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This picture is by ESO’s VLT Survey Telescope in Chile and shows a small galaxy, IC 1613

Discovered in 1906, IC 1613 is our close neighbour, a member of the Local Group of galaxies, and a mere 2.3 million light-years away.

It is an exceptionally useful galaxy to study, both due to its close proximity, and the unusual lack of dust both within it and in line of sight, so even individual stars can be resolved. As such it contributes greatly to science, in particular helping study and calibration of distances to objects in space.

ESO article here

Graphic of the Local group:

This picture is by ESO’s VLT Survey Telescope in Chile and shows a small galaxy, IC 1613

Discovered in 1906, IC 1613 is our close neighbour, a member of the Local Group of galaxies, and a mere 2.3 million light-years away.

It is an exceptionally useful galaxy to study, both due to its close proximity, and the unusual lack of dust both within it and in line of sight, so even individual stars can be resolved. As such it contributes greatly to science, in particular helping study and calibration of distances to objects in space.

ESO article here

Graphic of the Local group:

A superb animated GIF comprising actual footage of the Moon crossing the face of the Earth. That side of the Moon is of course never visible from Earth, as the Moon is tidally locked to the Earth and we only ever see one face, give or take a few extra degrees with libration.



Text xtracts taken from https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/from-a-million-miles-away-nasa-camera-shows-moon-crossing-face-of-earth

This animation features actual satellite images of the far side of the moon, illuminated by the sun, as it crosses between the DSCOVR spacecraft's Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) and telescope, and the Earth - one million miles away.

EPIC maintains a constant view of the fully illuminated Earth as it rotates, providing scientific observations of ozone, vegetation, cloud height and aerosols in the atmosphere. Once EPIC begins regular observations next month, the camera will provide a series of Earth images allowing study of daily variations over the entire globe. About twice a year the camera will capture the moon and Earth together as the orbit of DSCOVR crosses the orbital plane of the moon.

These images were taken between 3:50 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. EDT on July 16 2015, showing the moon moving over the Pacific Ocean near North America. The North Pole is in the upper left corner of the image, reflecting the orbital tilt of Earth from the vantage point of the spacecraft.

A superb animated GIF comprising actual footage of the Moon crossing the face of the Earth. That side of the Moon is of course never visible from Earth, as the Moon is tidally locked to the Earth and we only ever see one face, give or take a few extra degrees with libration.



Text xtracts taken from https://www.nasa.gov/feature/goddard/from-a-million-miles-away-nasa-camera-shows-moon-crossing-face-of-earth

This animation features actual satellite images of the far side of the moon, illuminated by the sun, as it crosses between the DSCOVR spacecraft's Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC) and telescope, and the Earth - one million miles away.

EPIC maintains a constant view of the fully illuminated Earth as it rotates, providing scientific observations of ozone, vegetation, cloud height and aerosols in the atmosphere. Once EPIC begins regular observations next month, the camera will provide a series of Earth images allowing study of daily variations over the entire globe. About twice a year the camera will capture the moon and Earth together as the orbit of DSCOVR crosses the orbital plane of the moon.

These images were taken between 3:50 p.m. and 8:45 p.m. EDT on July 16 2015, showing the moon moving over the Pacific Ocean near North America. The North Pole is in the upper left corner of the image, reflecting the orbital tilt of Earth from the vantage point of the spacecraft.

Those pesky Chinese creating CGI pictures of the moon now:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/scien ... 46461.html

Those pesky Chinese creating CGI pictures of the moon now:

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/scien ... 46461.html

Yeah, these are great images.

Yeah, these are great images.

An interesting article on the formation of the moon. Scientists have known for a while that the moon was formed from a collision with the Earth. It was long believed that it was a glancing blow, but it seems that new research points at a heavy head-on impact.

Clicky

An interesting article on the formation of the moon. Scientists have known for a while that the moon was formed from a collision with the Earth. It was long believed that it was a glancing blow, but it seems that new research points at a heavy head-on impact.

Clicky

Scientists believe that Pluto has large hills of water ice, floating in a sea of frozen nitrogen, and move over time like icebergs, being carried along in nitrogen glaciers.


http://www.nasa.gov/feature/pluto-s-mys ... ting-hills

Scientists believe that Pluto has large hills of water ice, floating in a sea of frozen nitrogen, and move over time like icebergs, being carried along in nitrogen glaciers.


http://www.nasa.gov/feature/pluto-s-mys ... ting-hills