Herbig-Haro 46/47: Two Stars Still Taking Shape
At first glance, this Webb image seems to catch something in flight. Orange clouds stretch across the scene, a brilliant point draws the eye toward the middle,…
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Arp 107: The Long Encounter Behind a Galactic Smile
There is something unexpectedly familiar about Arp 107. A bright curve, two glowing patches, and suddenly a pair of distant galaxies seems to be smiling back at…
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Apollo 11’s Bootprint: A Human Mark on Another World
A bootprint is such an ordinary thing. We leave them in mud, sand, and snow without giving them much thought. Place one on the Moon, and that…
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The Ring Nebula: A Closer Look at a Star’s Farewell
Some images of space make us think about how far we can travel. The Ring Nebula makes me think about time. Its delicate shape is the result…
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Inside the Helix Nebula: Webb’s View of a Changing Star
Sometimes a closer look makes a familiar subject seem entirely new. In this Webb image of the Helix Nebula, my eye finds shapes that resemble tiny flames…
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Pale Blue Dot: The Photograph That Brings Us Home
This is a picture that asks you to look for its subject. There is no large globe to recognize and no continent to trace. Earth is a…
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Jupiter in a Different Light: Webb’s Auroras and Hazes
Jupiter is familiar enough that we arrive with expectations. We look for bands, storms, and a large globe dominating its surroundings. Webb gives us another way to…
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Pluto and Charon: Two Worlds, Two Different Stories
A portrait of two worlds encourages a particular kind of looking. The eye moves back and forth, finding a shared feature, then a difference. With Pluto and…
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The Butterfly Nebula: Wings Made of Starlight and Gas
The Butterfly Nebula invites a gentle comparison. Its broad wings and narrow middle seem familiar enough to belong to something we could hold in our hands. The…
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