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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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6

Orbiting Telescope Snaps Delicious Pics of Milky Way

Herschel captures whirling gas, dust, star in chaotic galaxy

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(Newser) – Stunningly detailed images of our Milky Way galaxy showing whirling clouds of gas peppered with stars have been captured by Europe's $1.4 billion orbiting Herschel Space Observatory. Herschel has the largest mirror ever placed on an orbiting telescope and is able to capture images beyond the reach of other telescopes. The images were captured when the observatory was placed in a special scanning mode, utilizing two of its three telescopic cameras.

The photos reveal the apparent chaos of gas and stars in all levels of development. The images are helping scientists discern the physics of space as well as revealing vital information about "earliest star formation," said a researcher.

This image of the Milky Way galaxy was captured by Europe's Herschel orbiting space observatory.
This image of the Milky Way galaxy was captured by Europe's Herschel orbiting space observatory.
This computer image provided by the European Space Agency shows the Herschel, right, and Planck separated from the launcher in space.
This computer image provided by the European Space Agency shows the Herschel, right, and Planck separated from the launcher in space.   (AP Photo/ESA)
This computer image shows the Herschel-Planck fairing ejection in space. The Ariane-5 rocket took off in May, loaded with the Herschel space telescope and the Planck spacecraft.
This computer image shows the Herschel-Planck fairing ejection in space. The Ariane-5 rocket took off in May, loaded with the Herschel space telescope and the Planck spacecraft.   (AP Photo/ESA)
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6 comments
VIEWING:
 
Krystle
Oct 2, 09 5:02 AM CDT
Beautiful shots! Reply
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+4
riffran
Oct 2, 09 5:42 AM CDT
yuppers...I get them off of space.com and use them as screen saver shots...beeeeeeeautifull indeed Reply
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+2
Todd_English
Oct 2, 09 6:33 AM CDT
Cool shots...although im not sure Delicious is the adjective I would use. Reply
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+4
IN RESPONSE:
my-name-here
Oct 2, 09 8:51 AM CDT
@Todd, LOL, I thinking the same thing when I read that.
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+2
schmidtkoff
Oct 2, 09 11:43 AM CDT
i remember years ago finding a book with color fotos of the milky way and other fotos from space in the loft of a barn. i was mesmerized and still am today though i try to grasp unsuccessfully space and the infinity and vastness of it all. truly astounding fotos. clearly we have not quite mastered the last frontier. a subject that fascinates me to no end. Reply
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+2

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