Skip to content

For Scientists arrow_outward

News
Gallery
Telescopes
- VLA
- ALMA
- VLBA
- GBT
- ngVLA
Tech
- CDL
- Spectrum Management
- ngRADAR
- VLASS
Visit Us
Learn
Explore
Join & Give

Home
chevron_right

Image Gallery

Search Gallery:

contract Media Use Policy

Media Type

Artwork

+

-

Artist Conception
Infographic
Poster
3D Model

Photo

Scientific Image

+

-

VLA
ALMA
GBT
VLBA

Video

+

-

Animation

Category

Astrochemistry

Black Holes

Brown Dwarfs

Cosmology

Exoplanets

Fast Radio Burst

Galaxies

+

-

Spiral Galaxies
Elliptical Galaxies
Irregular and Dwarf Galaxies
Active Galaxies
Galaxy Groups and Clusters

People and Events

+

-

Awards and Honors
Astronomers
Engineers

Protoplanetary Disks

Radio Telescopes and Technology

+

-

VLA
ALMA
GBT
ngVLA
VLBA
Historical Radio Telescopes
CDL

Stars

+

-

Star Formation and Protostars
Star Clusters
Supernova Explosions and Supernova Remnants
Planetary Nebulae
Neutron Stars and Pulsars
Binaries and Microquasars

The Solar System

+

-

The Sun
Planets and Moons
Asteroids, Comets and More

Advanced Search keyboard_arrow_upkeyboard_arrow_down

or

Browse by Category:

All Astrochemistry Black Holes Brown Dwarfs Cosmology Exoplanets Fast Radio Burst Galaxies People and Events Protoplanetary Disks Radio Telescopes and Technology Stars The Solar System

Browse a Collection:

2019 ALMA Top 10 2021 Science Highlights AAS June 2023 ALMA Astrophotography Project AR Models CDL Co-op Program Stories Desktop/Video Chat Backgrounds Image of the Week Jansky Lectures ngVLA Artist Impressions ngVLA Science Goals PHANGS-ALMA Catalog 2021 The Baseline VERTICO VLA Astrophotography Project VLASS Women in Astronomy IV 2017

background_dot_small background_dot_large

Zoom Background VLA 2

VLA Background 2more_horiz

Zoom Background VLA 7

VLA Background 1more_horiz

In a first for radio astronomy, scientists have detected millimeter-wavelength light from a short-duration gamma-ray burst. This artist's conception shows the merger between a neutron star and another star (seen as a disk, lower left) which caused an explosion resulting in the short-duration gamma-ray burst, GRB 211106A (white jet, middle), and left behind what scientists now know to be one of the most luminous afterglows on record (semi-spherical shock wave mid-right). While dust in the host galaxy obscured most of the visible light (shown as colors), millimeter light from the event (depicted in green) was able to escape and reach the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), giving scientists an unprecedented view of this cosmic explosion. From the study, the team confirmed that GRB 211106A is one of the most energetic short-duration GRBs ever observed.

The First Short GRB Millimeter Afterglow: The Wide-Angled Jet of Gamma Ray Burst 211106Amore_horiz

These images from the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) show where various gas molecules were found in the disc around the IRS 48 star, also known as Oph-IRS 48. The disc contains a cashew-nut-shaped region in its southern part, which traps millimetre-sized dust grains that can come together and grow into kilometre-sized objects like comets, asteroids and potentially even planets. Recent observations spotted several complex organic molecules in this region, including formaldehyde (H2CO; orange), methanol (CH3OH; green) and dimethyl ether (CH3OCH3; blue), the last being the largest molecule found in a planet-forming disc to date. The emission signaling the presence of these molecules is clearly stronger in the disc’s dust trap, while carbon monoxide gas (CO; purple) is present in the entire gas disc. The location of the central star is marked with a star in all four images. The dust trap is about the same size as the area taken up by the methanol emission, shown on the bottom left.

