Image description: This animated gif shows a global composite image showing the glow of natural and human-built phenomena across the planet.
Learn about the technology used to capture these nighttime images of Earth from space on NASA’s website.
Image description:
From the U.S. Department of Interior:
Pan-STARRS comet photographed at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon on March 12th.
It still may be possible to view this comet over the next several days in the northern hemisphere. Use binoculars if you have them.
Start looking 30 minutes after sunset in the direction of sunset. Look low about 10 degrees above the horizon near the top edge of twilight. With your binoculars, you should be able to see the comet head with the tail pointed upward.
Learn more about this comet from NASA.
Photo: Rick Jurgen
Image description: A full-scale model of the James Webb Space Telescope was displayed at South by Southwest in Austin, Texas.
Photo by Chris Gunn, NASA.
Image description: The Hubble telescope sees a ‘Space Invader.’
In this photo, the image of a spiral galaxy at upper left has been stretched and mirrored into a shape similar to that of a simulated alien from the classic 1970s computer game “Space Invaders!” A second, less distorted image of the same galaxy appears to the left of the large, bright elliptical galaxy.
Learn more about the galaxies in this image.
Photo from NASA/ESA
Image description: Massive cyclones, hundreds of times stronger than the most giant hurricanes on Earth, roil and swirl on the north pole of the planet Saturn. Taken from a distance of 250,000 miles by the Cassini orbiter, this view was aided by sunlight creeping over the north pole as the Saturnian seasons change.
Unlike hurricanes on Earth that are powered by the ocean’s heat and water, Saturn’s cyclones have no body of water at their bases. Yet, the eyes of Saturn’s and Earth’s storms look strikingly similar.
Just as condensing water in clouds on Earth powers hurricane vortices, the heat released from the condensing water in Saturnian thunderstorms deep down in the atmosphere may be the primary power source energizing the vortex.
See more from Cassini and Saturn.
Photo from NASA.
