Wow.  I remember when we first sent the Hubble up.  It was the laughingstock of the scientific community for its constant breakdowns and its frequency of repairs.  But now, everyone who laughed at the Hubble–me included–is eating their words with a side of crow at the pictures this sucker’s been sending back.

Pictures like the one to your right.

That is an image of a so-called “butterfly nebula”.  That’s pretty awesome, isn’t it?  First we got a look at the Horsehead Nebula, now we get the Butterfly Nebula.  This particular incident was partly caused by a collapsing star out in galaxy NGC 6217.  And while that may sound like a Star Trek destination–or maybe a Star Trek SHIP–it’s a real place, and man, is it ever a spectacular picture from space.

That really, REALLY makes me glad we put all that tax money back into repairing it way back when.  I would’ve hated to miss out on this.  But now, we don’t have to!

Related posts:

1. What Pictures Would You Like Hubble to Take?
2. The Hubble Takes HD Pictures of Jupiter’s Moons
3. Pictures From Space–The Horsehead Nebula
4. A Journey toTake Pictures Where No Man Has Ever Taken Pictures Before!
5. USS Enterprise Webcam Won’t Impress Your Friends…