Author | Lightnews

Hopeful Earth @hopefulearthorg.bsky.social · Feb 18

Sunset on Mars captured by NASA's Curiosity Rover.

Media Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/Texas A&M University

This sequence of views of the sun setting at the close of the mission's 956th Martian day, or sol (April 15, 2015), from the rover's location in Gale Crater.

The four images shown in sequence here were taken over a span of 6 minutes, 51 seconds.

More information can be found at this link: https://science.nasa.gov/resource/sunset-sequence-in-mars-gale-crater/.

Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS/Texas A&M University.

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Hopeful Earth @hopefulearthorg.bsky.social · Feb 14

Hearts for everyone! Love is in the air from the Heart Nebula! 💗 #ValentinesDay

Image Credit: Adam Jensen

Image Description: A high-resolution image of the Heart Nebula (IC 1805), a vibrant red and pink emission nebula located in the Perseus Arm of the Milky Way. The nebula’s glowing hydrogen gas and dark dust lanes form a shape resembling a cosmic heart, surrounded by a field of distant stars. The bright central region is powered by a young star cluster, contributing to the nebula’s stunning illumination.

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Hopeful Earth @hopefulearthorg.bsky.social · Jan 9

Welcome to Bluesky! 🔭🚀🦋

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Hopeful Earth @hopefulearthorg.bsky.social · Jan 9

Pismis 24, an open star cluster around 8,000 light-years away in the core of the NGC 6357 nebula in the constellation Scorpius.

Image Credit: NASA, ESA, and J. Maíz Apellániz, et al

Pismis 24, an open star cluster about 8,000 light-years away, located in the core of the NGC 6357 nebula in the constellation Scorpius.

Source: https://www.nasa.gov/image-article/greatest-stars/

Image Description: A glowing cosmic scene showcasing the star cluster Pismis 24 within the NGC 6357 nebula. Bright, radiant stars dominate the upper portion of the image, with golden clouds of interstellar gas and dust forming intricate structures in the foreground. The nebula’s wispy textures and towering formations create a dynamic, celestial landscape, with a mixture of light and shadow adding depth to the scene.

Media Credit: NASA, ESA, and J. Maíz Apellániz (Instituto de Astrofísica de Andalucía, Spain).

Transparency: For educational use only. This account is not affiliated with the aforementioned creditor(s), nor does this imply endorsement from either entity.

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Hopeful Earth @hopefulearthorg.bsky.social · Jan 9

DEM L 190, a supernova remnant around 160,000 light-years away in the constellation Dorado.

Image Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, S. Kulkarni, Y. Chu

What is a Supernova Remnant? A supernova remnant (SNR) is the structure left behind after a star explodes in a supernova. It consists of the ejected material from the explosion, as well as the shockwaves interacting with the surrounding interstellar medium. Over time, this material spreads out, forming expanding shells of gas and dust. Supernova remnants are key for studying star death, cosmic ray acceleration, and the enrichment of the universe with heavy elements.

Image Description via NASA: A supernova remnant appears to float in space. Its core glows in shades of yellow and gold, as filaments wisp out into cooler shades of blue. The remnant's shape is similar to a cone, spiraling upwards towards the top of the image. The background is dotted with stars in various shades of red and purple.

Media Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, S. Kulkarni, Y. Chu.

Link: https://science.nasa.gov/image-detail/revisiting-a-celestial-fireworks-display-2/

Transparency: For educational use only. This account is not affiliated with the aforementioned creditor(s), nor does this imply endorsement from either entity.

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Hopeful Earth @hopefulearthorg.bsky.social · Jan 9

SN 1006, a supernova remnant around 7,200 light-years away in the constellation Lupus.

Image Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/SAO (Chandra), et al

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Hopeful Earth @hopefulearthorg.bsky.social · Jan 3

Vega, the 5th brightest star in the night sky, around 25 light-years away in the constellation Lyra.

Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, et al

• Name: Vega
• Type: Main-sequence star | Spectral type A0V
• Constellation: Lyra
• Distance: 25 light-years
• Surface Temperature: Approximately 9,600 K
• Mass: About 2.1 times the mass of the Sun
• Luminosity: Around 40 times that of the Sun
• Rotation: It spins rapidly, completing a rotation in 12.5 hours, resulting in its oblate shape (flattened at the poles)

Extra Context: Using the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph, Hubble captured this image of the 100-billion-mile-wide disk of dust surrounding the star Vega. (Source: NASA Hubble via Instagram).

Image Description: A Hubble image of the circumstellar disk around Vega. The disk is perfectly circular, and at the center is a black spot blocking out the bright glow of a star. Closer to the center, the disk is white. Radial striations extend out from the center, giving a ripple effect to the disk like the end of a sausage casing. The outer edge of the circular disk is blue.

Media Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScl, S. Wolff (University of Arizona), K. Su (University of Arizona), A. Gáspár (University of Arizona).

Transparency: This account is intended solely for educational purposes. It is not affiliated with the creditor(s) or source(s) referenced herein, nor does it assert ownership of the distributed media or imply endorsement by any of the aforementioned entities.

