Here are 10 of the greatest space images from 2015.
Space is full of dazzling sights, but some pictures taken of stars, satellites, and planets really stand out.
Here are 10 of the greatest space images from 2015.
Number 10. Pluto’s blue haze. The former planet has proven to be full of surprises, and among the early shockers was Pluto’s blue sky. Scientists say the particles themselves are probably red or gray, but when dispersing light they give off a decidedly cerulean hue.
Number 9. Enceladus close-up. The photo was snapped as NASA’s Cassini spacecraft sped toward the moon’s south pole. Taken at a distance of roughly 60,000 feet from the lunar surface, the icy orb’s wrinkles and craters are captured in stunning detail.
Number 8. Dark streaks on Mars. Technically known as "recurring slope lineae," the markings run down the sides of a Red Planet crater. Experts believe briny streams of water played a part in their making.
Number 7. Sun tornado. Our parent star is generally a volatile place, but some solar activities are more extreme than others. This massive plasma twister swirled for roughly 40 hours, at times giving temperatures readings of about 5 million degrees Fahrenheit.
Number 6. The Occator Crater. Amid Ceres’ landscape is a grouping of spots that glows brighter than anything else around. This view is a composite of two images taken by the Dawn spacecraft.
Number 5. ISS flies past the sun. 5 frames of the space research facility’s trek were combined to produce this picture. At the time the individual photos were taken, the station was traveling at a speed of roughly 5 miles per second.
Number 4. Salads in space. Astronauts aboard the ISS have performed numerous scientific studies, and one of them involved growing lettuce. Not only did the crewmembers have the opportunity to do a bit of gardening, they got to enjoy something they rarely have on hand – a fresh vegetable.
Number 3. A long lost spacecraft. Britain’s Beagle 2 headed to Mars over a decade ago, but failed to send confirmation concerning its whereabouts. Where the lander ended up was unknown until early 2015. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter beamed back a photo showing the Beagle 2 resting in peace on the Martian surface.
Number 2. The shore of Sputnik Planum. Some of the icy mountains surrounding the plain reach as high as a mile and a half. Spaces between many are filled with what appears to be crumpled matter, possibly a result of the elevations’ movements over time.
Number 1. The real Pluto. Many images of the dwarf planet have been enhanced to highlight details, but this one shows the celestial body in true color. The photos used to create the likeness were taken by New Horizons from a distance of roughly 280,000 miles.
Which space image do you think is the greatest?
Space is full of dazzling sights, but some pictures taken of stars, satellites, and planets really stand out.
Here are 10 of the greatest space images from 2015.
Number 10. Pluto’s blue haze. The former planet has proven to be full of surprises, and among the early shockers was Pluto’s blue sky. Scientists say the particles themselves are probably red or gray, but when dispersing light they give off a decidedly cerulean hue.
Number 9. Enceladus close-up. The photo was snapped as NASA’s Cassini spacecraft sped toward the moon’s south pole. Taken at a distance of roughly 60,000 feet from the lunar surface, the icy orb’s wrinkles and craters are captured in stunning detail.
Number 8. Dark streaks on Mars. Technically known as "recurring slope lineae," the markings run down the sides of a Red Planet crater. Experts believe briny streams of water played a part in their making.
Number 7. Sun tornado. Our parent star is generally a volatile place, but some solar activities are more extreme than others. This massive plasma twister swirled for roughly 40 hours, at times giving temperatures readings of about 5 million degrees Fahrenheit.
Number 6. The Occator Crater. Amid Ceres’ landscape is a grouping of spots that glows brighter than anything else around. This view is a composite of two images taken by the Dawn spacecraft.
Number 5. ISS flies past the sun. 5 frames of the space research facility’s trek were combined to produce this picture. At the time the individual photos were taken, the station was traveling at a speed of roughly 5 miles per second.
Number 4. Salads in space. Astronauts aboard the ISS have performed numerous scientific studies, and one of them involved growing lettuce. Not only did the crewmembers have the opportunity to do a bit of gardening, they got to enjoy something they rarely have on hand – a fresh vegetable.
Number 3. A long lost spacecraft. Britain’s Beagle 2 headed to Mars over a decade ago, but failed to send confirmation concerning its whereabouts. Where the lander ended up was unknown until early 2015. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter beamed back a photo showing the Beagle 2 resting in peace on the Martian surface.
Number 2. The shore of Sputnik Planum. Some of the icy mountains surrounding the plain reach as high as a mile and a half. Spaces between many are filled with what appears to be crumpled matter, possibly a result of the elevations’ movements over time.
Number 1. The real Pluto. Many images of the dwarf planet have been enhanced to highlight details, but this one shows the celestial body in true color. The photos used to create the likeness were taken by New Horizons from a distance of roughly 280,000 miles.
Which space image do you think is the greatest?
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