Stunning-"grand design" spiral galaxy M81

Surlysomething · 05-30-2007, 06:22 PM

I think this is absolutely gorgeous and amazing and I thought I would share.

The 'grand design' of things

An image from the Hubble Space Telescope released Monday shows the sharpest image ever taken of the large "grand design" spiral galaxy M81. This beautiful galaxy is tilted at an oblique angle on to our line of sight, giving a bird's-eye view of the spiral structure. The galaxy is similar to our Milky Way, but our favourable view provides a better picture of the typical architecture of spiral galaxies. Though the galaxy is 11.6 million light-years away, NASA Hubble Space Telescope's view is so sharp that it can resolve individual stars, along with open star clusters, globular star clusters and even glowing regions of fluorescent gas. (NASA/Associated Press)

Michelle · 05-30-2007, 09:03 PM

That's a stunningly beautiful photograph, surly. Thanks for posting it. It takes me to a whole 'nother place.

Tina · 05-30-2007, 10:39 PM

I love this stuff, and find this sort of space image to be fascinating, Surly. Thanks for posting it.

diggers1917 · 05-31-2007, 03:44 AM

Pictures like this never cease to amaze me - the eagle nebula has a similar effect (the sheer SIZE of it). It's images like this that make it hard for me to take hatred spouted by various (non-representational, I'm sure) religious groups - a God that can make THIS has better things to worry about than your sexuality.

Friday · 05-31-2007, 03:50 AM

Awesome. I always have Hubble pics for my screen saver and desktop.

lemmink · 05-31-2007, 05:05 AM

It's lovely.

& somehow cuddly. I love space pictures.

Surlysomething · 05-31-2007, 09:36 AM

I have to admit, most things "spacey" don't appeal to me. But this photo took my breath away. I'm glad you're all loving it too.

JMCGB · 05-31-2007, 09:47 AM

While i love anthing related to science, i know what you mean about alot of the "spacey stuff" I do however love any pics from the Hubble telescope or any other orbiting sattelite, rover, whatever and Hubble has done it again. What a great photo. Too bad we have explored more of our moon and outerspace than our oceans, especially the deep sea.

Admiral_Snackbar · 06-07-2007, 10:32 PM

If you have a penchant for astronomy shots, I recommend the JPL site, Astronomy Picture of the Day. They have an amazing array of photos, short movies and aniGIFs.

I think one of my favorite celestial objects is the Orion Nebula.

It's a shame that the Hubble is destined to be deorbited and destroyed due to the "HUGE" cost of maintaining it by 2013 or so (and the launch of the bigger, stronger, faster James Webb Infrared Telescope). To date there are no plans to introduce an orbital telescope with visual spectrum photography after Hubble.

Santaclear · 06-08-2007, 01:33 AM

Super gorgeous galaxy!

Canonista · 06-08-2007, 01:49 AM

Ever look at a picture of a galaxy like that one, think about all the things in it, and think there's no way in hell earth has the only life out there?

I do.

diggers1917 · 06-08-2007, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Canonista

Ever look at a picture of a galaxy like that one, think about all the things in it, and think there's no way in hell earth has the only life out there?

I do.

I know what you mean. It seems just too...huge to be just us. And this is just one galaxy...it is truely awe-inspiring.

Admiral_Snackbar · 06-08-2007, 10:40 PM

This thread needs more turtlenecks and an obscene amount of weed, STAT!

Get Carl Sagan's ghost on the horn and cue up the Vangelis on my iPod, bitches!

Surlysomething · 06-08-2007, 10:57 PM

And here I thought it was just a pretty picture.

Friday · 06-13-2007, 03:32 AM

Here are my two favorites. At least this week.

The Hodge 301 cluster (such a boring name for such a beautiful thing)...

and the Heart of the Whirlpool Galaxy...

They have over a thousand pics at www.Hubblesite.org. I disavow all responsibility for time lost to fascination.

Click on gallery.

Friday · 06-13-2007, 03:54 AM

And a fairy ring for GEF...

Surlysomething · 06-13-2007, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Friday

And a fairy ring for GEF...

sp purdy

thanks for sharing

Green Eyed Fairy · 06-13-2007, 04:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Friday

And a fairy ring for GEF...

"you must spread some rep around before giving it to Friday again..."

Thanks my dear Lady *curties*

I love it and I'm beaming

05-30-2007, 06:22 PM	#1
Surlysomething Vancougar! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 10,101	Stunning-"grand design" spiral galaxy M81 I think this is absolutely gorgeous and amazing and I thought I would share. The 'grand design' of things An image from the Hubble Space Telescope released Monday shows the sharpest image ever taken of the large "grand design" spiral galaxy M81. This beautiful galaxy is tilted at an oblique angle on to our line of sight, giving a bird's-eye view of the spiral structure. The galaxy is similar to our Milky Way, but our favourable view provides a better picture of the typical architecture of spiral galaxies. Though the galaxy is 11.6 million light-years away, NASA Hubble Space Telescope's view is so sharp that it can resolve individual stars, along with open star clusters, globular star clusters and even glowing regions of fluorescent gas. (NASA/Associated Press) __________________ And she said losing love is like a window in your heart. Everybody sees you're blown apart. Everybody sees the wind blow. - Paul Simon

