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Credit & Copyright: ESA,
SPIRE & PACS Consortia
Explanation:
With a 3.5 meter diameter mirror, larger than the Hubble
Space Telescope, Herschel is ESA's
new infrared
observatory.
The space-based telescope is named for
German-born British astronomer Frederick William
Herschel who
discovered infrared light
over 200 years ago.
In initial tests,
Herschel's cameras have combined to deliver
this spectacular view
along the plane of the Milky Way in
the constellation of the Southern Cross.
Spanning some 2 degrees the premier, false-color,
far-infrared view captures our galaxy's cold
dust clouds
in extreme detail, showing a remarkable,
connected maze of filaments and
star-forming regions.
These and planned future Herschel observations are intended to
unravel mysteries of star formation by surveying broad areas of the
galactic plane.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: infrared - dust - Herschel - Milky Way
Publications with words: infrared - dust - Herschel - Milky Way
See also:
- APOD: 2026 July 9 Á The Red Glow of the Cosmic Bat Nebula
- APOD: 2026 May 31 Á Eagle Nebula Pillars in Infrared from Hubble
- APOD: 2026 April 19 Á Eye on the Milky Way
- APOD: 2026 March 25 Á The Guardians of Rapa Nui beneath the Milky Way
- LDN 1622: Dark Nebula in Orion
- NGC 7023: The Iris Nebula
- A Dark Seahorse in Cepheus