Antennae Galaxies – Astronomy Picture of the Week
This beautiful image of two colliding galaxies has been released by NASA's great observatories. The Antennae galaxies are located about 62 million light-years from Earth. They take their name from the long antenna-like "arms," which were produced by tidal forces generated in the collision.
Astronomy Picture of the Week – Helix Nebula
This eerie picture captured by the Spitzer Space Telescope shows the Helix Nebula, also known as NGC 7293. It is located 700 light-years away in the constellation of Aquarius. The two light-year diameter shroud of dust and gas around a central white dwarf is the result of the final stages in the evolution of a sun-like star. Dust particles are what makes this cosmic eye look red. Image Credit & Copyright: NASA, JPL-Caltech, Kate Su (Steward Obs., U. Arizona), et al.
Astronomy Picture of the Week – Sombrero Galaxy
This stunning picture of the Sombrero Galaxy in infrared was taken by the Spitzer Space Telescope. The Sombrero Galaxy, also known as M104, is 50,000 light years across which makes it one of the largest galaxies of the Virgo Cluster of Galaxies. It is 28 million light years away from us.