Astronomy Picture of the Day . HUDF: Dawn of the Galaxies . ... Faint red smudges identified on the deepest optical sky image ever taken may well be members of the first class of galaxies. ... Aurora light results from energetic electrons and protons striking molecules in the Earth's atmosphere. The Great Nebula in Orion . ... Long exposure, digitally sharpened images like this, however, show the Orion Nebula to be a busy neighborhood of young stars, hot gas, and dark dust. ... The picture.. ...