ASTRONOMY

2023-01-04 14:18:00 The Andromeda galaxy, or M31, is shown here in far-infrared and radio wavelengths of light. Some of the hydrogen gas (red) that traces the edge of Andromeda’s disc was pulled in from intergalactic space, and some was torn away from galaxies that merged with Andromeda far in the past. The image is composed of data from the European Space Agency (ESA) Herschel mission, supplemented with data from ESA’s retired Planck observatory and two retired NASA missions: the Infrared Astronomy Survey and Cosmic Background Explorer, as well as the Green Bank Telescope, WRST, and IRAM radio telescopes.

Credits
IMAGE: ESA, NASA, NASA-JPL, Caltech, Christopher Clark (STScI), R. Braun (SKA Observatory), C. Nieten (MPI Radioastronomie), Matt Smith (Cardiff University)
T.me/astronomy Open / Comment

2023-01-04 00:00:57 Comet “Leonard” (C/2021 A1) , it came within 4 million km of Venus, the closest-known cometary approach to Venus.

: Rolando Ligustri & Lukas Demetz
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2023-01-02 22:14:48 The violent center of the Carina Nebula, a 460 light year wide monster holding some of the most beautiful gas and dust structures in the Milky Way for our eyes to see!
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2023-01-02 13:21:22 Sky This Month: January 2023


The Quadrantid meteor shower and Full Moon dominate early January; later in the month, Venus and Saturn enjoy a beautiful conjunction.

Mars (the brighter orange object) remains in Taurus, changing up the usual appearance of the Bull’s face. Open / Comment

2023-01-01 23:09:21 Roses are red (and blue)

The Rosette Nebula in Monoceros (NGC 2237–9/44/46) is one of the most popular targets on the sky, but the imagers of this shot have achieved a dramatic red/blue color palette with SHO filters. The image is a four-panel mosaic representing 110 hours of exposure with a 14-inch scope.

Walt Lickteig and Steve Timmons, taken near Fort Davis, Texas Open / Comment

2023-01-01 14:33:17 Columns of ice

No, this image isn't a display or aurorae — these beams are light pillars, a phenomenon caused by light reflecting off of ice crystals suspended in the air. Like an atmospheric halo, the pillar isn't real. Light from a source (in this case, usually near the ground) reflects off ice crystals above it towards the observer, appearing to form a vertical pillar. They're often seen in frigid weather — the photographer reported the air temperature here was 9 degrees Fahrenheit (–13 degrees Celsius).

Gregg Alliss, taken from Cedar Rapids, Iowa Open / Comment

2023-01-01 12:43:10 A stunning shot from the Dark Energy Camera captures the Spanish Dancer Galaxy in vibrant hues.
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2022-12-31 23:38:55 Mood
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2022-12-31 19:55:12 We’re wishing everyone a MerryChristmas and a Happy New Year! Thank you for your loyalty and love to astronomy throughout the year How are you celebrating the end of year? Let us know in the comments below! Open / Comment

2022-12-31 17:21:00 Reminding us of the winter frost, this HubbleTopImage shows part of the Large Magellanic Cloud, a nearby galaxy orbiting the Milky Way.

esa / HUBBLE_space & NASA
Ack.: J. Barrington Open / Comment