Hubble Telescope catches comet disintegrating into …

PHOTOS: Amazing images captured by the Hubble Telescope

PHOTOS: Amazing images captured by the Hubble Telescope

One of the Antennae galaxies.

One of the Antennae galaxies.

The galaxy Messier 64, the result of a collision between two galaxies, about 17 million light years from Earth.

The galaxy Messier 64, the result of a collision between two galaxies, about 17 million light years from Earth.

Galaxy NGC 3079, which appears to have a gaseous bubble at its center.

Galaxy NGC 3079, which appears to have a gaseous bubble at its center.

NGC 6302, also called the Bug Nebula, only about 4,000 light years away.

NGC 6302, also called the Bug Nebula, only about 4,000 light years away.

NGC 3372, the Great Nebula in Carina, about 300 light years across and 7,500 light years from Earth.

NGC 3372, the Great Nebula in Carina, about 300 light years across and 7,500 light years from Earth.

The Cat's Eye nebula (NGC 6543) with a dying star at its core.

The Cat's Eye nebula (NGC 6543) with a dying star at its core.

Looking from the top down (or bottom up) at NGC 4911, in the Coma Cluster of galaxies a staggering 320 million light years from Earth.

Looking from the top down (or bottom up) at NGC 4911, in the Coma Cluster of galaxies a staggering 320 million light years from Earth.

Supernova 1987A, about 163,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud.

Supernova 1987A, about 163,000 light-years away in the Large Magellanic Cloud.

The Cone Nebula, only about 2,500 light years away.

The Cone Nebula, only about 2,500 light years away.

The Crab Nebula as seen in this composite photo combining images from Hubble and the Chandra X-ray Observatory, each capturing a different spectrum of light.

The Crab Nebula as seen in this composite photo combining images from Hubble and the Chandra X-ray Observatory, each capturing a different spectrum of light.

The Crab Nebula as shot by Hubble alone. It's about 6,500 light years away in the constellation Taurus.

The Crab Nebula as shot by Hubble alone. It's about 6,500 light years away in the constellation Taurus.

A portion of the Eagle Nebula, one of the so-called "Pillars of Creation."

A portion of the Eagle Nebula, one of the so-called "Pillars of Creation."

A different view of a portion of the Eagle Nebula.

A different view of a portion of the Eagle Nebula.

A different view of a portion of the Eagle Nebula.

A different view of a portion of the Eagle Nebula.

Yet another view of one of the "Pillars of Creation" in the Eagle Nebula.

Yet another view of one of the "Pillars of Creation" in the Eagle Nebula.

A distant quasar and its five stars, with the light-bending effect occasionally seen in images of extremely distant objects.

A distant quasar and its five stars, with the light-bending effect occasionally seen in images of extremely distant objects.

This is the center of our galaxy, a composite photo taken by Hubble in near-infrared light, the Spitzer Space Telescope in infrared light and the Chandra X-ray Observatory.

This is the center of our galaxy, a composite photo taken by Hubble in near-infrared light, the Spitzer Space Telescope in infrared light and the Chandra X-ray Observatory.

Another composite shot from the three telescopes, this one of the Antennae galaxies. (Chandra X-ray Observatory Center)

Another composite shot from the three telescopes, this one of the Antennae galaxies. (Chandra X-ray Observatory Center)

The "Pillars of Creation" in the Eagle Nebula.

The "Pillars of Creation" in the Eagle Nebula.

The Helix Nebula, NGC 7293, only 650 light years away.

The Helix Nebula, NGC 7293, only 650 light years away.

The famous Horsehead Nebula, which resides in the constellation Orion.

The famous Horsehead Nebula, which resides in the constellation Orion.

This is a plume of gas and dust in the Carina Nebula, about 7,500 light years away.

This is a plume of gas and dust in the Carina Nebula, about 7,500 light years away.

Hubble is perhaps at its best when trained upon the closest objects. This spectacular shot shows the Great Red Spot on Jupiter, just two planets away.

Hubble is perhaps at its best when trained upon the closest objects. This spectacular shot shows the Great Red Spot on Jupiter, just two planets away.

