Strike a Pose | Space Wallpaper

By Space.com Staff
published

Messier 61 space wallpaper
The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured this cool space wallpaper of nearby spiral galaxy Messier 61, also known as NGC 4303. In this image the galaxy is seen face-on as if posing for a photograph, allowing us to study its structure closely. (Image credit: ESA/Hubble & NASA; Acknowledgements: G. Chapdelaine, L. Limatola, and R. Gendler)

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has captured this cool space wallpaper of nearby spiral galaxy Messier 61, also known as NGC 4303. In this image the galaxy is seen face-on as if posing for a photograph, allowing us to study its structure closely. The spiral arms can be seen in stunning detail, swirling inwards to the very center of the galaxy, where they form a smaller, intensely bright spiral. In the outer regions, these vast arms are sprinkled with bright blue regions where new stars are being formed from hot, dense clouds of gas. This image was released June 17, 2013.

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Space.com Staff
Space.com Staff
News and editorial team

Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Originally founded in 1999, Space.com is, and always has been, the passion of writers and editors who are space fans and also trained journalists. Our current news team consists of Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik; Editor Hanneke Weitering, Senior Space Writer Mike Wall; Senior Writer Meghan Bartels; Senior Writer Chelsea Gohd, Senior Writer Tereza Pultarova and Staff Writer Alexander Cox, focusing on e-commerce. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor.