Posted on 04/06/2024 5:04:59 PM PDT by MtnClimber
Explanation: The arms of a grand design spiral galaxy 60,000 light-years across are unwound in this digital transformation of the magnificent 2005 Hubble Space Telescope portrait of M51. In fact, M51 is one of the original spiral nebulae, its winding arms described by a mathematical curve known as a logarithmic spiral, a spiral whose separation grows in a geometric way with increasing distance from the center. Applying logarithms to shift the pixel coordinates in the Hubble image relative to the center of M51 maps the galaxy's spiral arms into diagonal straight lines. The transformed image dramatically shows the arms themselves are traced by star formation, lined with pinkish starforming regions and young blue star clusters. Companion galaxy NGC 5195 (top) seems to alter the track of the arm in front of it though, and itself remains relatively unaffected by this unwinding of M51. Also known as the spira mirabilis, logarthimic spirals can be found in nature on all scales. For example, logarithmic spirals can also describe hurricanes, the tracks of subatomic particles in a bubble chamber and, of course, cauliflower.
For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.
That doubling effect only occurs when you click on the image to get the high res version. Error perhaps?
That is what it seem like. Could it be twice as good?
Looks like my countertop.
(I will need to take a trip to the local Custard Place now!)
Wow.
Beautiful.
I’m sure that NASA will have some great shots of the eclipse. I saw last night that the only spots that’s guaranteed to have clear skies during totality are in northern Vermont and Maine and in southern Quebec. I hope they have crews up there.
The Lord paints with a mighty brush.
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