Silver and Roses, Henna and Myrrh

 

Galaxies

 

 Hubble Space Telescope

A question I've been asking myself more and more frequently lately is how important astronomy, at least the astronomy of space beyond the solar system, really is. Obviously enough, celestial bodies millions of light-years away can hardly have any relevance to human needs, and, even if their interactions threaten us, there's little we can do about it.

Interstellar travel does not seem to be something we can realistically anticipate, at least in the next few centuries. Perhaps in the dim and distant future, ways and means will be found, but for the time being, the issue is dead.

Nonetheless, the stars are endlessly fascinating, giving rise to all sorts of visions of gleaming empires in remote galaxies. Here are some beautiful color-enhanced photographs of galaxies and nebulae from National Aeronautics and Space Administration's National Space Science Data Center. NASA/NSSDC gives its express permission for anyone to copy these photos, asking only that an acknowledgment be made.

First, glance at a table of distances and comprehend the impossibility of reaching these galaxies and nebulae.

 

 

 

Table of Distances in Light-Years
Crab	6,300	V838	20,000	NGC2237	5,200
NGC6751	6,500	M51a	23,000,000	M17	6,000
NGC6822	1,600,000	Horsehead	1,600	Hodge 301	168,000
M100	52,500,000	NGC2080	168,000	SN 1604	20,000
Eagle	7,000	47 Tucanae	13,400	WR 124	21,000

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Crab Nebula M1 (NGC 1952)

 

 

 

NGC 6751: Glowing Eye Nebula in Aquila

 

 

 

Hubble-V in NGC 6822

 

 

 

Galaxy M100 (NGC 4321)

 

 

 

Eagle Nebula, NGC 6611 or M16

 

 

Star V838, Monocerotis

 

 

Whirlpool Galaxy M51a (NGC 5194)

 

 

 

Horsehead Nebula

 

(Barnard 33 in Nebula IC 434)

 

 

 

 

Star-Forming Region NGC2080

 

(Ghost Head Nebula)

 

 

 

Globular Cluster in 47 Tucanae (NGC 104)

 

 

 

Rosette Nebula NGC2237 (H-Alpha)

 

 

 

M17 Omega Nebula (NGC 6618)

 

 

 

Hodge 301 in the Tarantula Nebula

 

 

 

Supernova 1604, Kepler's Supernova

 

 

Nebula around Star WR124

 

Photo Credits:

Hubble Space Telescope:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:HST-SM4.jpeg

The Crab Nebula M1 (NGC 1952):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Crab_Nebula.jpg

NGC 6751: Glowing Eye Nebula in Aquila:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:NGC6751.jpg

Hubble-V in NGC 6822:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:2001-39-a-full_jpg.jpg

Galaxy M100 (NGC 4321):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Spiral_Galaxy_M100.jpg

Eagle Nebula, NGC 6611 or M16:

http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/nebula_collection/pr2005012e/large_web

Star V838, Monocerotis:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:V838_Mon_HST.jpg

Whirlpool Galaxy M51a (NGC 5194)

http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/entire_collection/pr2001010a/large_web

Horsehead Nebula (Barnard 33 in Nebula IC 434):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Horsehead-Hubble.jpg

Star-Forming Region NGC2080 (Ghost Head Nebula):

http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/entire_collection/pr2001034a/

Globular Cluster in 47 Tucanae (NGC 104):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:47tuc_salt.jpg

Rosette Nebula NGC2237 (H-Alpha):

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Rosette_nebula_s.jpg

M17 Omega Nebula (NGC 6618)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Omega_Nebula.jpg

Hodge 301 in the Tarantula Nebula:

http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/galaxy_collection/pr1999012a/large_web

Supernova 1604, Kepler's Supernova:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Keplers_supernova.jpg

Nebula around Star WR124:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Wolf_rayet2.jpg