The Milky Way over Paranal

A ground-based night-sky view showing the plane of our own Galaxy above the VLT at Cerro Paranal, a site chosen for its exceptionally clear, dark skies.

• A dark field scattered with thousands of galaxies of many colours; several appear stretched into arcs by gravitational lensing.

  Galaxy cluster SMACS 0723

  Public Domain

  Webb's First Deep Field (SMACS 0723)

  NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI

• Four interacting galaxies clustered together with a fifth foreground galaxy, amid countless background stars and galaxies.

  Stephan's Quintet (galaxy group)

  Public Domain

  Stephan's Quintet

  NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI

• A black field densely filled with thousands of galaxies of every size, colour, and shape.

  Hubble Ultra Deep Field

  Public Domain

  The Hubble Ultra Deep Field

  NASA, ESA, and STScI

• An edge-on galaxy with a bright bulging core and a dark, sharply defined dust lane, resembling a wide-brimmed hat.

  Sombrero Galaxy (Messier 104)

  Public Domain

  The Sombrero Galaxy (M104)

  NASA/ESA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)