Elegantly WastedSeen in a new composite of long-wavelength infrared and x-ray images, supernova remnant W44 propagates through space as a hundred-light-year-wide purple sphere of gas, superheated to millions of degrees. The exploded star is now a pulsar—a spinning neutron star—visible above as a large, light blue-tinted smudge. (Related: "Gamma Ray Telescope Finds First 'Invisible' Pulsar.")
Photograph by Quang Nguyen Luong and F. Motte, Herschel SPIRE/ESA

Space Pictures This Week: Eclipse, Mars Rover, More

November 18, 2012