A Photo Gallery of the Universe
Hubble Space Telescope evokes a new sense of awe and wonder about
the infinite richness of our universe in dramatic, unprecedented
pictures of celestial objects. Like a traveler sharing their best
snapshots, we present a selection of Hubble's most spectacular
images.
Click on the individual pictures above to read a brief description
or click on the pictures or titles below to see complete pictures and
text.
Supernova 1987A -- Halo for a Vanished Star
An eerie, nearly mirror-image pair of red luminesent gas
``hula-hoops'' frame the expanding debris of a star seen as a supernova
explosion in 1987. April 1994
An immense wall of glowing gasses forms a colorful backdrop to dozens
of newborn stars, many of which have dust disks -- as revealed by
Hubble -- that might be embryonic solar systems. January 1994
A spectacular head-on collision between a spiral galaxy and a smaller
intruder sends out a ripple of energy that triggers a firestorm of new
starbirth, forming a dazzling ring-like structure. January 1995
Hubble followed unexpected and dramatic changes in Jupiter's atmosphere
caused by collisions with comet fragments. The titanic blasts left
Jupiter with a temporarily ``bruised'' appearance, caused by black debris
that was tossed high above the giant planet's cloudtops. July 1994
A majestic pinwheel formed by hundreds of billions of stars harbors
rare pulsating stars that can yield clues to the size and age of the
universe. The galaxy is so far away, Hubble sees it as it appeared at
about the time dinosaurs roamed the Earth. January 1994
A rare storm, large enough to swallow Earth, appears near Saturn's
equator. High altitude winds give the storm a distinctive arrowhead
shape. December 1994
The gravitational pull of a suspected super-massive black hole forms a
frisbee-like disk of cool gas, at the core of an energetic galaxy.
Subsequent Hubble observations of yet another active galaxy
(M87)
confirmed the reality of monstrous black holes -- gravitational ``sink
holes'' that trap everything, even light. November 1992
Mysterious stellar fireworks create expanding gas shells and
blowtorch-like jets which form a spectacularly intricate and
symmetrical structure. The nebula is a fossil record of the late stages
of the star's evolution. January 1995
High speed gas from a supernova explosion slams into dark cooler clouds
of interstellar material. Shocked and heated by this tidal wave of
energy, the clouds glow in bright, neon-like colors. February 1995
Wispy clouds, a melting polar ice cap, and a dust-storm free surface
all indicate a cool, clear springtime in the Martian northern
hemisphere. Hubble is serving as a weather satellite for studying the
climate on other planets. February 1995
Fifth Anniversary of Hubble Launch Observed
NASA Press Release 95-56
Zolt Levay -- levay@stsci.edu
Office of Public Outreach -- outreach@stsci.edu
November 29, 1995