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Cosmic AvengerBefore he joins the Avengers, Thor may need to retrieve his helmet—which is floating in space 15,000 light-years away.Also known as NGC 2359, Thor's Helmet is a nebula found in the constellation Canis Major. As seen in this recently released picture from the Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory in Chile, the cosmic cloud of dust and gas is being shaped like a winged helm by outpourings of radiation from the massive stars inside.
Image courtesy SSRO/PROMPT/CTIO

Space Pictures This Week: Thor's Helmet, Milky Moon, More

Stars forge a winged helm, the moon lights up La Palma, astronauts make a dusty homecoming, and more in the week's best space pictures.

Published May 6, 2012