Macrocosmic Minutia

Heart Nebula, IC 1805, in the constellation Cassiopeia.

High resolution, full color photo of planet Mercury’s surface, from the MESSENGER (Mercury Surface, Space Environment, Geochemistry, and Ranging) spacecraft.

Waning moon and Pleiades.

Planet Uranus.

“Tycho’s Star,” supernova remnant.

The gradual darkening of day into night, as viewed from the International Space Station.

Sharpless 308 is a colossal bubble of gas, estimated to be 60 light years in diameter, blown off by a massive hot blue star at its center. 

Saturn’s rim with ring shadow across back-lit Titan, as viewed from Cassini spacecraft.

Vernal equinox, 7:02 a.m. EDT, March 20, 2013.

Peculiar galaxy Centaurus A.