Spirals Above ShemshakStars pinwheel above the winter resort of Shemshak, near Tehran, Iran, in this long-exposure view of the night sky. Polaris, the North Star, anchors the dizzying array in a photo by Amir Abolfath. —By Dan Vergano, photo gallery by Sherry L. Brukbacher

Photograph by Amir Abolfath, TWAN

Week's Best Space Pictures: Mars Dust Blows, Stars Glow, and Volcano Explodes

Wintry views of the stars lead to vistas of volcanoes, clouds, and contrails in the week's best space pictures.

December 7, 2014

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