Back in 2006, NASA released an infrared image from the Spitzer Space Telescope of a "space snake" amid massive clouds in the constellation Sagittarius. Recently, fans of Doctor Who have got their hands on this beautiful photo, and noted that the snake in the photo bears a rather terrifying resemblance to the crack that has played a vital role throughout this season of Who. You can read one such article about the crack frenzy here.
What makes this crack in the heavens even more terrifying, besides it's somewhat distinctive shape, is NASA's theory about the dark mass. The black form that is the body of the "snake" is believed to be a massive cloud of dust and gases capable of swallowing whole solar system, and likely contains several newly forming stars (one of the stars seen just below the snake is approximately 50 times the size of our sun). It is speculated that were you to find yourself in the cloud, you would see nothing but endless darkness. No stars in the night sky...just the black of night.
Now is that creepy or what?
As creepy as it is, however, I find this picture to be a reminder of all the beauty and wonder that is out in space. Each day NASA and similar organizations around the world are bringing us one step closer, and sharing tid-bits along the way. I just hope NASA keeps its eyes on that crack and has the Doctor on speed-dial!
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
No comments:
Post a Comment