Photo: NASA / JPL-Caltech / SwRI / MSSS / Kevin M. Gill
Just a few days ago we told you that Juno, the spacecraft that continues on a mission to Jupiter, had sent impressive images to Earth. The photograph, published by NASA and colored by scientists, showed Jupiter's characteristic atmosphere.
Some associated that image with a painting by Vincent Van Gogh himself. And in fact, it is true that The Starry Night by the Dutch artist is quite reminiscent of the aspect of the planet seen by Juno . The image was captured on May 23, after the spacecraft passed over Jupiter for the thirteenth time since the mission began now three years ago.
This is what you see of Jupiter passing 15 kilometers above the surface . What is seen in the image is a tangle of clouds of different colors, which combine white and bright tones (it is the mixture between ammonia, water and other unknown elements) with spirals of greenish blue, dark and deep clouds, which move by the atmosphere of Jupiter.
With this, today we have decided to collect here twenty of the most impressive images that have reached Earth from space and in which the planets and the different elements and configurations of our Solar System are seen.
Photo: NASA and ESA
The last image we have of Jupiter
In just a week, Juno (whose mission has been extended until 2022) captured a new image. It is a photograph of the southern hemisphere of Jupiter, at a distance of 44,3000 miles. It is displayed here on a deep black image, although the image has different color enhancements . These have been made by citizen scientist Kevin M. Gill.
Photo: Jeff Hester / Paul Scowen (Arizona State University) and NASA / ESA.
Eagle Nebula
Surely you have seen it more times, because it is one of the most impressive photos we have seen from space. It is certainly difficult to forget. It was captured in 1995 by Hubble and is a vertical structure in the Eagle Nebula, an open star cluster. Columns are known to have a hydrogen composition, which is what gives them this hue.
Photo: NASA (Cassini space probe)
The rings of Saturn
One of the most impressive images captured by the Cassini probe is that of Saturn's rings. It is possible that you have also seen it on some occasion and that it has left you speechless. Because the truth is that the rings are appreciated with total clarity
Photo: NASA (Cassini space probe)
The mass of Saturn's rings
What are Saturn's rings made of? The Cassini probe also made different dives on the planet and its rings to learn more about its characteristics. In this image, with colors very similar to the previous one , but undoubtedly impressive, the gap between the planet and its rings, waves and kinks created by the planet's moons can be seen.
Photo: NASA, ESA, S. Beckwith (STScI) and the HUDF Team.
13 billion light years away
This image was also captured by the Hubble telescope and is, according to technical and spatial assessments, the oldest image we have of the universe. Why? Because it was captured deep in space, so it contains light from stars and galaxies 13 billion light years away . This is what the universe was like 13 billion years ago. And the truth is that it is beautiful.
Photo: NASA, ESA, HEIC and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI / AURA)
The cat's eye nebula
It's stunning and colorful - the Cat's Eye Nebula, known by the technical name NGC6543. It is a planetary nebula, located in the constellation of the Dragon. It is complex, but the Hubble telescope was able to capture it in all its splendor.
Photo: ESA / NASA.
Moon
The Moon is and will always be our favorite satellite. We see it almost every night and it has been during all times a reason for dreams and poetry on the part of artists. NASA has been able to capture impressive images, which will never cease to amaze us.
Photo: ESA / NASA.
Westerlund 2, a massive star cluster
When we think and dream in the universe, we often think about this. And is not for less. It is the most idealized image we have from up there. This image is of a massive star cluster in the Milky Way, called Westerlund 2, located in the Fourth Galactic Quadrant, within the constellation of Carina . Is it or is it not precious?
Photo: ESA / NASA.
Planet 55 Cancri e
It is known as Janssen or 55 Cancri e. If you have never seen it before, you should know that it is an extrasolar planet with a mass similar to that of Neptune. It orbits the solar twin star Copernicus, 41 light years from Earth, within the constellation Cancer. The views that we have been able to obtain from here are simply splendid.
