hot%20216%2C000%20Degrees%20Fahrenheit%20%28120%2C000%20Degrees%20Celsius%29.%20%28Photo%20By%20Nasa%2FGetty%20Images%29

F%20352524%20002%20Space%201999%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20Images%20%26%238211%3B%20Ab%20Aurigae%20Star%20And%20Disk%20A%20Visible-Light%20Image%2C%20Taken%20With%20Hubble%26%238217%3Bs%20Space%20Telescope%20Imaging%20Spectrograph%2C%20Reveals%20Clumps%20Of%20Material%20In%20A%20Circumstellar%20Disk%20Of%20Gas%20And%20Dust%20Swirling%20Around%20A%202-%20To%204-Million-Year-Old%20Star%20Called%20Ab%20Aurigae.%20These%20Clumps%2C%20Also%20Composed%20Of%20Dust%20And%20Gas%2C%20May%20Represent%20The%20Seeds%20Of%20Planet%20Formation.%20%20%28Photo%20By%20Nasa%2FGetty%20Images%29

F%20352524%20004%20Space%201999%20Hubble%20Finds%20Variable%20Stars%20In%20Distant%20Spiral%20Galaxy%20A%20Nasa%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20%28Hst%29%20View%20Of%20The%20Magnificent%20Spiral%20Galaxy%20Ngc%204603%2C%20The%20Most%20Distant%20Galaxy%20In%20Which%20A%20Special%20Class%20Of%20Pulsating%20Stars%20Called%20Cepheid%20Variables%20Have%20Been%20Found.%20It%20Is%20Associated%20With%20The%20Centaurus%20Cluster%2C%20One%20Of%20The%20Most%20Massive%20Assemblages%20Of%20Galaxies%20In%20The%20Nearby%20Universe.%20The%20Local%20Group%20Of%20Galaxies%2C%20Of%20Which%20The%20Milky%20Way%20Is%20A%20Member%2C%20Is%20Moving%20In%20The%20Direction%20Of%20Centaurus%20At%20A%20Speed%20Of%20More%20Than%20A%20Million%20Miles%20An%20Hour%20Under%20The%20Influence%20Of%20The%20Gravitational%20Pull%20Of%20The%20Matter%20In%20That%20Direction.%20%20%28Photo%20By%20Nasa%2FGetty%20Images%29

F%20353403%20001%205Sept98%20Deep%20Space%20A%20Nasa%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20View%20Of%20Starbirth%2C%20Called%20N159%20And%20Is%20Over%20150%20Light-Years%20Across%2C%20Taking%20Place%20170%2C000%20Light-Years%20Away%20In%20Our%20Satellite%20Galaxy.%20A%20Rare%20Type%20Of%20Compact%20Ionized%20%26%238220%3BBlob%26%238221%3B%20Is%20Resolved%20For%20The%20First%20Time%20To%20Be%20A%20Butterfly-Shaped%20Or%20%26%238220%3BPapillon%26%238221%3B%20%28French%20For%20%26%238220%3BButterfly%26%238221%3B%29%20Nebula%2C%20Buried%20In%20The%20Center%20Of%20The%20Maelstrom%20Of%20Glowing%20Gases%20And%20Dark%20Dust.%20This%20Observation%20Is%20Part%20Of%20A%20Search%20For%20Young%20Massive%20Stars%20In%20The%20Lmc.%20The%20Cases%20Are%20Rare%20Where%20We%20Can%20See%20Massive%20Stars%20So%20Early%20After%20Their%20Birth.%20The%20Hubble%20Observations%20Of%20The%20Papillon%20Nebula%20Were%20Conducted%20By%20The%20European%20Astronomers%20Mohammad%20Heydari-Malayeri%20%28Paris%20Observatory%2C%20France%29%20And%20Co-Investigators%20Michael%20Rosa%20%28Space%20Telescope-European%20Coordinating%20Facility%2C%20European%20Southern%20Observatory%2C%20Germany%29%2C%20Vassilis%20Charmandaris%20%28Paris%20Observatory%29%2C%20Lise%20Deharveng%20%28Marseille%20Observatory%2C%20France%29%2C%20And%20Hans%20Zinnecker%20%28Astrophysical%20Institute%2C%20Potsdam%2C%20Germany%29.%20%20%28Photo%20By%20Nasa%2FGetty%20Images%29

