Astronomical Concepts

Illustrations depicting concepts of Earth and the solar system. Includes diagrams of planetary orbits, stellar processes, and eclipse phenomena.

The final stages of the life of a massive star, which will go supernova

Artist's concept of the interaction of the solar wind (the supersonic outflow of electrically charged particles from the Sun) with Pluto's predominantly nitrogen atmosphere based on NASA's New Horizons' SWAP instrument.

Planeten des Sonnensystems mit Satelliten, 3D-Rendering Planets of Solar system with satellites, 3D rendering isolated on white background Copyright: xZoonar.com/natatravelx 22873320

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Structure of the planet Uranus.

The New Horizons spacecraft is about 300 million miles (483 million kilometers) from 2014 MU69, the Kuiper Belt object it will encounter on Jan. 1, 2019.

This graphic depicts the relative shapes and distances from Mars for five active orbiter missions plus the planet's two natural satellites. It illustrates the potential for intersections of the spacecraft orbits.

3 superimposed orbits of periodic comets on the orbits of the outer planets of the solar system.

Infographic about space exploration, this is, about the unmanned space missions that have studied and continue studying space and its planets, from the scientific point of view. QuarkXPress (.qxp); Adobe InDesign (.indd); 6259x4015.

The Sun compared to four typical large stars

Voyager 1 has entered interstellar space. NASA's spacecraft, which rose from Earth on a September morning 36 years ago, has traveled farther than anyone, or anything, in history.

Structure of the Human Eye and anatomy of vision 3d illustration. Structure of the Human Eye and anatomy of vision

Infographic about special space missions that have explored every planet of the Solar System. QuarkXPress (.qxp); 6259x4015.

Internal structure of the Earthwith English labels, 3D illustration

Digital Composing, attack on earth with corona viruses, symbolic image for worldwide corona pandemic, Sars-CoV-2, Covid-19, corona crisis, Germany, Europe

This illustration shows the events that occur in the final minutes of the nearly seven-month journey that NASA's Perseverance rover takes to Mars. Hundreds of critical events must execute perfectly and exactly on time for the rover to land on Mars safely on Feb. 18, 2021. A metric version of this illustration is also available (Figure 1). Entry, Descent, and Landing, or EDL, begins when the spacecraft reaches the top of the Martian atmosphere, traveling nearly 12,500 mph (20,000 kph). It ends about seven minutes later, with Perseverance stationary on the Martian surface. Perseverance handles everything on its own during this process. It takes more than 11 minutes to get a radio signal back from Mars, so by the time the mission team hears that the spacecraft has entered the atmosphere, in reality, the rover is already on the ground.

This size and scale of the Kepler-452 system compared alongside the Kepler-186 system and the solar system. Kepler-186 is a miniature solar system that would fit entirely inside the orbit of Mercury.

Structure of the Human Eye and anatomy of vision 3d illustration. Structure of the Human Eye and anatomy of vision

This diagram compares the planets of the inner solar system to Kepler-62, a five-planet system about 1,200 light-years from Earth in the constellation Lyra. At seven billion years old, the star is somewhat older than the sun.

A diagram showing the eccentric orbit of Chiron

JSC2000E-01557 (January 2000) --- Thispartially computer-generated scene depicts anticipated coverage by the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM)of topographic features on Earth. Heavy cloud cover, hurricanes and cyclonic storms can prevent optical cameras on satellites or aircraft from imaging some areas. SRTM radar, with its long wavelength, will penetrate clouds as well as providing its own illumination, making it independent of daylight.

Earth's internal structure, illustration

Cutaway view of the possible internal structure of Europa. The surface of the satellite is a mosaic of images obtained in 1979 by NASA's Voyager spacecraft.

This chart based on data from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer illustrates how infrared is used to more accurately determine an asteroid's size; three asteroids of different sizes can look similar when viewed in visible-light.

An artist's concept illustrates the positions of the Voyager spacecraft in relation to structures formed around our Sun by the solar wind.

Dwarf planets, illustration

Infographic about translation and rotation movements of the Earth and its influence on the division of time and seasons. QuarkXPress (.qxp); 6259x4015.

This artist's concept shows NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft in a new region at the edge of our solar system where the magnetic field lines generated by our sun are piling up and intensifying.

The oldest light in the universe, called the cosmic microwave background, as observed by the Planck space telescope is shown in the oval sky map. An artist's concept of Planck is next to the map.

