Hubble: Light Echo Poster

The Hubble: Light Echo Poster is a stunning image of a light echo from a supernova explosion in the nearby starburst galaxy M82. The supernova, called SN 2014J, occurred in the upper right of M82, and is marked by an “X.” The supernova was discovered on Jan. 21, 2014. The image was taken by the Hubble Space Telescope over a period of two and a half years. It shows an expanding shell of light from the stellar explosion sweeping through interstellar space, called a “light echo.” The light echo is caused by light from the supernova bouncing off dust clouds in interstellar space. As the light travels, it is scattered and delayed, so the light echo appears as a ring of light around the supernova. The Hubble: Light Echo Poster is a reminder of the vastness and beauty of the universe. It is also a testament to the power of the Hubble Space Telescope to capture these fleeting phenomena.