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In a Galaxy Far Far Away…
While manned missions like Apollo and Gemini are widely celebrated, NASA has undertaken numerous groundbreaking unmanned projects that have expanded our understanding of the cosmos. One of those great missions was the Spitzer Space Telescope, which made history as the first observatory to capture images of planets outside our solar system.
Launched in August 2003, Spitzer not only provided us with visuals of extrasolar planets but also played a pivotal role in discoveries such as the most distant planet from Earth, a star located nearly 13,000 light-years away, a cluster of seven Earth-like planets orbiting a distant star, and even a previously unknown ring around Saturn. Furthermore, Spitzer's observations have extended our knowledge to the farthest reaches of the universe by confirming the existence of the most remote galaxies. Many images associated with this mission are available to the public via NASA's uploads to the Internet Archive—check out the Spitzer Space Telescope Collection and some of its most interesting finds below. | |
Out of this Universe
The Spitzer Space Telescope was the first to capture images of objects beyond our solar system, including the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way. In just two years after its launch, Spitzer's infrared observations revealed numerous cosmic mysteries and a bustling celestial landscape, featuring stellar embryos, tumultuous planet-forming disks, and even newfound galaxies like NGC 4725.
Spitzer's Infrared Array Camera provided detailed images of this galaxy's inner ring and nucleus, achieved through the combination of visible and infrared light—significantly enhancing our view of the universe, and also enabling us to delve deeper into celestial wonders such as the Cartwheel Galaxy. | |
Supernova in the Sky
Experience the captivating aftermath of stars through stunning images of supernovae. These cosmic wonders unveil the stories of stars that once graced our constellations. For instance, the Cassiopeia supernova remnant, born in a violent explosion 325 years ago, shown using infrared data from the Spitzer Space Telescope (colored red). The Large Magellanic Cloud’s N49, the brightest supernova remnant in optical light, showcases million-degree gas at its core thanks to Spitzer's infrared image. This image of the Crab Nebula, a supernova remnant situated 6,500 light-years away, beckons you to explore some of the cosmos' most mesmerizing wonders. | |
Mass Appeal
One frequently portrayed astronomical phenomenon is the black hole—a region in spacetime where gravity is so intense that nothing, including light, can escape. Spitzer played a pivotal role in visually capturing information about black holes. For instance, it detected a massive jet of particles emanating from a quasar, a supermassive black hole, spanning over 100,000 light-years away. Spitzer also identified galaxies consuming each other, like with Centaurus A, located 10 million light-years away, emitting distinctive radio waves indicating a supermassive black hole's presence. Additionally, Spitzer's images have revealed black holes in various settings, such as the one in Messier 104, known as the Sombrero Galaxy, illustrating its vital role in advancing our understanding of these enigmatic cosmic entities. | |
The Spitzer Space Telescope pieced together many mysteries of space, and the Internet Archive is proud to bring knowledge from the final frontier in an easily-accessible format. With over 300 different images and videos, there is plenty to explore in this collection, and we hope you enjoy these wonders of the universe!
-The Internet Archive Team | |
If you would like to make a tax-deductible donation to the Internet Archive, we would greatly appreciate your support. You can lend a hand by visiting archive.org/donate or by texting ARCHIVE to 44321.
Thank you for helping us provide Universal Access To All Knowledge.
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Crab Nebula, a supernova remnant situated 6,500 light-years away