F%20356597%20001%2005%2F1999%20Space%20Hubble%20Telescope%20Images%20Of%20Southern%20Crab%20Nebula%20Detail%20Reveals%20The%20Nested%20Bubble%20Structure%20Of%20The%20Nebula%20%20%28Photo%20By%20Nasa%2FGetty%20Images%29

F%20358487%20004%20Space%20New%20Hubble%20Images%20Uncover%20Important%20Clues%20About%20The%20Galaxy%26%238217%3Bs%20Origins%20And%20Beginnings.%20%20%28Photo%20By%20Nasa%2FGetty%20Images%29

F%20358487%20005%20Space%20New%20Hubble%20Images%20Uncover%20Important%20Clues%20About%20The%20Galaxy%26%238217%3Bs%20Origins%20And%20Beginnings.%20%20%28Photo%20By%20Nasa%2FGetty%20Images%29

F%20358487%20006%20Space%20New%20Hubble%20Images%20Uncover%20Important%20Clues%20About%20The%20Galaxy%26%238217%3Bs%20Origins%20And%20Beginnings.%20%20%28Photo%20By%20Nasa%2FGetty%20Images%29

This%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20Image%20Provides%20A%20Detailed%20Look%20At%20A%20Brilliant%20%26%238220%3BFireworks%20Show%26%238221%3B%20At%20The%20Center%20Of%20A%20Collision%20Between%20Two%20Galaxies.%20Hubble%20Has%20Uncovered%20Over%201%2C000%20Bright%2C%20Young%20Star%20Clusters%20Bursting%20To%20Life%20As%20A%20Result%20Of%20The%20Head-On%20Wreck.%20%5BLeft%5D%20A%20Ground-Based%20Telescopic%20View%20Of%20The%20Antennae%20Galaxies%20%28Known%20Formally%20As%20Ngc%204038%2F4039%29%20%26%238211%3B%20So%20Named%20Because%20A%20Pair%20Of%20Long%20Tails%20Of%20Luminous%20Matter%2C%20Formed%20By%20The%20Gravitational%20Tidal%20Forces%20Of%20Their%20Encounter%2C%20Resembles%20An%20Insect%26%238217%3BS%20Antennae.%20The%20Galaxies%20Are%20Located%2063%20Million%20Light-Years%20Away%20In%20The%20Southern%20Constellation%20Corvus.%20%5BRight%5D%20The%20Respective%20Cores%20Of%20The%20Twin%20Galaxies%20Are%20The%20Orange%20Blobs%2C%20Left%20And%20Right%20Of%20Image%20Center%2C%20Crisscrossed%20By%20Filaments%20Of%20Dark%20Dust.%20A%20Wide%20Band%20Of%20Chaotic%20Dust%2C%20Called%20The%20Overlap%20Region%2C%20Stretches%20Between%20The%20Cores%20Of%20The%20Two%20Galaxies.%20The%20Sweeping%20Spiral-Like%20Patterns%2C%20Traced%20By%20Bright%20Blue%20Star%20Clusters%2C%20Shows%20The%20Result%20Of%20A%20Firestorm%20Of%20Star%20Birth%20Activity%20Which%20Was%20Triggered%20By%20The%20Collision.%20This%20Natural-Color%20Image%20Is%20A%20Composite%20Of%20Four%20Separately%20Filtered%20Images%20Taken%20With%20The%20Wide%20Field%20Planetary%20Camera%202%20%28Wfpc2%29%2C%20On%20January%2020%2C%201996.%20Resolution%20Is%2015%20Light-Years%20Per%20Pixel%20%28Picture%20Element%29.%20%28Photo%20By%20Getty%20Images%2FGetty%20Images%29

