FIve mind blowing images from outer space

The constellation Orion appears in myth cycles around the world, due to its easy visibility. This is an image of the Orion Nebula, which is visible with the naked eye as a smudge forming the sword of Orion.The spiral galaxy NGC 1097 lies about 45 million light years from our own galaxy. A super massive black hole, with a mass comparable to 100 million of Suns, lurks in the center, pulling mass inward. The influx of gas and material results in the bright ring of star formation seen in this image.Many young stars have been born within this massive cloud of gas in galaxy M33. These stars release a lot of energy, ionizing the hydrogen gas around them.View the list »
The Hubble Space Telescope has been instrumental in broadening our understanding of the Universe. Astronomers have used it to peer into the deepest depths of the Universe to tease out some of its greatest secrets.

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Ever since humans have been able to think and try to understand the world around them, they have looked to the stars. The ancients saw their gods, goddesses, and heroes in the shimmering points of light overhead. Others believed they could divine their fate and the fate of nations by studying the position of stars.

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If only the ancients could see the wondrous images instruments such as the Hubble Space Telescope reveal for us now. The Universe is infinitely more strange and beautiful than our ancestors believed it to be. Here are five photos showing some of the most awe inspiring views taken so far of the Universe we call home.

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  • Many young stars have been born within this massive cloud of gas in galaxy M33. These stars release a lot of energy, ionizing the hydrogen gas around them.
  • The spiral galaxy NGC 1097 lies about 45 million light years from our own galaxy. A super massive black hole, with a mass comparable to 100 million of Suns, lurks in the center, pulling mass inward. The influx of gas and material results in the bright ring of star formation seen in this image.
  • The constellation Orion appears in myth cycles around the world, due to its easy visibility. This is an image of the Orion Nebula, which is visible with the naked eye as a smudge forming the sword of Orion.
  • This is one of the most important images ever made. It was taken by Apollo 8 astronaut Bill Anders on December 24, 1968 from orbit around the moon. To have been an astronaut seeing their home world rising on the horizon of an alien world must have been a deeply humbling and spiritual experience.
  • Humanity stretched its fingers and touched the edge of the Universe with the Hubble Ultra Deep Field. Taken from a small region of the constellation Ursa Major, it contains almost 3,000 galaxies, some of them the oldest objects ever detected by human instruments.
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, Cleveland Science News Examiner

Andrew Kincaid holds a Bachelors of Science in Biology and Business from Muskingum University. When not at his day job, he writes fiction, blogs, reads, and games. He has a passion for science and all things bizarre.

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