Stunning cosmic wonders mark changing of seasons

By Dean Murray

Space scientists have marked the changing of the seasons with some striking cosmic wonders.

NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory wanted to wave goodbye to autumn by releasing images of celestial spectacles.

They include space oddities, including one resembling a cozy sweater – perhaps suitable for Christmas – and another they liken to fallen leaves.

The images are the star-forming region NGC 6334, supernova remnant G272.2-03.2, interacting spiral galaxies NGC 2207 and IC 2163, as well as R Aquarii.

Each image contains X-rays from Chandra that have been combined with data from other telescopes that detect different types of light.

Chandra says they are examples of pareidolia, the phenomenon that allows people to see familiar patterns or shapes in data.

They explain: "Before fall gives way to winter in the northern hemisphere, NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory has several images that celebrate autumn and its many delights to share.

"In spirit of the season, this collection gathers Chandra data with those from its telescopic family including NASA’s James Webb, Hubble, and Spitzer Space Telescopes, plus others in space and on the ground."

The images are:

NGC 6334: Cosmic Leaves Blowing – This nebula’s glowing pockets of dust and gas resemble leaves caught in a breeze, with strong stellar winds visible in Chandra’s X-ray colours pushing through the star-forming region. Infrared data from the Spitzer telescope reveals the surrounding dust and gas fuelling new stars.

G272: The Space Pumpkin – The supernova remnant G272.2-03.2 resembles a glowing cosmic pumpkin, with Chandra X-rays showing superheated gas inside the shell created by a Type Ia thermonuclear explosion from a white dwarf star that destroyed its companion.

R Aquarii: A Cosmic Sweater – This binary star system forms a structure resembling a cosy sweater, with X-rays and optical light tracing jets from a white dwarf pulling material from a red giant companion, twisting and looping in space.

NGC 2207 and IC 2163: Galactic Cornucopia – Two interacting spiral galaxies appear like a cornucopia overflowing not with food but with stars and dust. James Webb’s infrared data highlights star formation and dust, while Chandra’s X-ray view shows energetic stellar processes amidst the spiralling arms.