These%20Four%20Close-Up%20Views%20Are%20Taken%20From%20A%20Head-On%20Collision%20Between%20Two%20Spiral%20Galaxies%2C%20Called%20The%20Antennae%20Galaxies%2C%20Seen%20At%20Image%20Center.%20The%20Scale%20Bar%20At%20The%20Top%20Of%20Each%20Image%20Is%201%2C500%20Light-Years%20Across.%20%5BLeft%20Images%5D%20The%20Collision%20Triggers%20The%20Birth%20Of%20New%20Stars%20In%20Brilliant%20Blue%20Star%20Clusters%2C%20The%20Brightest%20Of%20Which%20Contains%20Roughly%20A%20Million%20Stars.%20The%20Star%20Clusters%20Are%20Blue%20Because%20They%20Are%20Very%20Young%2C%20The%20Youngest%20Being%20Only%20A%20Few%20Million%20Years%20Old%2C%20A%20Mere%20Blink%20Of%20The%20Eye%20On%20The%20Astronomical%20Time%20Scale.%20%5BRight%20Images%5D%20These%20Close-Up%20Views%20Of%20The%20Cores%20Of%20Each%20Galaxy%20Show%20Entrapped%20Dust%20And%20Gas%20Funneled%20Into%20The%20Center.%20The%20Nucleus%20Of%20Ngc%204038%20%28Lower%20Right%29%20Is%20Obscured%20By%20Dust%20Which%20Dims%20And%20Reddens%20Starlight%20By%20Scattering%20The%20Shorter%2C%20Bluer%20Wavelengths.%20This%20Is%20Also%20The%20Reason%20The%20Young%20Star%20Clusters%20In%20The%20Dusty%20Regions%20Appear%20Red%20Instead%20Of%20Blue.%20This%20Natural-Color%20Image%20Is%20A%20Composite%20Of%20Four%20Separately%20Filtered%20Images%20Taken%20With%20The%20Wide%20Field%20Planetary%20Camera%202%20%28Wfpc2%29%2C%20On%20January%2020%2C%201996.%20Resolution%20Is%2015%20Light-Years%20Per%20Pixel%20%28Picture%20Element%29.%20%28Photo%20By%20Getty%20Images%2FGetty%20Images%29

One%20Of%20The%20Intrinsically%20Brightest%20Stars%20In%20Our%20Galaxy%20Appears%20As%20The%20Bright%20White%20Dot%20In%20The%20Center%20Of%20This%20Image%20Taken%20With%20Nasa%26%238217%3BS%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope.%20Hubble%26%238217%3BS%20Near%20Infrared%20Camera%20And%20Multi-Object%20Spectrometer%20%28Nicmos%29%20Was%20Needed%20To%20Take%20The%20Picture%2C%20Because%20The%20Star%20Is%20Hidden%20At%20The%20Galactic%20Center%2C%20Behind%20Obscuring%20Dust.%20Nicmos%26%238217%3B%20Infrared%20Vision%20Penetrated%20The%20Dust%20To%20Reveal%20The%20Star%2C%20Which%20Is%20Glowing%20With%20The%20Radiance%20Of%2010%20Million%20Suns.%20The%20Image%20Also%20Shows%20One%20Of%20The%20Most%20Massive%20Stellar%20Eruptions%20Ever%20Seen%20In%20Space.%20The%20Radiant%20Star%20Has%20Enough%20Raw%20Power%20To%20Blow%20Off%20Two%20Expanding%20Shells%20%28Magenta%29%20Of%20Gas%20Equal%20To%20The%20Mass%20Of%20Several%20Of%20Our%20Suns.%20The%20Largest%20Shell%20Is%20So%20Big%20%284%20Light-Years%29%20It%20Would%20Stretch%20Nearly%20All%20The%20Way%20From%20Our%20Sun%20To%20The%20Next%20Nearest%20Star.%20The%20Outbursts%20Seen%20By%20Hubble%20Are%20Estimated%20To%20Be%20Only%204%2C000%20And%206%2C000%20Years%20Old%2C%20Respectively.%20Despite%20Such%20A%20Tremendous%20Mass%20Loss%2C%20Astronomers%20Estimate%20The%20Extraordinary%20Star%20May%20Presently%20Be%20100%20Times%20More%20Massive%20Than%20Our%20Sun%2C%20And%20May%20Have%20Started%20With%20As%20Much%20As%20200%20Solar%20Masses%20Of%20Material%2C%20But%20It%20Is%20Violently%20Shedding%20Much%20Of%20Its%20Mass.%20The%20Star%20Is%2025%2C000%20Light-Years%20Away%20In%20The%20Direction%20Of%20The%20Constellation%20Sagittarius.%20Despite%20Its%20Great%20Distance%2C%20The%20Star%20Would%20Be%20Visible%20To%20The%20Naked%20Eye%20As%20A%20Modest%204Th%20Magnitude%20Object%20If%20It%20Were%20Not%20For%20The%20Dust%20Between%20It%20And%20The%20Earth.%20This%20False-Colored%20Image%20Is%20A%20Composite%20Of%20Two%20Separately%20Filtered%20Images%20Taken%20With%20The%20Nicmos%2C%20On%20September%2013%2C1997.%20The%20Field%20Of%20View%20Is%204.8%20Light-Years%20Across%2C%20At%20The%20Star%26%238217%3BS%20Distance%20Of%2025%2C000%20Light-Years.%20Resolution%20Is%200.075%20Arc%20Seconds%20Per%20Pixel.%20%28Photo%20By%20Getty%20Images%29

