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THE VISUAL ARCHIVE / 201 FRAMES

Cosmic Mysteries.
Look closer.

Artwork from the investigations, newest first. Open an image to see it larger. Every frame has a story separating the measured science from what the artwork imagines.

Showing 31–60 of 201 images · Page 2 of 7

Conceptual science artwork: An artistic view of the MeerKAT radio array in South Africa’s Karoo. — MeerKAT Beneath the Karoo SkyAn artistic view of the MeerKAT radio array in South Africa’s Karoo.The story behind this image

Conceptual science artwork: Beta Pictoris b orbits within a young system containing a dusty debris disk. — A Young Giant Inside a Debris SystemBeta Pictoris b orbits within a young system containing a dusty debris disk.The story behind this image

Conceptual science artwork: Charged particles interacting with a planetary magnetic field can generate auroral radio emission. — An Imagined Auroral EngineCharged particles interacting with a planetary magnetic field can generate auroral radio emission.The story behind this image

Conceptual science artwork: Human transmitters and nearby spacecraft complicate the search for faint signals from other star systems. — Interference Between Earth and the StarsHuman transmitters and nearby spacecraft complicate the search for faint signals from other star systems.The story behind this image

Conceptual science artwork: Jupiter provides a nearby example of a planet whose magnetic environment generates powerful radio emissions. — Jupiter as a Natural Radio ComparisonJupiter provides a nearby example of a planet whose magnetic environment generates powerful radio emissions.The story behind this image

Conceptual science artwork: A thick equatorial belt of carbon-rich dust blocks the central star from our view. — A Star Hidden by Carbon DustA thick equatorial belt of carbon-rich dust blocks the central star from our view.The story behind this image

Conceptual science artwork: A conceptual cutaway of the buried helium-shell flash. — The Helium Flash Beneath the SurfaceA conceptual cutaway of the buried helium-shell flash.The story behind this image

Conceptual science artwork: ALMA’s antennas in the Chilean Andes, with an imagined distant glow representing Sakurai’s Object. — The Millimeter View from ALMAALMA’s antennas in the Chilean Andes, with an imagined distant glow representing Sakurai’s Object.The story behind this image

Conceptual science artwork: An artist’s visualization of the hourglass-shaped molecular outflows emerging around an expanding equatorial dust disc. — An Hourglass Inferred from Molecular MotionAn artist’s visualization of the hourglass-shaped molecular outflows emerging around an expanding equatorial dust disc.The story behind this image

Conceptual science artwork: An imagined view of the reheating central star driving a carbon-rich, Wolf–Rayet-type wind while dust remains in the surrounding region. — A Carbon-Rich Wind Around a Reheating RemnantAn imagined view of the reheating central star driving a carbon-rich, Wolf–Rayet-type wind while dust remains in the surrounding region.The story behind this image

Conceptual science artwork: An artist’s interpretation of a compact engine concealed by dense gas, with radio-bright outflows interacting with the surrounding wind. — An Engine Concealed by Dense GasAn artist’s interpretation of a compact engine concealed by dense gas, with radio-bright outflows interacting with the surrounding wind.The story behind this image

Conceptual science artwork: An illustrated view of the Very Large Array in New Mexico. — Surveys Across the Radio YearsAn illustrated view of the Very Large Array in New Mexico.The story behind this image

Conceptual science artwork: An artist’s reconstruction of a spiral galaxy resembling the Milky Way. — The Warped Disk as a Possible AddressAn artist’s reconstruction of a spiral galaxy resembling the Milky Way.The story behind this image

Conceptual science artwork: A conceptual illustration of energetic electrons spiraling through magnetic fields, the process behind synchrotron radiation. — Electrons Tracing a Magnetic FieldA conceptual illustration of energetic electrons spiraling through magnetic fields, the process behind synchrotron radiation.The story behind this image

Conceptual science artwork: A conceptual cutaway of the proposed microquasar scenario. — A Proposed Microquasar Inside a WindA conceptual cutaway of the proposed microquasar scenario.The story behind this image

Conceptual science artwork: An artist’s interpretation of SS 433 and its extended W50 nebula. — SS 433 as an Imperfect ComparisonAn artist’s interpretation of SS 433 and its extended W50 nebula.The story behind this image

Conceptual science artwork: A conceptual cutaway shows a feeding black hole inside luminous gas. — A Dark Engine Inside a Dense CocoonA conceptual cutaway shows a feeding black hole inside luminous gas.The story behind this image

Conceptual science artwork: Compact red sources stand out in an imagined deep field. — Red Sources in an Imagined Deep FieldCompact red sources stand out in an imagined deep field.The story behind this image

Conceptual science artwork: An artistic view of Webb, whose infrared instruments reveal spectral clues in ancient light. — Webb Reading Ancient LightAn artistic view of Webb, whose infrared instruments reveal spectral clues in ancient light.The story behind this image

Conceptual science artwork: Dense gas conceals the engine in the black hole star hypothesis. — The Envelope That Reshapes a SpectrumDense gas conceals the engine in the black hole star hypothesis.The story behind this image

Conceptual science artwork: An imagined primordial inflow evokes rapid black hole growth. — A Possible Route to Rapid Early GrowthAn imagined primordial inflow evokes rapid black hole growth.The story behind this image

Conceptual science artwork: A generic spiral galaxy evokes the question of what early growth became. — A Galaxy Beyond the Red-Dot QuestionA generic spiral galaxy evokes the question of what early growth became.The story behind this image

Conceptual science artwork: If accelerated expansion continues as the standard cosmological model predicts, distant galaxies will become increasingly difficult to detect. — A Cosmic Record Fading from ViewIf accelerated expansion continues as the standard cosmological model predicts, distant galaxies will become increasingly difficult to detect.The story behind this image

Conceptual science artwork: Every observer has an observable region centered on their own location. — An Observable Region Around Every ObserverEvery observer has an observable region centered on their own location.The story behind this image

Conceptual science artwork: An imagined view of the early universe becoming transparent as free electrons combined with nuclei. — The Early Plasma Becomes TransparentAn imagined view of the early universe becoming transparent as free electrons combined with nuclei.The story behind this image

Conceptual science artwork: Cosmological expansion lengthens the wavelength of traveling light. — The Wavelength Stretched by ExpansionCosmological expansion lengthens the wavelength of traveling light.The story behind this image

Conceptual science artwork: The hot early universe filled space rather than erupting from a privileged central location. — An Early Universe Without a Central ExplosionThe hot early universe filled space rather than erupting from a privileged central location.The story behind this image

Conceptual science artwork: A speculative island of bound galaxies beneath an almost empty extragalactic sky. — An Island of Galaxies in a Conditional FutureA speculative island of bound galaxies beneath an almost empty extragalactic sky.The story behind this image

Concept artwork. A luminous quasar makes an unseen central mass part of the observable universe. — The Light Around TON 618A luminous quasar makes an unseen central mass part of the observable universe.The story behind this image

Concept artwork. A historical survey scene recalls an object that first looked much less extraordinary. — A Blue Dot on a PlateA historical survey scene recalls an object that first looked much less extraordinary.The story behind this image