Earth's internal structure, illustration

JunoCam imaged numerous storms in Jupiter's atmosphere on Juno's 25th close pass, in the region just north of Jupiter's equator. Amateurs and professional observers track these storms routinely to study the dynamics of Jupiter's atmosphere. Near the top of the image, two cyclones can be seen merging in the N3 jet stream. The next storm down is NN-WS-4 (the North North White Spot 4), rotating in an anticyclonic (clockwise rotation) direction. For scale this storm is about 4,000 miles (6,500 kilometers) across, roughly the distance between Cedar Rapids, Iowa to Honolulu, Hawaii. The elongated brown storms are familiar cyclonic (counterclockwise rotation) features, called mini-barges. WS-a and WS-o are White Spots a and o, anticyclonic storms that have persisted for over a year, separated by the North Equatorial Belt (NEB) north (NEBn) cyclone. The NEDF is the dark formation on the south edge of the NEB. Latitudinal belts and zones are labeled on the right with the conventions used by the

A diagram showing how a wormhole between two parts of our universe or two different universes works

In this artist's concept from 1970, propulsion concepts such as the Nuclear Shuttle and Space Tug are shown in conjunction with other proposed spacecraft. As a result of the recommendations from President Nixon's Space Task Group for more commonality and integration in the American space program, Marshall Space Flight engineers studied many of the spacecraft depicted here.

This compilation shows the constellation Hercules, as imaged on May 21 and 22, 2003, by NASA's Galaxy Evolution Explorer. The images were captured by the two channels of the spacecraft camera during the mission's 'first light' milestone.

Infographic of the process of formation of the Earth, the continents, and the seas and oceans. QuarkXPress (.qxp); Adobe InDesign (.indd); 4960x3188.

NASA's NuSTAR has taken its first snapshots of the highest energy X-rays in the cosmos, the same kind used by doctors to take pictures of your bones. NuSTAR chose a black hole in the constellation Cygnus as its first target due to its brightness.

NASA's Spitzer and Hubble space telescopes have teamed up to uncover a mysterious infant star that behaves like a police strobe light.

A timeline of Earth's history

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This set of images from NASA's Dawn spacecraft shows topography of the southern hemisphere of the giant asteroid Vesta and a map of Vesta's gravity variations that have been adjusted to account for Vesta's shape.

Infographic that shows the characteristics of planet Jupiter, its composition, orbit, moons and space missions that have explored it. QuarkXPress (.qxp); Adobe InDesign (.indd); 4960x3188.

Vector realistic, 3d set of solar system planets. Illustration of nine planets with an inscription on a dark blue background for teaching astronomy.

This image illustrates the principals of a technique called 'laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy,' which the Chemistry and Camera (ChemCam) instrument onboard NASA's rover, Curiosity, will use on Mars.

Infographic that describes the composition, trajectory and classification of comets. QuarkXPress (.qxp); Adobe InDesign (.indd); 4960x3188.

This diagram illustrates two similar star systems, HD 95086 and HR 8799. Evidence from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has pointed to the presence of two dust belts in each system.

All satellites orbiting the Earth, illustration

Mercury's Magnetic Field

Mercury's Sodium Tail

Voyager Saturn Mission Artwork (Mariner - Jupiter - Saturn - Uranus) show slingshot technique

Size of atmosphere compared to Florida, illustration

NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope has lifted the cosmic veil to see an otherwise hidden newborn star, while detecting the presence of water and carbon dioxide ices, as well as organic molecules.

Infographic on Mars, the most similar and near-Earth planet, and also the most explored throughout history. Adobe InDesign (.indd); 7086x9637.

jsc2023e064876 (10/19/2023) --- NASAs laser communications demonstration roadmap. ILLUMA-T demonstrates two different data transfer speeds from low Earth orbit to the ground via a relay link. The links can be used to stream real-time data or for large bulk data transfers.

NASA Ames Tweetup and tour of center by invitation of the NASA Ames Public Affairs Office. Tweeter guests during the morning session at the visitor's center with Natalie Batalha, Kepler Scientist from San Jose State University giving overview of mission to locate distant earth like planets with the Kepler Space Telescope.

