From the mesmerizing patterns found in nature to the artistic beauty of microscopic organisms, science has always inspired creativity. We're therefore delighted to launch UCL Science Magazine's Creative section, a brand-new space dedicated to exploring science through photography, artwork, and creative writing by UCL students.
In our first feature, we’re bringing the wonders of the night sky to life. We're thrilled to share stunning photographs taken by Astrophysics students at UCL. These breath-taking images, taken using the robotic telescopes at the UCL Observatory, reveal the hidden beauty of our universe—reminding us that science isn’t just about discovery, but also about awe and inspiration.
Crab Nebula: by Vrinda Singhal, MSci Astrophysics - A supernova remnant, from an explosion that was observed in 1054 CE. A neutron star, called the Crab Pulsar, spins rapidly at the centre, emitting strong radiation. High-energy electrons accelerating in a magnetic field impart the bluish central glow, while the red/pink areas show hydrogen lines glowing due to ionisation. Photo taken as part of a module in Practical Astrophysics, through the robotic telescopes (Celestron 14" Schmidt-Cassegrain) at UCL Observatory in Mill Hill.Jellyfish Nebula: by Harry Taylor, BSc Astrophysics - A supernova remnant in the constellation of Gemini, formed from the explosion of a star thousands of years ago, creating shock waves by interacting with surrounding gas clouds. The red colour implies an abundance of hydrogen, which glows as it absorbs light and then re-emits as the electrons move down in energy levels. Photo taken as part of a module in Practical Astrophysics, through the robotic telescopes (Celestron 14" Schmidt-Cassegrain) at UCL Observatory in Mill Hill.Black Eye Galaxy: by Ehi Robinson, BSc Astrophysics - A spiral galaxy, with a "black-eye" appearance at the core due to a dark dust lane. The inner and outer regions rotate in the opposite directions, suggesting a past collision with another galaxy. There is a faint pink glow in parts of the galaxy, which suggests active star formation. Photo taken as part of a module in Practical Astrophysics, through the robotic telescopes (Celestron 14" Schmidt-Cassegrain) at UCL Observatory in Mill Hill.Crescent Nebula:by Shourya Shrivastava, MSci Astrophysics - A bubble-like nebula in the constellation of Cygnus, created by the powerful winds of a massive star- Wolf Rayet 136. These winds interact with the previously ejected material from the star, resulting in a complex and intriguing shape. The purple-red glow comes from ionised hydrogen and oxygen gases, energised by the shockwaves within the nebula. Photo taken as part of a module in Practical Astrophysics, through the robotic telescopes (Celestron 14" Schmidt-Cassegrain) at UCL Observatory in Mill Hill.Messier 106:by Lorna Findlay, MSci Astrophysics - A spiral galaxy about 22 million light years away, with an active core powered by a supermassive black hole, and jets of gas. The bright center and arms are active star forming regions filled with dust, stars and gas. Photo taken as part of a module in Practical Astrophysics, through the robotic telescopes (Celestron 14" Schmidt-Cassegrain) at UCL Observatory in Mill Hill.Messier 63: by Max Henderson, MSci Astrophysics - Also called the Sunflower Galaxy, this is a spiral galaxy about 29 million light years away. It's tightly wound spiral arms are filled with dust and young stars. The central yellow region implies the presence of older stars, with the outer regions showing new stars formed (relatively) recently. Photo taken as part of a module in Practical Astrophysics, through the robotic telescopes (Celestron 14" Schmidt-Cassegrain) at UCL Observatory in Mill Hill.Caldwell 5: by Kirill Batrakov, BSc Astrophysics - A spiral galaxy about 10 million light-years away in the constellation Camelopardalis. It lies behind dense dust clouds in the Milky Way, making it particularly difficult to observe. The faint purple comes from ionised Hydrogen, showing star-forming regions, and the yellow centre shows a population of older stars. Photo taken as part of a module in Practical Astrophysics, through the robotic telescopes (Celestron 14" Schmidt-Cassegrain) at UCL Observatory in Mill Hill.