SPACE%2C%20SPACE%3A%20%20This%20image%20released%2007%20October%2C%202004%20by%20NASA%20shows%20Kepler%26%238217%3Bs%20supernova%20remnant%20produced%20by%20combining%20data%20from%20NASA%26%238217%3Bs%20three%20Great%20Observatories%20%26%238212%3B%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%2C%20the%20Spitzer%20Space%20Telescope%2C%20and%20the%20Chandra%20X-ray%20Observatory.%20Kepler%26%238217%3Bs%20supernova%20was%20first%20seen%20400%20years%20ago%20by%20sky%20watchers%2C%20including%20famous%20astronomer%20Johannes%20Kepler.%20The%20combined%20image%20unveils%20a%20bubble-shaped%20shroud%20of%20gas%20and%20dust%20that%20is%2014%20light-years%20wide%20and%20is%20expanding%20at%204%20million%20miles%20per%20hour%20%282%2C000%20kilometers%20per%20second%29.%20%20AFP%20PHOTO%2FNASA%20%20%20%28Photo%20credit%20should%20read%20HO%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

WASHINGTON%2C%20%3A%20%20This%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20image%20released%20by%20NASA%26%238217%3Bs%20Hubble%20Heritage%20team%2004%20February%20shows%20the%20self-destruction%20of%20a%20massive%20star%20called%20supernova%201987-A%20%28C%29%20in%20the%20Large%20Magellanic%20Cloud%2C%20a%20near-by%20galaxy.%20Astronomers%20in%20the%20Southern%20hemisphere%20witnessed%20the%20explosion%20of%20this%20star%20on%2023%20February%2C%201987.%20The%20supernova%20remnant%20is%20surrounded%20by%20inner%20and%20outer%20rings%20of%20material.%20This%20is%20a%20three-color%20composite%20image%20of%20the%20supernova%20and%20its%20neighboring%20region%20taken%20with%20the%20Wide%20Field%20and%20Planetary%20Camera%2002%20in%20September%201994%2C%20February%201996%20and%20July%20of%201997.%20AFP%20PHOTO%20%20NASA%2FHUBBLE%20HERITAGE%20TEAM%20%28Photo%20credit%20should%20read%20AFP%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

NOVEMBER%2017%3A%20%20This%20image%2C%20taken%2017%20November%201995%20with%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%2C%20reveals%20the%20faintest%20object%20ever%20seen%20around%20a%20star%20beyond%20our%20Sun%2C%20and%20the%20first%20clear%20detection%20of%20a%20brown%20dwarf%20star.%20%20The%20brown%20dwarf%20%28C%29%2C%20called%20GL229B%2C%20orbits%20the%20red%20dwarf%20star%20Gliese%20229%20%28L%29.%20%20The%20brown%20dwarf%20is%20about%2020-50%20times%20the%20mass%20of%20Jupiter%2C%20but%20is%20so%20dense%20it%20is%20about%20the%20same%20diameter%20as%20Jupiter%20%2880%2C000%20miles%29.%20%20%20GL229B%20is%20at%20least%20four%20billion%20miles%20from%20its%20companion%20star.%20%20%20%20The%20diagonal%20line%20is%20a%20diffraction%20spike%20produced%20by%20the%20telescope%26%238217%3Bs%20optical%20system.%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20NASA%2FHUBBLE%20%20%28Photo%20credit%20should%20read%20GOLIMOWSK%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