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Hopeful Earth @hopefulearthorg.bsky.social · Jan 2

Messier 57 (aka M57 or the Ring Nebula) is a planetary nebula around 2,000 light-years away in the constellation Lyra.

Image Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA, et al

Name: Messier 57 (aka M57 or the Ring Nebula)
Type: Planetary nebula
Constellation: Lyra
Distance: 2,000 light-years
Apparent Magnitude: 8.8
Discovery: 1779 by Antoine Darquier de Pellepoix

Source: https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/science/explore-the-night-sky/hubble-messier-catalog/messier-57/

What is a planetary nebula? A planetary nebula is a glowing cloud of gas and dust that forms when a star similar to the Sun reaches the end of its life. The outer layers of the star are ejected into space, creating a colorful, ring-like appearance.

Image Description: A swirling nebula, its outer ring ablaze with fiery red and orange, while its core shimmers with a cool, celestial blue.

Media Credit: @ESA / @esa_webb, @NASA & @csa_asc, M. Barlow, N. Cox, R. Wesson NASA, ESA, and C. Robert O'Dell (Vanderbilt University).

Transparency: This account is intended solely for educational purposes. It is not affiliated with the creditor(s) or source(s) referenced herein, nor does it assert ownership of the distributed media or imply endorsement by any of the aforementioned entities.

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Hopeful Earth @hopefulearthorg.bsky.social · Dec 31

One of the Universe’s prettiest mysteries — Hoag’s Object, a ring galaxy around 600 million light-years away in the constellation Serpens.

Image Credit: NASA/ESA, Processing: Benoit Blanco

• Galaxy Name: Hoag’s Object
• Galaxy Type: Ring galaxy
• Constellation: Serpens
• Distance: ~600 million light-years
• Age: ~13 billion years
• Stars: Estimated billions
• Apparent Magnitude: 16.0
• Radius: ~120,000 light-years
• Discovery: 1950 by Arthur Hoag

#DidYouKnow: Ring galaxies are relatively rare, constituting about 1 in 10,000 of all observed galaxies.

According to NASA, it’s possible that the blue ring of stars may be the shredded remains of a galaxy that passed nearby. Some astronomers estimate that the encounter occurred about 2 to 3 billion years ago.

Image Description: A rare ring galaxy featuring a nearly perfect outer ring of young, bright blue stars surrounding a yellowish, densely packed core. The dark void between the core and the ring enhances its distinct appearance. The image captures the galaxy against a backdrop of faint stars and distant galaxies, highlighting its symmetry and uniqueness.

Media Credit: NASA/ESA, Processing: Benoit Blanco.

Transparency: For educational use only. This account is not affiliated with the aforementioned creditor(s), nor does this imply endorsement from either entity.

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Hopeful Earth @hopefulearthorg.bsky.social · Dec 31

🔭🚀⭐️ Wishing all of you a Happy 2025 filled with love, peace, and prosperity!

Image Context: ISS038-E-020234 (24 Dec. 2013) --- NASA astronaut Mike Hopkins, Expedition 38 flight engineer, participates in the second of two spacewalks, spread over a four-day period, which were designed to allow the crew to change out a faulty water pump on the exterior of the Earth orbiting International Space Station. He was joined on both spacewalks by NASA astronaut Rick Mastracchio, whose image shows up in Hopkins' helmet visor.

Source: https://www.nasa.gov/image-detail/amf-iss038e020234/

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Hopeful Earth @hopefulearthorg.bsky.social · Dec 31

Ringing in the eve of the New Year with NGC 6946 (aka the Fireworks Galaxy), an intermediate spiral galaxy around 25 million light-years away, bordering the constellations Cepheus and Cygnus.

Image Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/MSSL/R.Soria et al, Optical: AURA/Gemini OBs

• Name: NGC 6946 (aka the Fireworks Galaxy)
• Type: Intermediate spiral galaxy
• Constellation: Cepheus/Cygnus border
• Distance: ~25 million light-years
• Discovery: 1798 by William Herschel

Image Description: The image displays the galaxy in a field of scattered background stars. The overall color palette is dominated by shades of purple and blue, with hints of pink and yellow from the stars.

Media Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/MSSL/R.Soria et al, Optical: AURA/Gemini OBs.

Transparency: For educational use only. This account is not affiliated with the aforementioned creditor(s), nor does this imply endorsement from either entity.

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Hopeful Earth @hopefulearthorg.bsky.social · Dec 31

WR 124 is a Wolf-Rayet star, 30x the mass of our Sun, around 15,000 light-years away in the constellation Sagitta.

Image Credit: ESA/Hubble and NASA

Name: WR 124
Type: Wolf-Rayet star
Nebula: M1-67
Constellation: Sagitta
Distance: 15,000 light-years
Age: 8.6 million years
Average Temperature: 80,000 F/44,400 C
Magnitude: 11.17
Discovery: 1938 by Paul W. Merrill

Image description: A bright, fiery Wolf-Rayet star surrounded by a glowing cloud of gas and dust.

Media Credit: ESA/Hubble and NASA.

Transparency: For educational use only. This account is not affiliated with the aforementioned creditor(s), nor does this imply endorsement from either entity.

