© NASA/JPL-Caltech
© ESO
Portrait of a
galactic beauty
Found in the chest of the
constellation of Virgo some 50
million light years away, this
cosmic treasure – also known as
spiral galaxy Messier 61 – glitters
in a face-on view captured as
part of the European Southern
Observatory’s (ESO) Cosmic
Gems Programme; an initiative
that produces snaps of some of
the most interesting, intriguing or
visually attractive targets using
the ESO telescopes.
Messier 61 is one of the largest
members of the Virgo Cluster
of galaxies and is a bustling hub
of stellar birth. It also features a
massive nuclear star cluster, as
well as a supermassive black hole
buried at its heart. The stunning
spiral was initially uncovered
in May 1779 and has captured
astronomers’ interest ever since.Fish-eye view of Mars
NASA’s InSight (Interior Exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and
Heat Transport) lander uses its robotic arm to place its very first instrument – the
seismometer – onto the surface of the Red Planet in this concave view of the alien
landscape. The image was captured by the mission’s Instrument Context Camera
(ICC), which resides on the spacecraft deck.
InSight touched down in Mars’ western Elysium Planitia, some 600 kilometres
(370 miles) from where the Curiosity rover is operating in Gale Crater, on 26
November 2018 after launching from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California on 5
May. The spacecraft’s main aim is to measure seismic activity and create reams of
three-dimensional models of the Red Planet’s interior.LAUNCH PAD
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