Graphic Art Venus - Day - Night drawing showing solar wind, bow shock, magnetosheath, clouds and streamers Pioneer Venus SP-461 fig 6-28 Interaction of the solar wind with the atmosphere of Venus as termined from Pioner Venus experiments and observations

Eclipse Chart

A830523 U12G LOS MODELS-ARTIST'S CONCEPTION CHARLES JR GULLICK (Project Engineer) MAY 6 83 EG&G/NTS PHOTO LAB Publication Date: 5/6/1983 ARTIST'S CONCEPTION; DIAGRAMS; DRAWINGS; EDGERTON, GERMESHAUSEN & GRIER; EG&G; G-TUNNEL; LOS MODELS ARTIST CONCEPTION; NEVADA; NEVADA TEST SITE; NTS; NUCLEAR ENERGY TECHNOLOGY; TEST SITES; TUNNELS; UGT; UNDERGROUND TESTING; LOS MODELS-ARTIST'S CONCEPTION historical images. 1972 - 2012. Department of Energy. National Nuclear Security Administration. Photographs Related to Nuclear Weapons Testing at the Nevada Test Site.

This diagram illustrates how astronomers using NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope can capture the elusive spectra of hot-Jupiter planets. Spectra are an object's light spread apart into its basic components, or wavelengths.

This is a reconstructed view of Jupiter's northern lights through the filters of Juno's Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer (UVS) instrument on Dec. 11, 2016, as the Juno spacecraft approached Jupiter, passed over its poles, and plunged towards the equator. Such measurements present a real challenge for the spacecraft's science instruments Juno flies over Jupiter's poles at 30 miles (50 kilometers) per second -- more than 100,000 miles per hour -- speeding past auroral forms in a matter of seconds.

Didactic illustration showing the magma chamber under the volcanoes of Yellowstone. The magma chamber contains magma (molten mineral matter made up of liquid matter, solid elements and gas). When the pressure of its gas increases, the magma goes up by chimneys to the surface forming the lava which becomes volcanic rock while cooling on the surface.

Diagram showing interior of Mars

This depiction of a simulated Mercury magnetosphere shows representations of the distortions of the planetary magnetic field lines (blue) by the solar wind.

Habitable zone around a star, illustration

The Sun compared to four typical small stars

In this image taken by NASA's Mars Odyssey spacecraft during its first week of mapping, soil enriched in hydrogen is indicated by the deep blue colors, which show a low intensity of epithermal neutrons.

This chart illustrates comparisons among the distances driven by various wheeled vehicles on the surface of Earth's moon and Mars. Of the vehicles shown, the NASA Mars rovers Opportunity and Curiosity are still active.

Infographic about the formation of the universe according to the Big Bang theory. QuarkXPress (.qxp); 6259x4015.

Bromine and Chlorine Go Separate Ways

Infographic on exploration mission of Saturn by Cassini, the mother ship, and Huygens, a smaller probe. Adobe InDesign (.indd); 4795x3543.

Cross section of volcano isometric diagram with indicating of magma chamber gases cone vent crater lava bomb ash vector illustration. Volcano Structure Diagram

NASA's 2001 Mars Odyssey's Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) acquired these images of the Earth using its visible and infrared cameras as it left the Earth.

Infographic of the functioning and application of the Doppler radar, a remote motion detection system. QuarkXPress (.qxp); 6259x4015.

Types of orbits.

Infographic about the missions to Mars made since 1960, and about the ones to be made in the near future. Adobe InDesign (.indd); 5000x3214.

This 1970 artist's concept illustrates the use of the Space Shuttle, Nuclear Shuttle, and Space Tug in NASA's Integrated Program. As a result of the Space Task Group's recommendations for more commonality and integration in the American space program, Marshall Space Flight Center engineers studied many of the spacecraft depicted here.

Infographic on galaxies and stars. Adobe InDesign (.indd); 7086x9637.

A diagram depicting the relative sizes of the major moons of the solar system.

Lunar Orbiter's "Typical Flight sequence of Events" turned out to be quite typical indeed, as all five spacecraft performed exactly as planned. -- Published in James R. Hansen, Spaceflight Revolution: NASA Langley Research Center From Sputnik to Apollo, (Washington: NASA, 1995), p. 340.

Computer generated scenes depicting the Hubble Space Telescope capture and a sequence of planned events on the planned extravehicular activity (EVA). Scenes include the Remote Manipulator System (RMS) arm assisting two astronauts changing out the Wide Field/Planetary Camera (WF/PC) (48699); RMS arm assisting in the temporary mating of the orbiting telescope to the flight support system in Endeavour's cargo bay (48700); Endeavour's RMS arm assisting in the capture of the orbiting telescope (48701); Two astronauts changing out the telescope's coprocessor (48702); RMS arm assistign two astronauts replacing one of the telescope's electronic control units (48703); RMS assisting two astronauts replacing the fuse plugs on the telescope's Power Distribution Unit (PDU) (48704); The telescope's High Resolution Spectrograph (HRS) kit is depicted in this scene (48705); Two astronauts during the removal of the high speed photometer and the installation of the COSTAR instrument (48706); Two astronau

This plot of data from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope indicates that a flat, spiral galaxy called NGC 3621 has a feeding, supermassive black hole lurking within it.

