... The process was part of an inspection to check for damage to the orbiter, but against the backdrop of planet Earth 300 kilometers below, the pictures themselves are stunning. 11 Hour Star Trails . ... The cause, this time, was not a partial lunar phase -- the Moon was full -- but rather that part of the Moon went into Earth's shadow. Star Clusters Young and Old . ... Galactic or open star clusters are relatively young swarms of bright stars born together near the plane of our Milky Way Galaxy. ...