Hubble's Greatest Hits

This image has been released by NASA as the last 'pretty' image made by the Hubble Space Telescope's Wide Field Planetary Camera 2. The image made May 4, 2009 is of the planetary nebula known as Kohoutek 4-55. It is one of a series of planetary nebulae that were named after their discoverer, Czech astronomer Lubos Kohoutek. A planetary nebula contains the outer layers of a red giant star that were expelled into interstellar space when the star was in the late stages of its life. Ultraviolet radiation emitted from the remaining hot core of the star ionizes the ejected gas shells, causing them to glow. (NASA)

This 2008 image from the Hubble Space Telescope, provided by NASA, shows a remnant from a supernova or star explosion, which looks like a giant ribbon. (NASA)

This 2006 composite image shows thousands of stars forming in the cloud of gas and dust known as the Orion nebula, as viewed by the Hubble Space Telescope. More than 3,000 stars of various sizes appear in this image assembled from 100 different images sent back by the Hubble Space Telescope. The original Hubble pictures are black and white photos, which are then carefully colorized. (NASA)

This Feb. 19, 1997 file photo shows the Hubble Space Telescope following its release from the space shuttle Discovery after astronauts made five spacewalks to install two $100-million-plus science instruments and new electronics and data recorders. They also placed homemade patches over tears and cracks discovered in Hubble's insulation. (NASA)

A pair of interacting galaxies called Arp 147 was captured by Hubble's Wide Field Planetary Camera 2. One of the galaxies (left-most galaxy shown) is relatively undisturbed, apart from a smooth ring of starlight. The other galaxy (right-most in image) exhibits a clumpy, blue ring of intense star formation. (NASA, ESA and M. Livio (STScI))

Spiral galaxy M81 as seen from NASA Hubble Space Telescope in 2007. (NASA)

The Carina Nebula as seen by NASA and ESA's Hubble Space Telescope in 2007. (NASA)

The bright optical center of the galaxy system NGC 1614, as seen by Hubble in 2008. (NASA)

The Veil Nebula, the remains of a supernova, seen by Hubble in 2007. (NASA)

Another supernova remnant seen by the Hubble Space Telescope, this one in 2005. (NASA)

The Sombrero galaxy, photographed by the Hubble Space Telescope in 2005. (NASA)

Pillars of cool gas and dust seen by the NASA Hubble Space Telescope in 2005. (NASA)

The Hubble Space Telescope seen from the approaching space shuttle Columbia in March 2002. (NASA)