Orange ClusterCredit: NASAThe star cluster Cygnus OB2 contains more than a thousand young stars, according to observations by NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory. Chandra has observed more than 1,700 sources of X-ray emissions in this star cluster, with about 1,450 of those thought to be baby stars. Here, the x-ray emissions are visible in blue. Red in the image comes from infrared data collected by NASA’s Spitzer Telescope, and the orange clouds are optical data from the Isaac Newton
Guardian of the Lava
What are you doing at my rock outcrop? Geology fieldwork sometimes brings scientists face-to-face with local fauna, like this curious red fox living in a lava field on Iturup Island. This volcanic island is part of the disrupted territory between Russia and Japan, with both nations claiming it as their own
Snow, ice and clouds blend together in this dreamy image of Antarctic mountains taken by a NASA ice survey team. NASA’s Operation IceBridge aims to study our planet’s polar ice. This photo comes from an IceBridge DC-8 flyover of the Getz Ice Shelf
Seriously Spooky Squid
Talk about a sea monster. This 1889 illustration of a vampire squid paints these mysterious creatures in a creepy light — fitting, given that the scientific name for vampire squid, Vampyrotheuthis infernalis translates roughly to "vampire squid from hell."
In fact, vampire squid are the only known cephalopods that don’t hunt for their prey (so much for their namesake). Instead, they’re the sea’s garbage disposals, eating marine detritus that floats down to the depths like snow.
Clew Bay, Ireland, is said to have an island for every day of the year. In fact, these islands are drumlins, elongated ridges formed by retreating glaciers. The "drowned drumlins" in Clew Bay are being eroded on their seaward side.