FIRST LIGHT · VERTECS
Light from orbit
Multicolor composite images of nebulae and stars captured by the VERTECS visible-light telescope during initial operations. Explore the structures of the cosmos across its exceptionally wide field of view.
Cygnus Loop
A supernova remnant spread across the constellation Cygnus. The blast wave from a massive stellar explosion heats the surrounding interstellar material, producing the delicate and intricate arcs of glowing gas seen here.
IMAGE CREDIT · VERTECS PROJECT
Lagoon Nebula
A vast star-forming region in Sagittarius. Ultraviolet light from young, hot stars ionizes hydrogen gas and makes it glow red, while dark dust clouds and newly formed stars create a richly layered scene.
IMAGE CREDIT · VERTECS PROJECT
North America Nebula
An emission nebula in Cygnus. Dark lanes of interstellar dust outline the glowing gas in a shape reminiscent of the North American continent, while red nebulosity and dense star fields fill the wide view.
IMAGE CREDIT · VERTECS PROJECT