This graph presents measured properties of the seven TRAPPIST-1 exoplanets (labeled b through h), showing how they stack up with one another as well as with Earth and the other inner rocky worlds in our own solar system. The relative sizes of the planets are indicated by the circles. All of the known TRAPPIST-1 planets are larger than Mars, with five of them within 15% of the diameter of Earth. The vertical axis shows the uncompressed densities of the planets. Density, calculated from a planet's mass and volume, is the first important step in understanding its composition. Uncompressed density takes into account that the larger a planet is, the more its own gravity will pack the planet's material together and increase its density. Uncompressed density, therefore, usually provides a better means of comparing the composition of planets. The plot shows that the uncompressed densities of the TRAPPIST-1 planets are similar to one another, suggesting they may have all have a similar composit

Infographic on Mercury, the closest planet to the Sun. Adobe InDesign (.indd); 4795x3543.

View of Pluto, artists impression based on 2015 NASA image

Mars - Water Ice Clouds

Infographic on astronomical phenomena known as eclipses. Adobe InDesign (.indd); 4960x3307.

Didactic illustration representing the atmospheric (air) movements caused mainly by the sun . The air masses move in the form of atmospheric convection cells.There are 3 in the northern hemisphere and 3 in the southern hemisphere.

This illustration shows the main characteristics of the Jupiter C launch vehicle and its payload, the Explorer I satellite. The Jupiter C, America's first successful space vehicle, launched the free world's first scientific satellite, Explorer 1, on January 31, 1958. The four-stage Jupiter C measured almost 69 feet in length. The first stage was a modified liquid fueled Redstone missile. This main stage was about 57 feet in length and 70 inches in diameter. Fifteen scaled down SERGENT solid propellant motors were used in the upper stages. A tub configuration mounted on top of the modified Redstone held the second and third stages. The second stage consisted of 11 rockets placed in a ring formation within the tub. Inserted into the ring of second stage rockets was a cluster of 3 rockets making up the third stage. A fourth stage single rocket and the satellite were mounted atop the third stage. This tub , all upper stages, and the satellite were set spirning prior to launching. The compl

A new mission competing for selection under NASA's Discovery Program would explore Neptune's largest moon, Triton, which is potentially an ocean world with liquid water under its icy crust. Trident aims to answer the questions outlined in the graphic illustration above. The questions fall under Trident's three main goals. The first goal is to explore the factors that lead to a solar system body having the necessary ingredients including water to be habitable. A second goal is to explore vast, unseen lands. Most of what we know of the moon came from Voyager 2 data. But we've only seen 40% of the moon's surface; Trident would map most of the remainder. Trident's third major goal to understand how Triton's surface keeps renewing itself. The surface is remarkably young, geologically speaking (possibly only 10 million years old in a 4.6-billion-year-old solar system) and has almost no visible craters. The Trident team is one of four developing concept studies for new missions. Up to two

Pluto, NASA Hubble Space Telescope photographs taken from 2002 to 2003

S66-10999 (1966) --- A 1966 artist's concept of an Apollo lunar module linked with the Command and Service Modules during lunar orbit insertion.

Pioneer Venus Art Atmosphere Flow Day/Night Homopause, Ionosphere, Thermosphere, and Cryosphere

Isometric Observatory and planetarium building. Station for observing space, stars and planets of solar system. Space exploration. Realistic 3D vector

What color is Pluto The answer, revealed in the first maps made from NASA's New Horizons data, turns out to be shades of reddish brown.

Io in Eclipse reveals High Temperature Hot Spots

This diagram shows components of the investigations payload for NASA's Mars 2020 rover mission.

Eight Looks at the Jupiter Impact

Observations of infrared light from NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope coming from asteroids provide a better estimate of their true sizes than visible-light measurements.

Soviet and US surface-to-air missiles. Courtesy of Soviet Military Power, 1984. PHOTO No. 34, (Page 38). Country: Unknown

Relative sizes of Kepler habitable zone planets discovered as of 2013 April 18. Except for Earth, these are artists' renditions.

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