Purple HazeA spiral galaxy shines in blues, purples, and reds in this composite image of NGC 4258 released July 2. The various colors denote X-rays (blue), radio waves (purple), visible light (blue and yellow), and infrared light (red) blasting from this cosmic swirl.NGC 4258 is also famous for two of its arms, which are not in the same plane as the rest of the galaxy. Instead, they intersect it. Researchers think they're formed when the shock waves produced by a supermassive black hole heat huge clouds of gas that bubble up from the galaxy.—Jane J. Lee
Photograph by X-ray: NASA/CXC/Caltech/P.Ogle et al; Optical: NASA/STScI; IR: NASA/JPL-Caltech; Radio: NSF/NRAO/VLA

Best Space Pictures: A Hurricane Simmers, the Milky Way Glimmers, and a New Rocket Is in the Works

A satellite spies a reservoir, a hurricane portrait is snapped, and part of a new rocket passes design review in this week's space gallery.

Published July 6, 2014