Science Gallery

MAP microwave background

Cosmic microwave background. Whole sky image of the cosmic microwave background made by the MAP (Microwave Anisotropy Probe) spacecraft. This map indicates that the age of the universe is around 13.7 billion years. The data also reveal that the universe is expanding at 71 kilometres per second per megaparsec (1 Mpc = 3262 light years). The colours reveal variations in the temperature of the universe in all directions. This correlates to the density of material at the time when the universe became transparent to radiation, about 380, 000 years after its creation. The denser regions (red, yellow) formed the seeds of galaxies and other structures. Data obtained in 2003

© NASA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Jupiter and Io, New Horizons image

Jupiter and Io. Montage of images of Jupiter (left) and its moon Io (right), obtained by the New Horizons spacecraft in February and March 2007 as it passed Jupiter on its way to Pluto. The image of Jupiter was obtained with its infrared spectrometer (LEISA). The different colours show high-altitude clouds (blue), and deeper clouds (red). The Great Red Spot (lower left) is blue and white. The Io image was obtained in approximate true colour with a long-range camera (LORRI) and a multispectral camera (MVIC). The red dot on the nightside of Io is an eruption of the Tvashtar volcano. The volcanic plume (blue) seen above the eruption is 330 kilometres high. Jupiter is the solar system's largest planet

© NASA/JHU/APL/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Optical photo of the star Sirius using star filter

The two bright stars just below centre are Alpha Centauri (left) & Beta Centauri. To their right are the four stars forming the constellation of the Southern Cross, or Crux Australis. Alpha Centauri, also known as Rigil Kent, is a triple star system, the two brightest components of which form a yellow-orange visual binary. The third component, Proxima Centauri, is the closest star to Earth at a distance of 4.3 light years. Beta Centauri, or Hadar, is also a binary star; it is much more remote at a distance of 424 light years. The photograph was taken from Pauhatanui, New Zealand. (North is at top). 50mm, f/2, 20 sec exposure, Fujichrome 1600 + 2, photographed from Pauhatanui, New Zealand

© ECKHARD SLAWIK/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY