Gallery: Space Photos of the Week: A Supermassive Black Hole Just Wants Some Privacy

  • Image may contain Universe Space Astronomy Outer Space and Nebula
    <a href="http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=PIA21087">NASA</a>
    01

    SPoW-Jan13-05.jpg

    Gas and dust obscure this supermassive black hole in the IC 3639 galaxy.
  • Image may contain Rock Rug Slate Soil Outdoors and Nature
    <a href="http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=PIA13485">NASA</a>
    02

    SPoW-Jan13-02.jpg

    These depressions, located in the northern mid-latitudes of Mars, have scalloped edges and polygonal fractures.
  • Image may contain Universe Space Astronomy Nebula Outer Space Outdoors and Nature
    <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/black-holes-hide-in-our-cosmic-backyard">NASA</a>
    03

    SPoW-Jan13-04.jpg

    This galaxy's nucleus is hidden within gas and dust.
  • Image may contain Universe Space Night Astronomy Moon Outdoors Outer Space and Nature
    <a href="http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/spaceimages/details.php?id=PIA20515">NASA</a>
    04

    SPoW-Jan13-03.jpg

    The crater in Mimas, an icy moon of Saturn, is 86 miles wide, nearly 1/3 the diameter of the moon itself.
  • Image may contain Water Outdoors and Ripple
    <a href="http://m.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2017/01/Global_colour_mosaic_of_Dione">NASA</a>
    05

    SPoW-Jan13-01.jpg

    Dione, shown here in a mosaic of images, is an icy satellite of Saturn, and the 15th biggest moon in our solar system.
  • Image may contain Universe Space Astronomy Outer Space and Nebula
    <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/goddard/2017/hubble-gazes-into-a-black-hole-of-puzzling-lightness">ESA</a>
    06

    SPoW-Jan13-07.jpg

    Most large galaxies, including the Milky Way, have supermassive black holes at their center. This galaxy is an exception, centering around a black hole with a very low mass.
  • Image may contain Nature Outdoors Ice Landscape Snow Snowman Winter and Mountain
    <a href="http://m.esa.int/spaceinimages/Images/2017/01/Saint_Petersburg">ESA</a>
    07

    SPoW-Jan13-08.jpg

    This satellite image shows St. Petersburg, Russia covered in snow.
  • Image may contain Universe Space Astronomy Nebula and Outer Space
    <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/hubbles-front-row-seat-when-galaxies-collide">NASA</a>
    08

    SPoW-Jan13-06.jpg

    The blue object in the middle of this photo is a combination of two gas-rich spiral galaxies, which have slowly merged into one.
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