Gallery: Space Photos of the Week: This Is What the Oldest Light in the Universe Looks Like

  • Image may contain Nature Outdoors Universe Space Astronomy Outer Space Night and Starry Sky
    <a href="http://www.eso.org/public/images/potw1708a/">ALMA</a>
    01

    SPoW-Feb24-05.jpg

    This image combines two sets of data to show the Sunyaev-Zel’dovich effect within a dense galaxy cluster. The effect allows you to see what's left of the oldest light in the universe, now weak microwave radiation known as cosmic microwave background. The CMB fills the cosmos with photons which are given a tiny boost of energy when they travel through high-energy electrons.
  • Image may contain Universe Space Astronomy Nebula Outer Space Plant Christmas Tree Ornament and Tree
    <a href="http://hubblesite.org/image/3987/news_release/2017-08">NASA</a>
    02

    SPoW-Feb24-07.jpg

    Supernova 1987A, located at the center of this image, is surrounded by material that the star ejected, gaseous clouds, and far-off stars.
  • Image may contain Light Flare and Candle
    <a href="http://hubblesite.org/image/3989/news_release/2017-08">NASA</a>
    03

    SPoW-Feb24-06.jpg

    This image of Supernova 1987A combines three separate sets of observations. The red center shows newly formed dust, while the green and blue show the collision of a shock wave and a ring of material around it.
  • Image may contain Universe Space Astronomy Nebula and Outer Space
    <a href="http://m.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2017/02/Star_formation_on_filaments_in_RCW106">ESA</a>
    04

    SPoW-Feb24-04.jpg

    A giant molecular cloud of gas and dust almost 12,000 light years away. The bright blue portions are stellar nurseries, heated by the light of newborn stars within them.
  • Image may contain Nature Mountain Outdoors Art Painting and Cave
    <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/jpl/pia21463/layers-and-dark-dunes">NASA</a>
    05

    SPoW-Feb24-03.jpg

    A photo of bedrock and sand dunes on Mars, with colors enhanced to show red layers within a pit.
  • Image may contain Texture
    <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/jpl/pia21459/a-new-crater-on-a-dusty-slope">NASA</a>
    06

    SPoW-Feb24-02.jpg

    This crater shows an impact site on Mars. The dark streaks are caused by dust avalanches.
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