05-30-2007, 10:39 PM	#3
Tina Di's claimed me. :) Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: location, location. Posts: 20,592	I love this stuff, and find this sort of space image to be fascinating, Surly. Thanks for posting it. __________________ "It is possible to believe in something and still fail to live up to it." -- Wilson, House M.D. "I'm really tired of a fat woman's sexuality being just another fat joke." -- Felicia/Supero "Sookie! I am so over Sookie and her precious fairy vagina and her unbelievably stupid name! Fuck Sookie!" -- Pam

05-31-2007, 03:44 AM	#4
diggers1917 Cynical Romantic Join Date: May 2007 Location: London Posts: 541	Pictures like this never cease to amaze me - the eagle nebula has a similar effect (the sheer SIZE of it). It's images like this that make it hard for me to take hatred spouted by various (non-representational, I'm sure) religious groups - a God that can make THIS has better things to worry about than your sexuality. __________________ Give a man a fire and he's warm for the day. But set fire to him and he's warm for the rest of his life. Terry Pratchett, Discworld

05-31-2007, 09:36 AM	#7
Surlysomething Vancougar! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 10,101	I have to admit, most things "spacey" don't appeal to me. But this photo took my breath away. I'm glad you're all loving it too. __________________ And she said losing love is like a window in your heart. Everybody sees you're blown apart. Everybody sees the wind blow. - Paul Simon

06-07-2007, 10:32 PM	#9
Admiral_Snackbar Report, Mr. Data... Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Rochester, MI Posts: 4,228	If you have a penchant for astronomy shots, I recommend the JPL site, Astronomy Picture of the Day. They have an amazing array of photos, short movies and aniGIFs. I think one of my favorite celestial objects is the Orion Nebula. It's a shame that the Hubble is destined to be deorbited and destroyed due to the "HUGE" cost of maintaining it by 2013 or so (and the launch of the bigger, stronger, faster James Webb Infrared Telescope). To date there are no plans to introduce an orbital telescope with visual spectrum photography after Hubble. __________________ "We've arranged a civilization in which most crucial elements profoundly depend on science and technology. We have also arranged things so that almost no one understands science and technology. This is a prescription for disaster." - Carl Sagan (1995) "If nothing else works, a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through" - General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Melchett My new favorite wallpaper.

05-30-2007, 09:03 PM	#2
Michelle Member Schmember Join Date: Sep 2005 Posts: 1,263	That's a stunningly beautiful photograph, surly. Thanks for posting it. It takes me to a whole 'nother place.

05-31-2007, 03:50 AM	#5
Friday Not fap material. Bye! Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,094	Awesome. I always have Hubble pics for my screen saver and desktop.

05-31-2007, 05:05 AM	#6
lemmink THE PUMMEL IS COMING Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Canberra Posts: 921	It's lovely. & somehow cuddly. I love space pictures.

05-31-2007, 09:47 AM	#8
JMCGB It is what it is..... Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Maryland Posts: 1,360	While i love anthing related to science, i know what you mean about alot of the "spacey stuff" I do however love any pics from the Hubble telescope or any other orbiting sattelite, rover, whatever and Hubble has done it again. What a great photo. Too bad we have explored more of our moon and outerspace than our oceans, especially the deep sea.

06-08-2007, 01:33 AM	#10
Santaclear User Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: North America Posts: 9,636	Super gorgeous galaxy! __________________

06-08-2007, 01:49 AM	#11
Canonista Rep Dealer Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 2,787	Ever look at a picture of a galaxy like that one, think about all the things in it, and think there's no way in hell earth has the only life out there? I do. __________________ "I like the libertarian view, which is to leave everyone alone." — Clint Eastwood in USA Today (January 25, 2004)

06-08-2007, 10:40 PM	#13
Admiral_Snackbar Report, Mr. Data... Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Rochester, MI Posts: 4,228	This thread needs more turtlenecks and an obscene amount of weed, STAT! Get Carl Sagan's ghost on the horn and cue up the Vangelis on my iPod, bitches! __________________ "We've arranged a civilization in which most crucial elements profoundly depend on science and technology. We have also arranged things so that almost no one understands science and technology. This is a prescription for disaster." - Carl Sagan (1995) "If nothing else works, a total pig-headed unwillingness to look facts in the face will see us through" - General Sir Anthony Cecil Hogmanay Melchett My new favorite wallpaper.

06-08-2007, 10:57 PM	#14
Surlysomething Vancougar! Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Vancouver, BC Posts: 10,101	And here I thought it was just a pretty picture. __________________ And she said losing love is like a window in your heart. Everybody sees you're blown apart. Everybody sees the wind blow. - Paul Simon

06-13-2007, 03:32 AM	#15
Friday Not fap material. Bye! Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,094	Here are my two favorites. At least this week. The Hodge 301 cluster (such a boring name for such a beautiful thing)... and the Heart of the Whirlpool Galaxy... They have over a thousand pics at www.Hubblesite.org. I disavow all responsibility for time lost to fascination. Click on gallery. Last edited by Friday : 06-13-2007 at 03:51 AM. Reason: Directions to...

06-13-2007, 03:54 AM	#16
Friday Not fap material. Bye! Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,094	And a fairy ring for GEF...

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