Photo: ESA / NASA.
Sun
It gives us life and it could also take it away from us, because it is a very powerful star, the queen of our System, which has been photographed many times by NASA. It is the largest source of electromagnetic radiation in our planetary system. Photographs obtained by science cannot leave anyone indifferent.
Photo: Ken Crawford
Horsehead Nebula
Yes, it is something very similar to a horse's head. And that is why they have named it that way. It is actually the Barnard Nebula 3 (B33) and it is a cold, dark gas cloud. It is located in the Orion belt , 1,500 light years from Earth. Its reddish color promises to leave anyone with their mouths open. This is due to the composition of electrons with protons of hydrogen atoms.
Photo: ESA / NASA.
The globular cluster Omega Centauri
Surely you've heard of Omega Centauri on more than one occasion. It is a globular cluster discovered by Edmond Halley no more and no less than in 1677. It is the largest and brightest globular cluster that orbits and can be observed with the naked eye from our planet. That doesn't happen with too many. The estimated age is about 12 billion years and contains about 10 million stars.
Photo: Don Goldman
The Helix Nebula
In this case we are facing a planetary nebula, located in the constellation of Aquarius. It is located 680 light years away. It is very close to Earth, the closest, and was discovered in 1824. Technically it is known as NGC 7293 and it looks a lot like the Ring Nebula (M57).
Photo: NASA / Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory / Carnegie Institution of Washington
The colorful Mercury
The planets of our solar system are also another of the enigmas to be deciphered. NASA has been trying for years . One of the most precious images we have found, of the many there are, is this one of Mercury. It is the smallest planet we know of, within our Solar System, and it has a somewhat curious behavior. In the sense that it receives micro meteor showers and morning shooting stars that constantly change its weather.
While the mysteries surrounding Mercury are not discovered, all we can do is revel in the colorful images we have of him. And it is not little.
Photo: NASA, ESA and Hubble SM4 ERO Team
Butterfly nebula
Impressive right? As soon as you see the nebula NGC 6302, one realizes that we are facing a nebula in the shape of a butterfly. It is an image obtained by the Hubble team at NASA, after having improved and repaired the telescope . The results were certainly good, because the image has enviable resolution and detail.
Photo: NASA and ESA
Curiosity about Mars
One of the most important investigations that NASA has carried out has to do with the exploration of Mars, the so-called Red Planet. The planet owes its nickname to the coloration of the surface, which is reddish, due to iron oxide, which is a predominant material on its surface.
A few years ago, NASA launched a new mission called Curiosity, with the aim of exploring Mars. This consisted of placing a rover-type vehicle on the planet's surface to explore it. It had instruments for analysis and observation much more precise than that of the last mission. The images that came from Mars from Curiosity were really shocking.
Photo: X-ray: NASA / CXC / CfA / S.Wolk; IR: NASA / JPL / CfA / S.Wolk
Pac-Man Nebula
And since we are talking about science and technology at the same time, video game lovers have to pay special attention to this impressive image. It is a nebula and we have given you a clue in the title. Yes, that figure that you see in the lower left of the photo looks like a Pac-Man about to gobble up all those stars , right?
In reality, we are facing a star cluster called NGC 281, which is located 9,200 light years from Earth. Image contains X-rays of Chandra (purple). Its components give rise to the formation of large columns of gas and dust, as well as structures with newly formed stars . An energy revolution worthy of admiration.
Photo: NASA and ESA
Our Earth planet
And we finished. We have taken a tiny, tiny (almost microscopic) journey through some of the most impressive images we have of our Solar System. So nothing better than ending the place we inhabit: Earth.
The image, like all the others, was obtained by the Earth Polychromatic Imaging Camera (EPIC), a system that has allowed us to achieve, in effect, an epic and resounding image of our planet. It was captured on July 6, 2015 and is one of the most shocking we have seen on Earth lately.