Best Space Pictures of the Week - Dec. 23, 2012 | Space Images

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Chinese Spacecraft Flies by Asteroid Toutatis

Credit: Boyle (SASTIND via Weibo / UMSF)

The second Chinese moon probe, Chang'e-2, made a flyby of asteroid Toutatis, capturing close photos of the space rock. [Full Story]

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Backlit Saturn Shines in Stunning New Photo

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute

NASA’s Cassini spacecraft has snapped a gorgeous backlit shot of Saturn that is a holiday treat for researchers and the public alike. [Full Story]

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Potentially Habitable Planet Detected Around Nearby Star

Credit: J. Pinfield for the RoPACS network at the University of Hertfordshire, 2012.

Astronomers have discovered five planets orbiting a sun-like star just 12 light-years from Earth, including one that may be habitable to life as we know it. [Full Story]

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Hubble Nebula Photo Reveals Cosmic Christmas Ornament

Credit: NASA, ESA and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)

Hubble’s Christmas offering is a photo of a planetary nebula that looks like a ribbon. [Full Story]

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Eclipse Chaser: A Firsthand Account of a Total Solar Eclipse

Credit: Ben Cooper/LaunchPhotography.com

A first-hand account of what it’s like to watch a solar eclipse. [Full Story]

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Virgin Galactic's SpaceShipTwo Passes Key Flight Test

Credit: Luke Colby/Virgin Galactic

The Virgin Galactic suborbital SpaceShipTwo has completed a key flight test at the Mojave Air and Space Port in California. [Full Story]

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Moonlight Shines Over Swedish Winter Wonderland (Photo)

Credit: P-M Heden/clearskies.se

A snowy Swedish wonderland is illuminated in this night sky photo. [Full Story]

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3 New Crewmembers to Arrive at Space Station Friday

Credit: NASA

Three new crewmembers will dock with the ISS on Friday morning. [Full Story]

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New NASA Spacesuit Looks like Buzz Lightyear's

Credit: NASA

NASA has unveiled new prototype spacesuits that resemble what Buzz Lightyear wears. [Full Story]

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Some Ancient Star Clusters Look Surprisingly Young

Credit: F.Ferraro (University of Bologna), NASA, ESA

Some stars in certain globular clusters seem to age faster than others. Although all of the stars are old, some of them look young.[Full Story]

Best Space Pictures of the Week - Dec. 23, 2012