A near-infrared shot of Jupiter showing the shadows of three of its moons -- Io, Ganymede, and Callisto -- on the surface.

A near-infrared shot of Jupiter showing the shadows of three of its moons -- Io, Ganymede, and Callisto -- on the surface.

Giant storms occasionally erupt through the swirling gases of Jupiter; here, an infrared image of storm activity is superimposed on a Hubble image taken at roughly the same time.

Giant storms occasionally erupt through the swirling gases of Jupiter; here, an infrared image of storm activity is superimposed on a Hubble image taken at roughly the same time.

A close-up view of two "twisters" in the Lagoon Nebula (Messier 8), 5,000 light years away.

A close-up view of two "twisters" in the Lagoon Nebula (Messier 8), 5,000 light years away.

Here's a planet that needs no introduction.

Here's a planet that needs no introduction.

Mars in 1997, when it was only about 60 million miles from Earth, a relatively close pass.

Mars in 1997, when it was only about 60 million miles from Earth, a relatively close pass.

Mars in 2001, when it was less than 45 million miles away.

Mars in 2001, when it was less than 45 million miles away.

The "Pillar and Jets" section of the Carina Nebula.

The "Pillar and Jets" section of the Carina Nebula.

Back to Jupiter. This photo shows additional red spots, or swirling storms in the clouds of gas.

Back to Jupiter. This photo shows additional red spots, or swirling storms in the clouds of gas.

A close-up view of the center of the Centaurus A galaxy.

A close-up view of the center of the Centaurus A galaxy.

The nebula in Orion, about 1,500 light years away.

The nebula in Orion, about 1,500 light years away.

Pandoras Cluster, a cluster of galaxies that appear to have been created by a collision of four separate clusters.

Pandoras Cluster, a cluster of galaxies that appear to have been created by a collision of four separate clusters.

A longer view of the "Pillar and Jets" section of the Carina Nebula.

A longer view of the "Pillar and Jets" section of the Carina Nebula.

The often-observed Ring Nebula, about 2,000 light years away and one light year across.

The often-observed Ring Nebula, about 2,000 light years away and one light year across.

Saturn, with its rings at maximum tilt of 27 degrees, shot in ultraviolet light.

Saturn, with its rings at maximum tilt of 27 degrees, shot in ultraviolet light.

An unusual perspective on Saturn from 2009.

An unusual perspective on Saturn from 2009.

Saturn's amazing rings.

Saturn's amazing rings.

The Sombrero Galaxy, one of the largest galaxies in the Virgo Cluster of Galaxies, as seen in infrared light.

The Sombrero Galaxy, one of the largest galaxies in the Virgo Cluster of Galaxies, as seen in infrared light.

Another view of the Sombrero, 50,000 light years across and 28 million light years from Earth.

Another view of the Sombrero, 50,000 light years across and 28 million light years from Earth.

The M81 galaxy, a bright spiral about 12 million light years from Earth.

The M81 galaxy, a bright spiral about 12 million light years from Earth.

The spiral galaxy M100, in a 1993 image that proved, by its clarity, the success of the Space Shuttle astronauts in repairing Hubble.

The spiral galaxy M100, in a 1993 image that proved, by its clarity, the success of the Space Shuttle astronauts in repairing Hubble.

Spiral galaxy M74.

Spiral galaxy M74.

This image is from a portion of the Large Magellanic Cloud, about 175,000 light years from Earth.

This image is from a portion of the Large Magellanic Cloud, about 175,000 light years from Earth.

The dwarf galaxy NGC 4214, a nursery for young stars, about 10 million light years away.

The dwarf galaxy NGC 4214, a nursery for young stars, about 10 million light years away.

Planetary nebula NGC 2440 with a white dwarf at its center.

Planetary nebula NGC 2440 with a white dwarf at its center.

A light echo illuminates dust around supergiant star V838 Monocerotis.

A light echo illuminates dust around supergiant star V838 Monocerotis.

Hubble captured the burning debris from an exploding star in the Large Magellanic Cloud, the light from which first reached Earth in 1987.

Hubble captured the burning debris from an exploding star in the Large Magellanic Cloud, the light from which first reached Earth in 1987.

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Hubble Telescope catches comet disintegrating into ...