Hubble Captures Star-Studded Cluster

NASA

8 July 2026 at 15:13

A packed, roughly spherical cluster of red, white and blue stars shines against the black background of space. The stars are clustered most densely toward the center of the cluster.

This image from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope shows Messier 3, a densely packed cluster of stars whose origins may be a merger between globular clusters in the early universe.

NASA, ESA, and A. Sarajedini (Florida Atlantic University); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)

This image from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope showcases Messier 3 (M3), one of the Milky Way galaxy’s most massive globular clusters, or spherical collections of gravitationally bound stars. Globular clusters are made up of ancient stars that formed at roughly the same time from the same cloud of gas, giving those stars similar ages. Around 150 known globular clusters are sprinkled around the outer regions of the Milky Way.

Learn more about M3.

Image credit: NASA, ESA, and A. Sarajedini (Florida Atlantic University); Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)

NASA
Artemis II Crew and Apollo 14 Moon Tree 7 July 2026 at 17:16

Artemis II Crew and Apollo 14 Moon Tree

NASA

By: HQ Web Team

7 July 2026 at 17:16

The members of the Artemis II mission hold shovels as they stand around a young pine tree. From left to right, they are Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Jeremy Hansen, and Christina Koch. They are all looking down at the tree, which is surrounded by mulch. There is a plaque at the front of the mound of dirt. The grass the crew are standing on extends behind them for several yards.

NASA/James Blair

In this photograph, the Artemis II crew participates in the dedication of the Apollo 14 Moon tree at the Lunar Receiving Park at NASA’s Johnson Space Center on June 25, 2026. This tree is a second-generation Apollo Moon tree of the loblolly pine species. The original Apollo Moon trees were grown from seeds carried aboard Apollo 14 by NASA astronaut Stuart Roosa, a former U.S. Forest Service smoke jumper. Upon return to Earth, the seeds were germinated by the Forest Service, and the resulting seedlings were planted throughout the United States and around the world.

Image credit: NASA/James Blair