Film & Animation

Shedding New Light on the Whirlpool Galaxy

The Whirlpool Galaxy is a magnificent spiral galaxy that has been studied across the spectrum by NASA’s Great Observatories. This remarkable video uses two dimensional images and three dimensional visualizations to contrast and compare the different views of infrared (Spitzer Space Telescope), visible (Hubble Space Telescope), and X-ray (Chandra X-ray Observatory) observations. Within these spectral bands, each wavelength region illustrates a different component of the stars, gas, and dust that comprise the galaxy. By both separating and combining seven multiwavelength views, astronomers gain a broader and richer look into the detailed structure of a spiral galaxy.... Read More

Tonight’s Sky: December 2018

In December, look for Saturn’s iconic rings, and Mercury and Venus’s appearances. Eta Cassiopeiae, a double star, is visible with binoculars or a small telescope—look for its gold and blue hues. Finally, don’t miss the mid-December Geminid meteor shower, which boasts as many as 60 colorful meteors per hour.... Read More