European Southern Observatory - releases...

[Jan Kyster]

For those interested in astronomi... released images http://www.eso.org/public/images/

I download images in sizes from 4 to 12 MB, put'em all in one folder, point Win7's desktop background to this and use it as a diasshow.
New image on desktop every 5 to 20 minutes...

Some really breathtaking stuff out there...

http://www.eso.org/public/archives/images/medium/eso0930a.jpg

[Gargamel]

Pretty...... .shiny....... drool......

Paranal is a wonderful observatory. I loved the making of shows if you ever catch them on Discovery.

[Oberon]

That's my wallpapers for the next few months sorted out, thank you...what a beautiful set of pictures. :yeah:

[papa_smurf]

Truly amazing images:yeah:

[Skybird]

Thank you! Nice find.

I remind of Microsoft'S WorldWideTelescope, too, which also delivers you absolutely stunning material in Google-Earth-manner.

[TLAM Strike]

http://www.eso.org/public/archives/images/medium/eso0930a.jpg

Whole lot of Hydrogen and methane going on there...

[Jan Kyster]

Whole lot of ...methane going on there...Thank God for space suits... :D


Everyone probably know the Hubble Site, but just to be sure... http://hubblesite.org/gallery/album/entire

http://imgsrc.hubblesite.org/hu/db/images/hs-1995-44-a-large_web.jpg

[joea]

Great pics Jan. The last from Hubble-the "Pillars of Creation" is one of fave pics-and a wallpaper on my computer and mobile phone. :|\\

[Gotland]

While were on it, NASA's "Astronomy picture of the day"-archive is a great source for astronomy pictures:

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html

And here's a very famous awe-inspiring picture, the deepest image ever taken in the visible spectrum:

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/0403/hudf_hst_big.jpg

Some of the galaxies seen are from the very beginning of galaxy formation in the early universe, 13 billion years ago.
It was taken by the Hubble by directing it at a small dark and seemingly empty patch of sky for weeks. That patch was comparable in size to a sand grain held out at arms length.
And behold, that little empty patch of sky showed 10 000 galaxies very far far away. Incredible how the photons that emitted from the oldest galaxies 13 billion years ago, make it all the way to Hubble's CCD.

Has to be one of the most humbling pictures i've ever seen.