Looking At the Real "Big Picture"

   Ever since the Hubble Space Telescope went operational in 1990, we have been receiving some of the clearest images yet of the universe outside our own solar system. Since the telescope is in orbit and outside of the light contamination that obscures earth-bound observatories, Hubble allows us to look at galaxies, nebulae, and other astronomical phenonema at the far reaches of space. On this 20th anniversary of Hubble, let's take a look at some of the incredible images we have received since its launch.

Looking at pictures of other galaxies is pretty humbling. Our own solar system is located far out on the edges of our own galaxy. What we call the Milky Way is our view towards the center of our spiral galaxy.

One of the most widely published Hubble images is this shot of the Eagle Nebula (catalogued as Messier 16 or M16, and as NGC 6611)which is a young open cluster of stars in the constellation Serpens. This formation has come to be known as the "Pillars of Creation."

The formation labelled Mz 3 (Menzel 3) has two hourglass-shaped clouds and radiating streams of gas. Because of its shape, the formation is known as the "Ant Nebula".

The Crab Nebula is a supernova remnant and pulsar wind nebula in the constellation of Taurus.

A wider view of the Eagle Nebula shown above.

The Eskimo Nebula (NGC 2392), also known as the Clownface Nebula, is a bipolar double-shell planetary nebula.

The Horsehead Nebula is a dark nebula in the constellation Orion It is one of the most identifiable nebulae because of the shape of its swirling cloud of dark dust and gases, which is similar to that of a horse's head.

NGC 602 is a young, bright open cluster of stars located in the Small Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy to the Milky Way.

The Black Eye Galaxy (also called Sleeping Beauty Galaxy) was discovered by Edward Pigott in March 1779.

NGC 1232 is an intermediate spiral galaxy about 70 million light-years away in the constellation Eridanus.

NGC 3982 is an intermediate spiral galaxy located about 68 million light-years away in the constellation Ursa Major (The Big Dipper).

The Trifid Nebula is located in Sagittarius. Its name means 'divided into three lobes'.

The Elephant's Trunk nebula is a concentration of interstellar gas and dust in the star cluster IC 1396.

Unusual Spiral Galaxy M66

The Sombrero Galaxy is a spiral galaxy in the constellation Virgo. It has a bright nucleus, an unusually large central bulge, and a prominent dust lane in its inclined disk. The dark dust lane and the bulge give this galaxy the appearance of a sombrero.

Sci Fi Rules

   In order to provide full disclosure, I must admit to at least one vice: I love science fiction. I read paperbacks in the genre voraciously in my youth but, by then, the science fiction magazine was in decline. In the 20s and 30s, there were numerous monthly magazines offering the best fiction from esteemed authors in the field like Isaac Asimov, Robert Heinlein, Poul Anderson and many others. Here are just a few samples of the colorful, intriguing and often lurid cover art from these pioneering publications.

In the technologic future, humans become increasingly fragile.

This reminds me of the final scene of "Planet of the Apes".

As the land becomes more crowded, we may eventually live over the ocean. Where does the sewage go?

Do you think someday our music might become digital?

The TV helmet never really caught on.

Don't mess with the Martian Queen!

Cool city of the future. Flying cars, anyone?