DECEMBER%204%3A%20%20This%20is%20a%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20%26%238220%3Bfamily%20portrait%26%238221%3B%20of%20the%20four%20largest%20moons%20of%20Jupiter%2C%20released%2010%20October%2C%20first%20observed%20by%20the%20Italian%20scientist%20Galileo%20Galilei%20nearly%20four%20centuries%20ago.%20%20Located%20approximately%20one-half%20billion%20miles%20away%2C%20the%20moons%20are%20so%20small%20that%2C%20in%20visible%20light%2C%20they%20appear%20as%20fuzzy%20disks%20in%20the%20largest%20ground-based%20telescopes.%20%20Over%20the%20past%20year%20Hubble%20has%20charted%20new%20volcanic%20activity%20on%20Io%26%238217%3Bs%20active%20surface%2C%20a%20faint%20oxygen%20atmosphere%20on%20the%20moon%20Europa%2C%20identified%20ozone%20on%20the%20surface%20of%20Ganymede%20and%20shown%20%20fresh%20ice%20on%20the%20surface%20of%20Callisto%20that%20may%20indicate%20impacts%20from%20micrometeorites%20and%20charged%20particles%20from%20Jupiter%26%238217%3Bs%20magnetosphere.%20The%20Galileo%20probe%20is%20due%20to%20land%20on%20Jupiter%2007%20December.%20%20%20NASA%2FAFP%20%20PHOTO%20%20%28Photo%20credit%20should%20read%20NOL%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

-%2C%20SPACE%3A%20%20This%20combo%20released%2004%20October%202006%20by%20the%20European%20Space%20Agency%20shows%20two%20images%20of%20one-half%20of%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope.%20A%20seam%20of%20stars%20at%20the%20centre%20of%20the%20Milky%20Way%20has%20shown%20astronomers%20that%20an%20entirely%20new%20class%20of%20planets%20closely%20orbiting%20distant%20suns%20is%20waiting%20to%20be%20explored%2C%20according%20to%20a%20paper%20published%2004%20October%202006.%20%20The%20green%20circles%20identify%20nine%20stars%20that%20are%20orbited%20by%20planets%20with%20periods%20of%20a%20few%20days.%20Planets%20so%20close%20to%20their%20stars%20with%20such%20short%20orbital%20periods%20are%20called%20%26%238220%3Bhot%20Jupiters.%26%238221%3B%20These%20are%20considered%20%26%238220%3Bcandidate%26%238221%3B%20exoplanets%20%26%238211%3B%20planets%20that%20orbit%20stars%20other%20than%20our%20own%20%26%238211%3B%20because%20most%20of%20them%20are%20too%20faint%20to%20allow%20for%20spectroscopic%20observations%20that%20would%20allow%20for%20a%20precise%20measure%20of%20the%20planet%3Fs%20mass.%20The%20bottom%20frame%20identifies%20one%20of%20two%20stars%20in%20the%20field%20where%20astronomers%20were%20able%20to%20spectroscopically%20measure%20the%20star%3Fs%20back-and-forth%20wobble%20due%20to%20the%20pull%20of%20the%20planet.%20The%20planet%20turns%20out%20to%20be%20less%20than%203.8%20Jupiter%20masses.%20AFP%20PHOTO%20NASA%2FESA%2FK.%20SAHU%20%28STScI%29%20AND%20THE%20SWEEPS%20SCIENCE%20TEAM%20%20%28Photo%20credit%20should%20read%20-%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

-%2C%20SPACE%3A%20%20Picture%20released%2004%20October%202006%20by%20the%20European%20Space%20Agency%20shows%20one-half%20of%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20field%20of%20view.%20A%20seam%20of%20stars%20at%20the%20centre%20of%20the%20Milky%20Way%20has%20shown%20astronomers%20that%20an%20entirely%20new%20class%20of%20planets%20closely%20orbiting%20distant%20suns%20is%20waiting%20to%20be%20explored%2C%20according%20to%20a%20paper%20published%2004%20October%202006.%20An%20international%20team%20of%20astronomers%2C%20using%20a%20camera%20aboard%20NASA%26%238217%3Bs%20Hubble%20telescope%2C%20delved%20into%20a%20zone%20of%20the%20Milky%20Way%20known%20as%20the%20%26%238220%3Bgalactic%20bulge%26%238221%3B%2C%20thus%20called%20because%20it%20is%20rich%20in%20stars%20and%20in%20the%20gas%20and%20dust%20which%20go%20to%20make%20up%20stars%20and%20planets.%20The%20finding%20opens%20up%20a%20new%20area%20of%20investigation%20for%20space%20scientists%20probing%20extrasolar%20planets%20%26%238211%3B%20planets%20that%20orbit%20stars%20other%20than%20our%20own.%20AFP%20PHOTO%20NASA%2FESA%2FK.%20SAHU%20%28STScI%29%20AND%20THE%20SWEEPS%20SCIENCE%20TEAM%20%20%28Photo%20credit%20should%20read%20-%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

