Ten Best Photos from the Month in Space

A mosaic featuring the spectacular Kasei Valles on Mars, comprised of 67 images taken with
the High Resolution Stereo Camera on the European Space Agency's Mars Express, released
on June 6, 2013. The mosaic spans 613 mi (987 km) north–south
(19–36°N) and 983 mi. (1,550 km) east–west (280–310°E).

This image taken by the Hubble Space Telescope's Wide Field Camera 3 capturing
Nebula NGC 6302, was released on June 18, 2013. With an estimated surface
temperature of about 250,000 degrees C (450,032 F), Nebula NGC 6302 shines
brightly in ultraviolet light but is hidden from direct view by a dense torus of dust.

Astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope have found compelling evidence of a
planet forming 7.5 billion miles away from its star, a finding that may challenge current theories
about planet formation. The suspected planet is orbiting the diminutive red dwarf TW Hydrae,
a popular astronomy target located 176 light-years away from Earth in
the constellation Hydra the Sea Serpent.

The underlying magnetic structure of the Sun and how it appears above its surface can
be revealed by combining different solar images taken at almost the
same time, on June 7, 2013.

  A 15 second time exposure shows the International Space Station passing above
the Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) as viewed From Blackduck Minn., on June 6, 2013.

A full-circle view released by NASA on June 20, 2013, combined nearly 900 images taken
by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover, generating a panorama with 1.3 billion pixels in the full-resolution
version. The view is centered toward the south, with north at both ends. It shows NASA's Mars
rover Curiosity at the 'Rocknest' site where the rover scooped up samples of windblown dust and sand.

From left: Chinese astronauts Zhang Xiaoguang, Nie Haisheng and Wang Yaping salute after
returning to Earth in the re-entry capsule of China's Shenzhou-10 spacecraft at its main landing
site in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, on June 26, 2013.

Interacting galaxy duo Arp 142 captured by NASA Hubble Space Telescope,
released on June 21, 2013. The pair contains the disturbed, star-forming spiral
galaxy NGC 2936, along with its elliptical companion, NGC 2937 at lower left.

Thick smoke billows across the landscape in these digital photographs of
the western United States. Both photographs were taken by astronauts
aboard the International Space Station (ISS) on June 19, 2013.

A supermoon rises next to the ancient Greek temple of Poseidon at Cape Sounion,
some 65 kilometers south of Athens, on June 23, 2013. The moon which was making
it's closest pass to the Earth of the year, was stunning from about any place it was
seen on the planet.