Into 2010 with M101

Big, beautiful spiral galaxy M101 is one of the last entries in Charles Messier's famous catalog. About 170,000 light-years across, this galaxy is huge, almost twice the size of our own Milky Way Galaxy.

M101 lies within the boundaries of the northern constellation Ursa Major, about 25 million light-years away.

NASA

Santa Claus's green path?

Northern lights in Alaska's long night, over Chugach mountains, near to Anchorage. The ionized particles are green coloured because they are mainly composed of oxygen; anyhow, a typical postcard of the season.

Alaska Stock/Sunset