-%2C%20SPACE%3A%20%20This%20combo%20released%2004%20October%202006%20by%20the%20European%20Space%20Agency%20shows%20two%20images%20of%20one-half%20of%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20field%20of%20view.%20A%20seam%20of%20stars%20at%20the%20centre%20of%20the%20Milky%20Way%20has%20shown%20astronomers%20that%20an%20entirely%20new%20class%20of%20planets%20closely%20orbiting%20distant%20suns%20is%20waiting%20to%20be%20explored%2C%20according%20to%20a%20paper%20published%2004%20October%202006.%20The%20green%20circles%20identify%20nine%20stars%20that%20are%20orbited%20by%20planets%20with%20periods%20of%20a%20few%20days.%20Planets%20so%20close%20to%20their%20stars%20with%20such%20short%20orbital%20periods%20are%20called%20%26%238220%3Bhot%20Jupiters.%26%238221%3B%20These%20are%20considered%20%26%238220%3Bcandidate%26%238221%3B%20exoplanets%20%26%238211%3B%20planets%20that%20orbit%20stars%20other%20than%20our%20own%20%26%238211%3B%20because%20most%20of%20them%20are%20too%20faint%20to%20allow%20for%20spectroscopic%20observations%20that%20would%20allow%20for%20a%20precise%20measure%20of%20the%20planet%3Fs%20mass.%20The%20bottom%20frame%20identifies%20one%20of%20two%20stars%20in%20the%20field%20where%20astronomers%20were%20able%20to%20spectroscopically%20measure%20the%20star%3Fs%20back-and-forth%20wobble%20due%20to%20the%20pull%20of%20the%20planet.%20The%20planet%20turns%20out%20to%20be%20less%20than%203.8%20Jupiter%20masses.%20AFP%20PHOTO%20NASA%2FESA%2FK.%20SAHU%20%28STScI%29%20AND%20THE%20SWEEPS%20SCIENCE%20TEAM%20%20%28Photo%20credit%20should%20read%20-%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

-%2C%20SPACE%3A%20%20Picture%20released%2004%20October%202006%20by%20the%20European%20Space%20Agency%20shows%20one-half%20of%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20field%20of%20view%20with%20nine%20stars%20that%20are%20orbited%20by%20planets%20with%20periods%20of%20a%20few%20days.%20Planets%20so%20close%20to%20their%20stars%20with%20such%20short%20orbital%20periods%20are%20called%20%26%238220%3Bhot%20Jupiters.%20These%20are%20considered%20%26%238220%3Bcandidate%26%238221%3B%20exoplanets%20%26%238211%3B%20planets%20that%20orbit%20stars%20other%20than%20our%20own%20%26%238211%3B%20because%20most%20of%20them%20are%20too%20faint%20to%20allow%20for%20spectroscopic%20observations%20that%20would%20allow%20for%20a%20precise%20measure%20of%20the%20planet%3Fs%20mass.%20A%20seam%20of%20stars%20at%20the%20centre%20of%20the%20Milky%20Way%20has%20shown%20astronomers%20that%20an%20entirely%20new%20class%20of%20planets%20closely%20orbiting%20distant%20suns%20is%20waiting%20to%20be%20explored%2C%20according%20to%20a%20paper%20published%2004%20October%202006.%20An%20international%20team%20of%20astronomers%2C%20using%20a%20camera%20aboard%20NASA%26%238217%3Bs%20Hubble%20telescope%2C%20delved%20into%20a%20zone%20of%20the%20Milky%20Way%20known%20as%20the%20%26%238220%3Bgalactic%20bulge%26%238221%3B%2C%20thus%20called%20because%20it%20is%20rich%20in%20stars%20and%20in%20the%20gas%20and%20dust%20which%20go%20to%20make%20up%20stars%20and%20planets.%20The%20finding%20opens%20up%20a%20new%20area%20of%20investigation%20for%20space%20scientists%20probing%20extrasolar%20planets.%20AFP%20PHOTO%20NASA%2FESA%2FK.%20SAHU%20%28STScI%29%20AND%20THE%20SWEEPS%20SCIENCE%20TEAM%20%20%28Photo%20credit%20should%20read%20-%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