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Hopeful Earth @hopefulearthorg.bsky.social · Dec 30

MyCn18 (aka The Hourglass Nebula) is a planetary nebula around 8,000 light-years away in the constellation Musca.

Image Credit: Raghvendra Sahai and John Trauger (JPL), the WFPC2 science team, and NASA/ESA

Name: MyCn18 (aka The Hourglass Nebula)
Type: Planetary nebula
Constellation: Musca
Distance: 8,000 light-years
Discovery: Annie Jump Cannon and Margaret W. Mayall during their work on an extended Henry Draper Catalogue

Image Description: The nebula's core glows a brilliant turquoise, surrounded by concentric rings of fiery orange and deep red in the shape of an hourglass.

Media Credit: Raghvendra Sahai and John Trauger (JPL), the WFPC2 science team, and NASA/ESA.

Transparency: For educational use only. This account is not affiliated with the aforementioned creditor(s), nor does this imply endorsement from either entity.

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Hopeful Earth @hopefulearthorg.bsky.social · Dec 29

You’re invited. 👽🛸

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Hopeful Earth @hopefulearthorg.bsky.social · Dec 29

🪩 Name something prettier… Neptune won’t wait.

Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI

Planet Name: Neptune
Galaxy: Milky Way
Distance: ~2.7948 billion miles OR 4.4978 billion km
Age: ~4.5 billion years old
Diameter: 30,598.8 miles OR 49,244 km
Volume: 6,254 x 1010 cubic kilometers— nearly 58x the volume of Earth
Average Temperature: -330°F (-200°C)

Image Description: A vibrant, pinkish-purple planet with a ring system is seen against a dark, starry background. The planet's rings appear multi-layered and slightly translucent.

Media Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI.

Transparency: For educational use only. This account is not affiliated with the aforementioned creditor(s), nor does this imply endorsement from either entity.

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Hopeful Earth @hopefulearthorg.bsky.social · Dec 29

NGC 628 (aka the Phantom Galaxy or Messier 74) is a large spiral galaxy around 32 million light-years away in the constellation Pisces.

Image Credit: NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope and the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope

Galaxy Name: NGC 628 (aka the Phantom Galaxy or Messier 74)
Galaxy Type: Large spiral galaxy
Constellation: Pisces
Distance: 32 million light-years
Age: ~10 billion years
Stars: ~100 billion
Apparent Magnitude: 10.0
Diameter: ~95,000 light-years
Discovery: 1780 by Charles Messier's observing assistant, the French astronomer Pierre Méchain

What is a spiral galaxy? A spiral galaxy is a galaxy with a bright central bulge and long, curved arms that spiral outward. The arms contain stars, gas, and dust, where new stars are often formed. Examples include the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy.

Image Description: This image showcases the spiral galaxy M74 (The Phantom Galaxy) with its stunning, well-defined structure. The central core glows a bright blue, surrounded by sprawling, delicate spiral arms. These arms are filled with intricate webs of gas and dust, which are highlighted in shades of dark brown and gray. Numerous bright pink and red regions are scattered throughout the spiral arms, indicating areas of active star formation. The overall appearance of the galaxy looks detailed and ethereal, as it appears against the deep, dark backdrop of space.

Media Credit: NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope and the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.

Transparency: For educational use only. This account is not affiliated with the aforementioned creditor(s), nor does this imply endorsement from either entity.

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Hopeful Earth @hopefulearthorg.bsky.social · Dec 29

NGC 4826 (aka the Black Eye Galaxy) is a spiral galaxy around 17 million light-years away in the constellation Coma Berenices.

Image Credit: NASA and the Hubble Heritage Team (AURA/STScI); Acknowledgment: S. Smartt (Institute of Astronomy) and D. Richstone (U. Michigan)

Galaxy Name: NGC 4826 (aka the Black Eye Galaxy)
Galaxy Type: Spiral galaxy
Constellation: Coma Berenices
Distance: 17 million light-years
Age: 13.28 billion years
Stars: 100 billion
Apparent Magnitude: 9.8
Radius: 26,481 light-years
Discovery: 1779 by Edward Pigott, and separately, Johann Elert Bode

What is a spiral galaxy? A spiral galaxy is a galaxy with a bright central bulge and long, curved arms that spiral outward. The arms contain stars, gas, and dust, where new stars are often formed. Examples include the Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy.

Image Description: Spiral galaxy, NGC 4826 features distinct swirling arms with dark dust lanes and regions of red and blue, likely representing areas of star formation. The image highlights the galaxy’s intricate structure against a dark background of space.

Media Credit: NASA and the Hubble Heritage Team (AURA/STScI); Acknowledgment: S. Smartt (Institute of Astronomy) and D. Richstone (U. Michigan).

Link: https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/science/explore-the-night-sky/hubble-messier-catalog/messier-64/

Transparency: For educational use only. This account is not affiliated with the aforementioned creditor(s), nor does this imply endorsement from either entity.

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Hopeful Earth @hopefulearthorg.bsky.social · Dec 29

NGC 3432, an edge-on spiral galaxy around 40 million light-years away in the constellation Leo Minor.

Image Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA, A. Filippenko, R. Jansen.