Molecules in the disc around the star IRS 48more_horiz

First image of the black hole at the center of the Milky Way

This is the first image of Sagittarius A* (or Sgr A* for short), the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy. It’s the first direct visual evidence of the presence of this black hole. It was captured by the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT), an array which linked together eight existing radio observatories across the planet to form a single “Earth-sized” virtual telescope. The telescope is named after the “event horizon”, the boundary of the black hole beyond which no light can escape.

Although we cannot see the event horizon itself, because it cannot emit light, glowing gas orbiting around the black hole reveals a telltale signature: a dark central region (called a “shadow”) surrounded by a bright ring-like structure. The new view captures light bent by the powerful gravity of the black hole, which is four million times more massive than our Sun. The image of the Sgr A* black hole is an average of the different images the EHT Collaboration has extracted from its 2017 observations.

Monster at the Heart of the Milky Way Galaxy, Sgr A*more_horiz

Vimeo Thumbnail for Baseline #11 – Finding Planets That Have No Star

Baseline #11 – Finding Planets That Have No Starmore_horiz

Illustration shows how the star's motion around the center of mass between it and the planet causes a "wobble" in its motion through space. The VLBA's ability to detect this minuscule effect revealed the presence of the planet.

3D Model of VLBA Discovery – Exoplanetmore_horiz

Vimeo Thumbnail for Galaxies Running Out of Gas

Galaxies Running Out of Gasmore_horiz

Vimeo Thumbnail for Planetary Radar

Planetary Radarmore_horiz

Vimeo Thumbnail for Massive Star Formation

Massive Star Formationmore_horiz

Vimeo Thumbnail for Massive Planet Formation

Massive Planet Formationmore_horiz

Vimeo Thumbnail for Compact Object Creates a Supernova

Compact Object Creates a Supernovamore_horiz

Vimeo Thumbnail for Helical Jets of M87

Helical Jets of M87more_horiz

Vimeo Thumbnail for Star Forming in the Milky Way

Star Forming in the Milky Waymore_horiz

Vimeo Thumbnail for Quasar Distance Record

Quasar Distance Recordmore_horiz

Artist's impression of a stream of gas being pulled away from a protoplanetary disk by an intruder object.

Z CMa Caught In Action Likely Flybymore_horiz

Vimeo Thumbnail for The Baseline #10 – How To Kick A Pulsar Out Of The Galaxy

The Baseline #10 – How To Kick A Pulsar Out Of The Galaxymore_horiz

Vimeo Thumbnail for Pebbles to Planets

Pebbles to Planetsmore_horiz

Showing images 91 - 108 of 1148

Posts navigation

« Previous
1
…
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
…
64
Next »

Connect with NRAO

mail

Tweets by TheNRAO

The National Radio Astronomy Observatory is a facility of the U.S. National Science Foundation operated under cooperative agreement by Associated Universities, Inc.
	Founded in 1956, the NRAO provides state-of-the-art radio telescope facilities for use by the international scientific community. NRAO telescopes are open to all astronomers regardless of institutional or national affiliation. Observing time on NRAO telescopes is available on a competitive basis to qualified scientists after evaluation of research proposals on the basis of scientific merit, the capability of the instruments to do the work, and the availability of the telescope during the requested time. NRAO also provides both formal and informal programs in education and public outreach for teachers, students, the general public, and the media.
	The U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) is an independent federal agency created by Congress in 1950 "to promote the progress of science; to advance the national health, prosperity, and welfare; to secure the national defense..."
	AUI collaborates with the scientific community and research sponsors to plan, build, and operate cutting-edge facilities. We cultivate excellence, deliver value, enhance education, and engage the public.

News
Gallery
Telescopes
- VLA
- ALMA
- VLBA
- GBT
- ngVLA
Tech
- CDL
- Spectrum Management
- ngRADAR
- VLASS
Visit Us
Learn
Explore
Join & Give

For Scientists
About NRAO
Ask an Astronomer
Historical Archives
Media Use
Social Media Policy

NRAO Library
Central Development Lab
Technology Transfer
Employee Services
Visitor Code of Conduct
Careers

Contact Us

NRAO Headquarters
520 Edgemont Road
Charlottesville, VA 22903
434-296-0211

More Information Here

© 2026 The National Radio Astronomy Observatory