Space pictures
NASA’s Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) included two lunar probes (Ebb and Flow) that orbited the Moon’s poles to collect data on its gravity field. This topographical view uses data collected by the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter and shows the gravitational anomalies bordering the Procellarum region (in blue). Scientists interpret these anomalies in lunar gravity as likely resulting from ancient lava-flooded rift zones buried beneath volcanic plains on the Moon.
The X-38 Crew Return Vehicle (CRV) was a prototype wingless lifting body reentry vehicle to be used with the International Space Station (ISS). This picture shows a test from 1999 where the X-38 CRV was dropped from one of the wing pylons of NASA’s B-52 mothership aircraft (tail number 008 and in a role very atypical of the BUFF) based out of the Dryden Flight Research Center. Two full and one partial X-38 prototypes were built before development of this CRV was cancelled in 2002.
The Hubble Space Telescope has captured some astonishing views of the universe. This picture taken by its Wide Field Planetary Camera 2 is no slouch either, capturing a couple of galaxies in one shot. The main feature is the spiral galaxy NGC 6872 located about 300 million light-years away in the constellation of Pavo (The Peacock).
NGC 6872 is the second largest spiral galaxy discovered to date by humans. It spans over 500,000 light-years across, compared to the Milky way which is approximately 120,000 light years from end to end. This picture also captures the galaxy IC 4970 which can be seen causing a disruption in NGC 6872’s upper left spiral arm, as it transits through the larger spiral galaxy, helping it create new stars.
A rare feat from the Cassini spacecraft as it captured three of Saturn’s moons (and its mystical rings) in this one frame. The largest of the visible moons in this picture is Tethys whose muti-terrain surface can be barely made out at this resolution. To the left of Tethys is the smaller and distant moon Hyperion. It has a surface full of closely packed and deeply etched pits and is an irregularly shaped moon of Saturn. Lastly we can barely see the tiny moon Prometheus (only 86 kilometers across) as it lies at Saturn’s F ring. This visible light picture was taken by Cassini’s narrow-angle camera while the spacecraft was around 1.9 million kilometers from Tethys.
Curiosity Mars rover’s mast camera photographed a section of the pale rock outcrop that includes the “Bonanza King” target chosen for evaluation as the mission’s fourth rock-drilling site. This area is location in the northeastern end of “Hidden Valley” on Mars. The flat tile like rocks could contain mineral veins and other unknown materials.
