NASA photos: 5 amazing pictures taken from space

Omega Nebula

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The Omega Nebula, about 5,500 light-years from Earth, is a hotbed of star formation, where wave-like patterns of gas have been carved out and illuminated by a stream of ultraviolet radiation from new stars hiding just outside this image (above and to the left).

Ultraviolet radiation is cutting through and heating the surfaces of cold hydrogen gas clouds. The hot surfaces glow orange and red in this image.

Southern Ring Nebula

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The Southern Ring Nebula, formally designated as NGC 3132, was one of the initial images shared by the James Webb Space Telescope in 2022. Located 2,500 light-years from Earth, the nebula consists of a cloud of gas and dust surrounding a dying star, NASA said.

Also read: 10 amazing NASA photos that revealed the mysteries of the universe | View pics

Equipped with advanced infrared capabilities, the Webb telescope can penetrate dense dust and capture detailed observations of luminous events within nebulae. These observations are important to astronomers because they uncover the processes that govern the lifecycle of stars within our galaxy. As Webb continues its mission, it promises to reveal more information about these cosmic phenomena.

Growing protostar

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The protostar appears in vibrant colors like red, white and blue, as revealed by Webb’s infrared observations, NASA reported.

The image’s diffuse blue light and filament-like structures arise from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), organic compounds found in space. The central red color shows a dense layer of energetic gas and dust that surrounds the protostar.

The white regions in the middle represent a mixture of PAHs, ionized gas and various other molecules, offering a complex view of the chemical and structural composition of this cosmic region.

Sunflower Galaxy

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The Sunflower Galaxy is classified as a flocculent spiral galaxy, characterized by its fuzzy spiral arms that give the appearance of multiple curved structures around its central yellow core, when in fact it has only two arms. These arms are illuminated by bright, newly forming blue-white giant stars.

Also Read: NASA shares 10 stunning images of star factories and other wonders in space | See pics

The process of star formation is important in shaping the universe, not only in the formation of new stars but also in influencing the formation of planetary systems and the evolution of galaxies.

Two galaxies join together to form a ‘rose’

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In a post on Instagram, NASA said, “The unusual spiral pattern in the larger galaxy is a clear sign of interaction. The larger, outer arm appears partly as a ring, a feature seen when interacting galaxies actually pass through each other. This suggests that the smaller companion dives deep through UGC 1810, but away from the center.”

Also read: 10 amazing NASA photos taken from light years away | View pics

NASA further explained that the small, S-shaped galaxy shows clear signs of intense star formation at its core, likely triggered by an encounter with a larger galaxy.

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Published: July 08, 2024, 11:26 AM IST