-
Galaxy Quest
Image courtesy Josh Lake and ESA/NASA
A dark strip of light-absorbing dust bisects a star-forming region in the Large Magellanic Cloud galaxy—an image that took top prize in European Space Agency (ESA)'s Hubble Hidden Treasures contest.
Josh Lake, a Connecticut-based astronomy and physics teacher who digitally processed the award-winning picture, "focused on this spot because of the residual likeness of a seahorse or dragon, but of course it's light-years across," he said.
The ESA received nearly 3,000 submissions for the contest, which opened to the public in March and concluded at the end of May. The results were published in August.
The rules? Search the Hubble Space Telescope's image archive—a database so huge not even scientists know exactly how much content it contains—and select favorite frames.
Then, using image-processing software, create a color image to dazzle a team of judges—and the public.
"We thought it might be nice to invite the public in to have a look for themselves, and to pair this with an astronomical image-processing competition," said contest administrator Oli Usher.
Lake's image won both the judges' and the public's vote.
(See "Hubble Telescope at 20: NASA Astronomers' Top Photos.")
—Catherine Zuckerman
Published September 4, 2012
-
Black Heart
Image courtesy André van der Hoeven and ESA/NASA
Second prize in the contest went to André van der Hoeven, a physics teacher in the Netherlands, for his processing of this image of the center of the galaxy Messier 77.
"Until now only overview images of M77 were available, but the core with all its details was never seen in high resolution," he said.
To capture this level of specificity, van der Hoeven combined several different images taken from the Hubble archive, meticulously removing data and creating multiple layers of light with different wavelengths.
The result shows a swirling spiral surrounding the galaxy's nucleus, which, he theorizes, is active due to a massive black hole at its center.
(See a National Geographic magazine time line of the Hubble telescope's greatest hits.)
Published September 4, 2012
-
Star Light, Star Bright
Image courtesy Judy Schmidt and ESA/NASA
A newborn star sprays gas and lights up its surroundings in an image that earned Judy Schmidt of Queens, New York, third prize in the competition.
Like many contestants, Schmidt submitted multiple entries to the Hidden Treasures contest.
"Hubble is the greatest telescope ever built (yet!)" she said with her submission.
"Being able to virtually reach out and touch it from my own computer is amazing."
(See pictures of Hubble's hottest science discoveries.)
Published September 4, 2012
-
Tile Work
Image courtesy Renaud Houdinet and ESA/NASA
The judges were impressed with this mosaic of Hubble images, composed by France native Renaud Houdinet.
The stars are part of Chamaeleon—a Southern Hemisphere constellation that does not fit into one single Hubble frame.
Renaud's technical skill for painstakingly tiling the telescope's multiple exposures earned him fourth prize in the crowdsourced competition.
(See Hubble's first pictures following the final servicing mission and read "Hubble Renewed," from National Geographic magazine.)
Published September 4, 2012
-
Light-Years Away
Image courtesy Robert Gendler and ESA/NASA
Spiral galaxy Messier 96—located in the Leo constellation—is the subject of this hidden treasure, which was processed by Connecticut-based physician Robert Gendler and won fifth place in the competition.
Gendler said he enjoys the challenge of making complex astronomical images using data from professional archives.
Still, he added, "processing images from Hubble data is challenging because the Hubble Space Telescope isn't optimized for making pretty pictures."
(See recent Hubble telescope images from National Geographic magazine.)
Published September 4, 2012
-
Next: Hubble Telescope at 20: NASA Astronomers' Top Photos
Image courtesy NASA
Published September 4, 2012
From the Archives
Trending News
-
Mystery of Deadly Volcanic Eruption Solved?
Using ice cores, geochemistry, tree rings, and ancient texts, scientists discover which volcano erupted in the 13th century with worldwide effects.
-
First Cloud Map of Exoplanet
For the first time, astronomers can forecast cloudy skies on a distant exoplanet.
-
First Face Found—On a Fish
The extinct animal's face structure could help explain how vertebrates, including people, evolved our distinctive look.
Advertisement
Connect With Nat Geo
Got Something to Share?
Special Ad Section
Great Energy Challenge Blog
Sustainable Earth
-
Help Save the Colorado River
NG's new Change the Course campaign launches.
-
New Models for Fishing
Future of Fish is helping fishermen improve their bottom line while better managing stocks for the future.
-
Can Pesticides Grow Organic Crops?
The Change Reaction blog investigates in California.
