NASA has unveiled a stunning collection of cosmic images that showcase the breathtaking beauty of the universe, revealing the intricate structures and vibrant colours of celestial bodies. Using specialised telescopes designed to capture infrared light, these never-before-seen images of the Sun, Andromeda Galaxy, and various nebulae provide a unique glimpse into the dynamic nature of our stellar environment.
Among the highlights are a composite image of the sun, showcasing its powerful solar activity, and the enchanting Orion nebula, which reveals hidden dust and massive stars. The Eagle Nebula, home to the iconic “Pillars of Creation,” along with high-resolution views of the Andromeda Galaxy and the colourful Godzilla Nebula, further illustrate the wonders of the cosmos.
NASA’s never-seen images of the cosmic
The Sun: A three-telescope perspective
One of the highlights is a composite image of the sun, created using data from three advanced NASA telescopes: the Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array (NuSTAR), the X-ray Telescope (XRT), and the Atmospheric Imaging Assembly (AIA). This impressive image combines high-energy X-ray data, lower-energy X-ray data, and ultraviolet light collected by these instruments.
NuSTAR specialises in capturing high-energy X-rays, while the XRT and AIA detect a broader range of wavelengths emitted across the sun’s surface. The resulting image provides a comprehensive view of the sun’s complex features, showcasing its dynamic and ever-changing nature.
Image source: NASA
Orion Nebula: A hidden world of dust
The Orion Nebula image, produced from previously released data from three telescopes, highlights a region filled with dust but devoid of visible stars. The image reveals two enormous cavities carved out by massive, unseen stars capable of releasing up to a million times more light than our Sun. These cavities were created by radiation that cleared away dust grains.
In this depiction, blue light signifies warm dust heated by these massive stars, while the greenish hue indicates slightly cooler dust, showcasing the intricate interplay of light and matter within this nebula.
Image source: NASA
Eagle Nebula: The Pillars of Creation
Another breathtaking image comes from NASA’s Wide Field Survey Explorer (WISE), capturing the Eagle Nebula, located approximately 5,700 light-years from Earth. This image highlights a star formation region and showcases the iconic “Pillars of Creation,” which appear in faint yellow-green within the image. The structure of the nebula is beautifully illuminated in infrared light, revealing the complex and rich environment where new stars are born.
Image source: NASA
Andromeda Galaxy: A high-resolution view
NASA also released an image of the Andromeda Galaxy, known as M31, produced using data from various missions, including the European Space Agency’s (ESA) Herschel mission and retired NASA missions such as the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS) and Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE).
This high-resolution image captures the galaxy’s intricate dust clouds, with colour coding indicating different elements: red signifies hydrogen gas, green represents cold dust, and warmer dust is shown in blue.
Image source: NASA
Godzilla Nebula: A colourful cosmic display
Finally, the Spitzer Space Telescope captured an extraordinary image of the Godzilla Nebula, located about 7,800 light-years from Earth. This vibrant picture, taken using infrared light, reveals a cloud of gas and dust in space, with the distinctive outline of “Godzilla” visible within the structure. The bright region in the lower left is known as W33. According to NASA, dust and organic molecules called hydrocarbons appear green, while warm dust heated by stars or supernovae is depicted in red.
Image source: NASA
Also read: NASA’s spectacular pictures of Venus’: Unveiling the planet’s mysterious surface and atmosphere