Interstellar Medium Collection

M16, The Eagle Nebula in Serpens

Voyager 1 spacecraft entering interstellar space
This artists concept depicts NASAs Voyager 1 spacecraft entering interstellar space, or the space between stars. Interstellar space is dominated by the plasma, or ionized gas

The Fox Fur Nebula, located towards the constellation of Monoceros, is an immense cloud of interstellar gas and cosmic dust interacting with the radiation and winds released by the surrounding hot

Pillars of Creation in the Eagle Nebula
Pillars of Creation are part of the Eagle Nebula and are made of interstellar dust and gases

Voyager probe trajectory, artwork C018 / 0285
Voyager probe trajectory, artwork. Artwork of the trajectory of one of the Voyager probes as it travels out of the solar system

Vela supernova remnant in the center of the Gum Nebula area of Vela
The Vela supernova remnant in the centre of the Gum Nebula area of Vela. This is the remains of a star that exploded thousands of years ago

Star formation in the Tarantula Nebula
This Hubble Space Telescope mosaic, spanning a width of 600 light-years, shows a star factory of more the 800, 000 stars being born

Zeta Ophiuchi bow shock, infrared image C016 / 9726
Zeta Ophiuchi bow shock. Infrared image from NASAs Spitzer Space Telescope (SST) of the bow shock in the interstellar medium caused by stellar winds from the fast-moving star Zeta Ophiuchi

IC 2177, the Seagull Nebula. IC 2177 is a bright H II region located on the border of Monoceros and Canis Major

Center of the Milky Way through Sagittarius and Scorpius
The Milky Way in Sagittarius (bottom) and Scorpius (left and top) including the Galactic Centre area at centre frame. Along the Milky Way are numerous deep sky objects

The Hourglass Nebula
The Lagoon Nebula centered on the bright young cluster NGC 6530. The brightest part of the nebula is known as the Hourglass Nebula

NGC 6523, the Lagoon Nebula
Stars, dust and gas combine to create an interstellar industrial zone of astronomical proportions. NGC 6523, also known as the Lagoon Nebula

Mosaic of the southern Milky Way from Vela to Centaurus
Mosaic of the southern Milky Way from Vela (right) to Centaurus (left) taking in Carina and Crux (center)

Panorama view of the center of the Milky Way
A panorama of the center of the Galaxy portion of the southern hemisphere Milky Way, from Crux at right to Aquila at left

NGC 1499, the California Nebula

The Pelican Nebula, an H II region in the constellation Cygnus

A dark nebula in Cepheus

Our Sun may have formed from a protostellar nebula like this one

NGC 1973, The Running Man Nebula. This image captured with a telescope and a scientific CCD camera

NGC 2264, the Christmas Tree Cluster and nebula. This image captured with a telescope and a scientific CCD camera

The Orion Nebula with reflection nebula NGC 1977
Messier 42, the Orion Nebula with reflection nebula NGC 1977

The Tarantula Nebula
NGC 2070, The Tarantula Nebula

Voyager 1 leaving the solar system

Artists concept of a supernova explosion. A supernova is a stellar explosion that is brighter than a galaxy for a short time as it fades from view, leaving dust and particles to form other stars

The Orion Nebula Region
The Orion Nebula, M42 and M43, with surrounding associated nebulae and star clusters, such as the Running Man Nebula above (NGC 1975) and blue star cluster above it, NGC 1981

The Rosette Nebula

Scorpius with parts of Lupus and Ara regions of the southern Milky Way
All of Scorpius, plus parts of Lupus and Ara regions of the southern Milky Way. Along the Milky Way are numerous nebulae, including the False Comet area, the Cats Paw area

Spiral galaxy M74
November 29, 2007 - Spiral galaxy M74. Bright knots of glowing gas light up the spiral arms, indicating a rich environment of star formation

Dusty Nebulae in Cepheus constellation
This field contains the dusty nebula vdb 150 in the Cepheus constellation

The Large Magellanic Cloud and bright star Canopus

Widefield view of nebulae in Sagittarius

The Rosette Nebula with nebulosity complex in Monoceros
The Rosette Nebula (bottom), with open cluster NGC 2244, and complex of nebulosity in Monoceros (above), including the Cone Nebula and Christmas Tree Cluster, with Monoceros dark nebula complex

The Heart and Soul Nebulae in the constellation Cassiopeia
The Heart Nebula (at right, aka IC 1805) and the Soul Nebula (at left, aka IC 1848, and also the Fetus Nebula), in Cassiopeia. Just right of upper centre is the open star cluster NGC 1027

A star forming region in the constellation of Sagittarius
This image displays a major star forming region in the constellation of Sagittarius and features the Lagoon Nebula (M8) and the Trifid Nebula (M20)

Protostellar Disk
Stars form from whirling disks of dust and gas

The Cigar Galaxy and Bodes Galaxy
Messier 82, the Cigar Galaxy (left), and Messier 81, Bodes Galaxy (right)

The Vela Supernova Remnant

The Orion nebula in the infrared overlaid with XMM-Newton X-ray data in blue
This is a Spitzer image of the Orion nebula in the infrared overlaid with XMM-Newton X-ray data in blue

Widefield view of the Large Magellanic Cloud

NGC 6188 is an emission nebula in Ara

NGC 6188 emission nebula in the constellation Ara

The Angel Nebula

NGC 6357, the Lobster Nebula in Scorpius

Constellation Cygnus with multiple nebulae visible
Constellation Cygnus showing the North America Nebula, Pelican Nebula, Cirrus Nebula, Crescent Nebula, Tulip Nebula, and Butterfly Nebula

NGC 2174, the Monkey Head Nebula with IC 2159 nebulosity. NGC 2174 is an emission nebula located in the Orion constellation

Widefield image of narrowband emission in Cygnus

The southern Milky Way and the extensive Gum Nebula complex
The southern Milky Way from Canis Major to Carina, including Puppis and Vela and the large Gum Nebula complex, an interstellar bubble blown by stellar winds

Artists concept of a protoplanetary disk. A system is forming

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The interstellar medium, a vast expanse of gas and dust that fills the space between stars, is a captivating realm that holds countless wonders. In the heart of Serpens lies M16, better known as The Eagle Nebula, where towering pillars of gas and dust stretch towards the heavens like celestial skyscrapers. Within these majestic structures, new stars are born, their brilliant light illuminating the surrounding cosmos. Venturing further into the depths of space, we encounter IC 2177 - The Seagull Nebula. Here, ethereal clouds dance in cosmic harmony as they give birth to yet more stellar marvels, and is within this nebula that Voyager 1 spacecraft made history by crossing into interstellar space, becoming humanity's first emissary to venture beyond our solar system. But it is not only grandeur and birth that awaits us in this enigmatic domain; destruction also has its place. The Vela supernova remnant at the center of Gum Nebula serves as a haunting reminder of cataclysmic events that shape our universe. Its remnants tell tales of ancient explosions and violent forces unleashed upon unsuspecting celestial bodies. As we journey through this cosmic tapestry, we come across breathtaking sights such as NGC 6523 - The Lagoon Nebula - with its vibrant hues painting an otherworldly canvas against the backdrop of darkness. Nearby lies The Fox Fur Nebula; its wispy tendrils resembling an artist's brushstrokes on a galactic masterpiece. In regions like Tarantula Nebula star formation takes center stage – a spectacular display where massive clouds collapse under gravity's embrace to form new suns amidst swirling gases and glowing embers. And then there are phenomena like Zeta Ophiuchi bow shock – an infrared image capturing the moment when fast-moving star Zeta Ophiuchi creates ripples in interstellar material around it akin to waves crashing on distant shores.