Wide-field view of the Perseus constellation (ground-based image): The Perseus Cluster and erupting galaxy NGC 1275 are found within the constellation Perseus, the Hero. Although NGC 1275 is the brightest galaxy in the Perseus Galaxy Cluster, professional equipment is required to see it in any detail. However, even naked eye observers can see the Pleiades open star cluster in neighbouring Taurus (in the bottom left of the image) on a clear night.

Name: NGC 1275, Perseus Cluster
Type: Local Universe : Galaxy : Activity : AGN : SeyfertLocal Universe : Galaxy : Grouping : Cluster
Category: GalaxiesQuasars and Black Holes
Release date: 20 August 2008, 19:00
Credit: A. Fujii

Hubble and Chandra composite of the galaxy cluster MACS J0025.4-1222: This astounding view of galaxy cluster MACSJ0025 demonstrates how ordinary matter and mysterious dark matter interact. The blue cloud-shaped parts flanking the centre show the position of dark matter, mapped by the Advanced Camera for Surveys onboard the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. The pink middle indicates ordinary matter, charted by NASA's Chandra X-Ray Observatory. The position of the two matter types shown in the image are explained by MACSJ0025's origin. It was formed when a pair of large galaxy clusters collided. Ordinary matter in the form of hot gas slowed down and pooled at the centre but ghostly dark matter passed straight through. Hubble used a technique known as gravitational lensing to obtain its data. The light observed was bent by the gravitationally massive galaxy cluster, resulting in an incredibly detailed image. This technique was originally predicted by Einstein. MACSJ0025 is located in the constellation Cetus, the Whale.

Name: J0025.4-1222, MACSJ0025
Type: Early Universe : Galaxy : Grouping : ClusterEarly Universe : Cosmology : Phenomenon : Dark Matter
Category: Cosmology
Constellation: Cetus
Distance: z=0.584 (redshift)
Release date: 27 August 2008, 16:00
Credit: NASA, ESA, CXC, M. Bradac (University of California, Santa Barbara, USA), and S. Allen (Stanford University, USA).

Hubble snaps close-up views of diverse galaxies: These images taken with the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope are close-up views of four galaxies from a large survey of nearby galaxies. The galaxies have very different masses and sizes and showcase the diversity found in the ANGST study. Although the galaxies are separated by many light-years, they are presented as if they are all at the same distance to show their relative sizes. The images, taken with Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys, reveal rich detail in the stellar populations and in the interstellar dust scattered between the stars. Hubble's sharp views reveal the colours and brightness of individual stars, which astronomers used to derive the history of star formation in each galaxy. In the composite image at the top, NGC 253 is ablaze with the light from thousands of young, blue stars. The spiral galaxy is undergoing intense star formation. The image demonstrates the sharp "eye" of the Advanced Camera, which resolved individual stars. The dark filaments are clouds of dust and gas. NGC 253 is the dominant galaxy in the Sculptor Group of galaxies and it resides about 13 million light-years from Earth. In the view of the spiral galaxy NGC 300, second from top, young, blue stars are concentrated in spiral arms that sweep diagonally through the image. The yellow blobs are glowing hot gas that has been heated by radiation from the nearest young, blue stars. NGC 300 is a member of the Sculptor Group of galaxies and it is located 7 million light-years away. The dark clumps of material scattered around the bright nucleus of NGC 3077, the small, dense galaxy at bottom, left, are pieces of wreckage from the galaxy's interactions with its larger neighbours. NGC 3077 is a member of the M81 group of galaxies and it resides 12.5 million light-years from Earth. The image at bottom, right, shows a swarm of young, blue stars in the diffuse dwarf irregular galaxy NGC 4163. NGC 4163 is a member of a group of dwarf galaxies near our Milky Way and is located roughly 10 million light-years away. These galaxies are part of a detailed survey called the ACS Nearby Galaxy Survey Treasury (ANGST) program. In the census, Hubble observed roughly 14 million stars in 69 galaxies. The survey explored a region called the "Local Volume", and the galaxy distances ranged from 6.5 million light-years to 13 million light-years from Earth. The Local Volume resides beyond the Local Group of galaxies, an even nearer collection of a few dozen galaxies within about 3 million light-years of our Milky Way Galaxy. The natural-colour images were constructed using observations taken in infrared, visible, and blue light. The observations of NGC 253 and NGC 300 were taken in September 2006; of NGC 3077 in November 2006; and of NGC 4163 in December 2006.

Name: NGC 253, NGC 300, NGC 3077, NGC 4163
Type: Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : SpiralLocal Universe : Galaxy : Size : Dwarf
Category: Galaxies
Release date: 30 September 2008, 16:00
Credit: NASA, ESA, J. Dalcanton and B. Williams (University of Washington)

NGC 253: NGC 253 is one of brightest spiral galaxies in the night sky, easily visible with small telescopes, and it is composed of thousands of young, blue stars. It is undergoing intense star formation. The image demonstrates the sharp "eye" of Hubble's  Advanced Camera for Surveys, which is able to show individual stars. The dark filaments are clouds of dust and gas. NGC 253 is the dominant galaxy in the Sculptor Group of galaxies and it resides about 13 million light-years from Earth.

Name: NGC 253
Type: Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Spiral
Category: Galaxies
Constellation: Sculptor
Distance: 10 million light years
Release date: 30 September 2008, 16:00
Credit: NASA, ESA, J. Dalcanton and B. Williams (University of Washington), T.A. Rector/University of Alaska Anchorage, T. Abbott and NOAO/AURA/NSF

NGC 253: NGC 253 is one of brightest spiral galaxies in the night sky, easily visible with small telescopes, and it is composed of thousands of young, blue stars. It is undergoing intense star formation. The image demonstrates the sharp "eye" of Hubble's  Advanced Camera for Surveys, which is able to show individual stars. The dark filaments are clouds of dust and gas. NGC 253 is the dominant galaxy in the Sculptor Group of galaxies and it resides about 13 million light-years from Earth.

Name: NGC 253
Type: Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Spiral
Category: Galaxies
Constellation: Sculptor
Distance: 10 million light years
Release date: 30 September 2008, 16:00
Credit: NASA, ESA, J. Dalcanton and B. Williams (University of Washington), T.A. Rector/University of Alaska Anchorage, T. Abbott and NOAO/AURA/NSF

NGC 300: In this view of the spiral galaxy NGC 300, young, blue stars are concentrated in spiral arms that sweep diagonally through the image. The yellow blobs are glowing hot gas that has been heated by radiation from the nearest young, blue stars. NGC 300 is a member of the Sculptor Group of galaxies and it is located 7 million light-years away.

Name: NGC 300
Type: Local Universe : Galaxy : Type : Spiral
Category: Galaxies
Constellation: Sculptor
Distance: 7 million light years
Release date: 30 September 2008, 16:00
Credit: NASA, ESA, J. Dalcanton and B. Williams (University of Washington)

NGC 3077: The dark clumps of material scattered around the bright nucleus of NGC 3077 are pieces of wreckage from the galaxy's interactions with its larger neighbours. NGC 3077 is a member of the M81 group of galaxies and it resides 12.5 million light-years from Earth.

Name: NGC 3077
Type: Local Universe : Galaxy : Size : Dwarf
Category: Galaxies
Constellation: Ursa Major
Distance: 13 million light years
Release date: 30 September 2008, 16:00
Credit: NASA, ESA, J. Dalcanton and B. Williams (University of Washington)