An aging star is creating a flurry of glowing knots of gas in this close-up image of the Dumbbell Nebula, released by NASA, Feb. 10, 2003. The Dumbbell, residing more than 1,200 light-years away, is the result of an old star that has shed its outer layers in a glowing display of color. The image shows oxygen in blue, hydrogen in green and a combination of sulfur and nitrogen emission in red.
Ripples in Space
The Egg Nebula offers astronomers a special look at the normally invisible dust shells swaddling an aging star in this image released Saturday, April 5, 2003. These dust layers, extending over one-tenth of a light-year from the star, have an onionskin structure that forms concentric rings. Beams of light radiate from the star hidden by a dust belt, running vertically through the image.
Raging Sea
This image taken May 29-30, 1999, and released April 24, 2003, shows a bubbly ocean of glowing hydrogen gas and small amounts of other elements, such as oxygen and sulfur. The photograph captures a region 3 light-years across within M17, a hotbed of star formation. M17, also known as the Omega or Swan Nebula, is located about 5,500 light-years away in the constellation Sagittarius.
Helix Nebula
This photograph of the coil-shaped Helix Nebula, released Friday, May 9, 2003, is one of the largest and most detailed celestial images ever made. The image shows a fine web of "bicycle-spoke" features embedded in the colorful ring of gas. At 650 light-years away, the Helix is one of the nearest planetary nebulae to Earth. A planetary nebula is the glowing gas around a dying, Sun-like star.
Celestial Art
Remnants from a star that exploded thousands of years ago were captured in this image of the Pencil Nebula released Friday, June 6, 2003. Officially known as NGC 2736, the Pencil Nebula is part of the huge Vela supernova remnant. Discovered by Sir John Herschel in the 1840s, the nebula's linear appearance triggered its popular name.
Mars Close-Up
The Hubble Space Telescope took this snapshot of Mars 11 hours before the planet made its closest approach to Earth in nearly 60,000 years. This image was made from a series of exposures taken between 6:20 p.m. and 7:12 p.m. EDT Aug. 26, with Hubble's Wide Field and Planetary Camera 2.
Stellar Fireworks
Sheets of debris from a stellar explosion resemble the puffs of smoke and sparks from a summer fireworks display. This filamentary material will eventually be recycled into building new generations of stars. Our own Sun and planets are constructed from similar debris of supernovae that exploded in the Milky Way billions of years ago.
Deep Space
The majestic dusty galaxy NGC3370, looms in this image released Sept. 6, 2003. The total exposure time for this shot is very long (about one full day), and provides one of the deepest views taken by Hubble. In the photograph, thousands of distant galaxies in the background are easily discernable.
Rare View of Saturn
This image of Saturn, released Sept. 9, 2003, shows the planet's rings at a maximum tilt of 26 degrees toward Earth. This happens once over the course of its 29.5-year orbit. This means that approximately every 30 years, Earth observers can catch their best glimpse of Saturn's South Pole and the southern side of the planet's rings.
Sombrero Galaxy
This image reveals one of the universe's most stately and photogenic galaxies, the Sombrero galaxy. It shows the galaxy's hallmark brilliant white, bulbous core encircled by the thick dust lanes comprising its outer structure. It was named the Sombrero because of its resemblance to the broad rimmed and high-topped Mexican hat.