SPOW_Aug11_2017_
01The spiral galaxy NGC 5949 is categorized as a dwarf galaxy because of its less-than-average amount of stars. NGC 5949 is also only 44 million light-years from Earth, making it ideal for observation.
02Astronomers are excited to study starburst galaxy IC 10, a tiny galaxy with prolific star formation. The Chandra X-ray Observatory has discovered more than a dozen x-ray binary star systems in IC 10, which is when a black hole or neutron star feeds off a massive, young star. Eventually, the star will collapse in an enormous supernova, leaving a pair of black holes, neutron stars, or a mixture of both. If the two objects are close enough, they create gravitational waves which will cause the two to merge.
05Cassini captured a shot of Saturn’s moon Prometheus barely illuminated by the sun, sitting between Saturn’s A ring and the much thinner F ring.
06This photo taken from the International Station captures solar evaporation ponds, one of 23 spanning some 400 acres near Moab, Utah. They aid in mining potassium chloride from underground ore, which is a key ingredient in fertilizer.
