Browse Archive

  • star-forming cloud, called NGC 346

    Stellar Work of Art

    This painterly portrait of a star-forming cloud, called NGC 346, is a combination of multiwavelength light from three telescopes.

  • Cassiopeia A

    Supernova Flashback

    The Cassiopeia A supernova's first flash of radiation makes clumps of dust unusually hot.

  • jet of gas firing out of a very young star

    Laser-Sharp Jet Splits Water

    A jet of gas firing out of a very young star can be seen ramming into a wall of material in this infrared image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope.

  • star-forming region, called W5

    Spitzer Reveals Stellar 'Family Tree'

    Generations of stars can be seen in this new infrared portrait from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope.

  • star-forming region, called W5

    Spitzer Reveals Stellar 'Family Tree'

    Generations of stars can be seen in this new infrared portrait from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope.

  • Messier 101 galaxy

    "No Organics" Zone Circles Pinwheel

    The Pinwheel galaxy, otherwise known as Messier 101, sports bright red edges in this new infrared image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope.

  • Messier 101 galaxy

    Pinwheel Looks 'Fab' in Infrared

    The tangled arms of the Pinwheel galaxy, otherwise known as Messier 101, are decked out in red in this new infrared image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope.

  • Milky Way

    Zooming in on Second-Brightest Star in Milky Way

    This movie begins by showing a stretch of the dusty and frenzied central region of our Milky Way galaxy.

  • Peony nebula star

    'Peony Nebula' Star Settles for Silver Medal

    If our galaxy, the Milky Way, were to host its own version of the Olympics, the title for the brightest known star would go to a massive star called Eta Carina.

  • most active star-making galaxy in the very distant universe

    Super Starburst Galaxy

    The green and red splotch in this image is the most active star-making galaxy in the very distant universe. Nicknamed "Baby Boom."

  • galaxy Zw II 96

    Bursting with Stars

    The most active star-forming galaxy in the distant universe, nicknamed the "Baby Boom" galaxy, loosely resembles the galaxy shown here.

  • Inner Milky Way Raging With Star Formation

    Inner Milky Way Raging With Star Formation

    More than 444,580 frames from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope were stitched together to create this portrait of the raging star-formation occurring in the inner Milky Way.

  • Inner Milky Way Raging With Star Formation

    Spitzer Finds Clarity in the Inner Milky Way

    More than 800,000 frames from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope were stitched together to create this infrared portrait of dust and stars radiating in the inner Milky Way.

  • Our Milky Way Gets a Makeover

    Our Milky Way Gets a Makeover

    Like early explorers mapping the continents of our globe, astronomers are busy charting the spiral structure of our galaxy, the Milky Way.

  • dramatic changes in phenomena referred to as light echoes around the Cassiopeia A

    Ghostly Stellar Echoes

    This image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope highlights dramatic changes in phenomena referred to as light echoes around the Cassiopeia A supernova remnant.

  • remnant of a star that exploded and its surrounding light echoes

    Dance of the Light Echoes

    This image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope shows the remnant of a star that exploded, called Cassiopeia A (center) and its surrounding "light echoes."

  • ghostly ring extending seven light-years across around the corpse of a massive star

    Ghostly Ring

    This image shows a ghostly ring extending seven light-years across around the corpse of a massive star.

  • Cluster brimming with millions of stars called Omega Centauri

    Omega Centauri Looks Radiant in Infrared

    A cluster brimming with millions of stars glistens like an iridescent opal in this image from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope. Called Omega Centauri, the sparkling orb of stars is like a miniature galaxy.

  • Spectrum AS 205N

    Spectrum AS 205N

    This plot of infrared data shows the strong signature of water vapor in the disk of gas and dust surrounding a young star.

  • Artist concept of a very young star encircled by a disk of gas and dust

    Spitzer Finds Organics and Water Where New Planets May Grow

    This artist's concept shows a very young star encircled by a disk of gas and dust, the raw materials from which rocky planets such as Earth are thought to form.