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The icy blue wings of Hen 2-437

The patterns and symmetries in space never cease to amaze. Hen 2-437 is a planetary nebula which has spectacularly symmetrical wings. It was first identified in 1946 by Rudolph Minkowski, who later also discovered the famous and equally beautiful M2-9, otherwise known as the Twin Jet Nebula:

Hen 2-437 was added to a catalogue of planetary nebula over two decades later by astronomer and NASA astronaut Karl Gordon Henize. If you’re interested in how planetary nebulae form, go here

Credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA

Astronauts talking about viewing the earth from the moon, from The Overview Effect: Awe and Self-Transcendent Experience in Space Flight

Grand Spiral Galaxy  - M 100

Known as a grand design spiral galaxy, M100 is a large galaxy of over 100 billion stars with spiral arms that are like our own Milky Way Galaxy. This Hubble Space Telescope image of M100 was made in 2009 and reveals bright blue star clusters and intricate winding dust lanes which are hallmarks of this class of galaxies. Studies of variable stars in M100 have played an important role in determining the size and age of the Universe.

Credit: NASA/APOD

I went to a rural area yesterday and saw an amazing sky perfect for the meteor shower. I think I’ve never seen so many stars! I also captured perseids but I can’t edit pictures well till Sunday so here’s just something of the Milky Way for now!

Starburst galaxy NGC 4449 in the M94 galaxy group 13 million light-years away (Hubble image)

VIMOS’s last embrace

Five-dimensional black hole could 'break' general relativity

Cambridge UK (SPX) Feb 19, 2016 Researchers have shown how a bizarrely shaped black hole could cause Einstein’s general theory of relativity, a foundation of modern physics, to break down. However, such an object could only exist in a universe with five or more dimensions. The researchers, from the University of Cambridge and Queen Mary University of London, have successfully simulated a black hole shaped like a very thi Full article

The little-known nebula IRAS 05437+2502 billows out among the bright stars and dark dust clouds that surround it in this striking image from the Hubble Space Telescope [2001 x 1654]

Lagoon Cocoon by geckzilla on Flickr.

The only home we’ve ever known. Clouds and sunlight over the Indian Ocean, as seen from Discovery during the STS-96 mission in 1999.