-%2C%20SPACE%3A%20%20Picture%20released%2004%20October%202006%20by%20the%20European%20Space%20Agency%20shows%20an%20artist%26%238217%3Bs%20impression%20of%20a%20unique%20type%20of%20exoplanet%20discovered%20with%20the%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope.%20This%20image%20presents%20a%20purely%20speculative%20view%20of%20what%20such%20a%20%26%238220%3Bhot%20Jupiter%26%238221%3B%20%28word%20dedicated%20to%20planets%20so%20close%20to%20their%20stars%20with%20such%20short%20orbital%20periods%29%20might%20look%20like.%20A%20seam%20of%20stars%20at%20the%20centre%20of%20the%20Milky%20Way%20has%20shown%20astronomers%20that%20an%20entirely%20new%20class%20of%20planets%20closely%20orbiting%20distant%20suns%20is%20waiting%20to%20be%20explored%2C%20according%20to%20a%20paper%20published%2004%20October%202006.%20An%20international%20team%20of%20astronomers%2C%20using%20a%20camera%20aboard%20NASA%26%238217%3Bs%20Hubble%20telescope%2C%20delved%20into%20a%20zone%20of%20the%20Milky%20Way%20known%20as%20the%20%26%238220%3Bgalactic%20bulge%26%238221%3B%2C%20thus%20called%20because%20it%20is%20rich%20in%20stars%20and%20in%20the%20gas%20and%20dust%20which%20go%20to%20make%20up%20stars%20and%20planets.%20The%20finding%20opens%20up%20a%20new%20area%20of%20investigation%20for%20space%20scientists%20probing%20extrasolar%20planets%20%26%238211%3B%20planets%20that%20orbit%20stars%20other%20than%20our%20own.%20AFP%20PHOTO%20NASA%2FESA%2FK.%20SAHU%20%28STScI%29%20AND%20THE%20SWEEPS%20SCIENCE%20TEAM%20%20%28Photo%20credit%20should%20read%20-%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

A%20photo%20released%20by%20the%20NASA%2FESA%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20on%20February%205%2C%202009%20of%20an%20unusual%20spiral%20galaxy%20in%20the%20Coma%20Galaxy%20Cluster%20in%20the%20northern%20constellation%20of%20Coma%20Berenices%2C%20the%20hair%20of%20Queen%20Berenice.%20The%20cluster%2C%20also%20known%20as%20Abell%201656%2C%20is%20about%20320%20million%20light-years%20from%20Earth%20and%20contains%20more%20than%201000%20members.%20The%20brightest%20galaxies%2C%20including%20NGC%204921%20shown%20here%2C%20were%20discovered%20back%20in%20the%20late%2018th%20century%20by%20William%20Herschel.%20AFP%20PHOTO%2FNASA%2FESA%20Hubble%20%28Photo%20credit%20should%20read%20-%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29

A%20photo%20released%20by%20the%20NASA%2FESA%20Hubble%20Space%20Telescope%20on%20February%205%2C%202009%20of%20an%20unusual%20spiral%20galaxy%20in%20the%20Coma%20Galaxy%20Cluster%20in%20the%20northern%20constellation%20of%20Coma%20Berenices%2C%20the%20hair%20of%20Queen%20Berenice.%20The%20cluster%2C%20also%20known%20as%20Abell%201656%2C%20is%20about%20320%20million%20light-years%20from%20Earth%20and%20contains%20more%20than%201000%20members.%20The%20brightest%20galaxies%2C%20including%20NGC%204921%20shown%20here%2C%20were%20discovered%20back%20in%20the%20late%2018th%20century%20by%20William%20Herschel.%20AFP%20PHOTO%2FNASA%2FESA%20Hubble%20%28Photo%20credit%20should%20read%20-%2FAFP%2FGetty%20Images%29