AI & Astronomy Imagery

AI & Astronomy Imagery Katie Frey Data Curator for Programmatic Access Stanford University Libraries Generative AI Imagery ●diffusion ●patterns and distribution of color, shape, composition ●copyright, ownership ●inaccuracies Ai Stock photos by Vecteezy ●an international celebration of data ●increases campus awareness of data issues, services, and opportunities relevant to research ●In February of 2025, Stanford Libraries hosted its third annual Love Data Week Stanford Library’s Love Data Week 2025 Process ●Support/permission of APoD authors Dr. Robert Nemiroff & Dr. Jerry Bonnell ●Advanced access to the daily image ●Obtained permission from photographers ●Image generation used: Invoke w/ models from HuggingFace ○Juggernaut XL V9 ○OpenJourney v4 ○SD PhotoReal Photo V2 ○Stable Diffusion v1.4 ●Description generation: Stanford AI Playground https://lovedataweek.stanford.edu/ai-astronomy-imagery Conversation with ChatGPT North Star: Polaris and Surrounding Dust Image Credit & Copyright: Davide Coverta APoD January 14, 2025 (shared image without context) You said: do you know what star is featured in the center of this image? ChatGPT said: The bright blue star in the center of this image appears to be Rigel. It is one of the brightest stars in the night sky and is located in the constellation Orion. You said: why did you guess this was Rigel? ChatGPT said: The central star is prominently bright and blue, which aligns with Rigel's characteristics as a hot, blue supergiant. Rigel is a popular subject in astrophotography due to its brightness and the faint nebulae around it. https://lovedataweek.stanford.edu/ai-astronomy-imagery/conversation-with-chatgpt Colliding Spiral Galaxies from Webb & Hubble January 6, 2025 - Explanation Billions of years from now, only one of these two galaxies will remain. Until then, spiral galaxies NGC 2207 and IC 2163 will slowly pull each other apart, creating tides of matter, sheets of shocked gas, lanes of dark dust, bursts of star formation, and streams of cast-away stars. The featured image in scientifically assigned colors is a composite of Hubble exposures in visible light and Webb exposures in infrared light. Astronomers predict that NGC 2207, the larger galaxy on the right, will eventually incorporate IC 2163, the smaller galaxy on the left. In the most recent encounter that about peaked 40 million years ago, the smaller galaxy is swinging around counter-clockwise and is now slightly behind the larger galaxy. The space between stars is so vast that when galaxies collide, the stars in them usually do not collide. Colliding Spiral Galaxies from Webb & Hubble Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI Colliding Spiral Galaxies from Webb & Hubble Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI Colliding Spiral Galaxies from Webb & Hubble Colliding Spiral Galaxies from Webb & Hubble Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI Colliding Spiral Galaxies from Webb & Hubble Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI AI Generated with Stable Diffusion v1.4 AI Generated with Stable Diffusion v1.4 AI Generated with OpenJourney v4 AI Generated with Juggernaut XL V9 Colliding Spiral Galaxies from Webb & Hubble AI Generated Description The image showcases a breathtaking view of a pair of interacting galaxies, known as the Stephan's Quintet, with vibrant and intricate structures. The galaxies display dramatic spiral arms that swirl outward, filled with bright clusters of stars, gas, and dust, creating a stunning contrast against the backdrop of the universe. On the left side, one galaxy shines with a warm yellow and orange hue, indicating star formation and the presence of older stars. To the right, another galaxy exhibits a more muted, creamy-white color, suggesting differing compositions and star populations. The interaction between these galaxies is evident through the distorted and elongated shapes, indicating gravitational influences that warp their structures. Surrounding these primary subjects are countless distant stars and galaxies, which twinkle against the dark expanse of space. The overall appearance is one of cosmic beauty that's both dynamic and tranquil, capturing the majestic wonder of the universe and the ongoing processes of galaxy evolution and interaction. This image is a compelling reminder of the vastness and complexity of the cosmos. Colliding Spiral Galaxies from Webb & Hubble Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI January 6, 2025 - APoD Explanation Billions of years from now, only one of these two galaxies will remain. Until then, spiral galaxies NGC 2207 and IC 2163 will slowly pull each other apart, creating tides of matter, sheets of shocked gas, lanes of dark dust, bursts of star formation, and streams of cast-away stars. The featured image in scientifically assigned colors is a composite of Hubble exposures in visible light and Webb exposures in infrared light. Astronomers predict that NGC 2207, the larger galaxy on the right, will eventually incorporate IC 2163, the smaller galaxy on the left. In the most recent encounter that about peaked 40 million years ago, the smaller galaxy is swinging around counter-clockwise and is now slightly behind the larger galaxy. The space between stars is so vast that when galaxies collide, the stars in them usually do not collide. Colliding Spiral Galaxies from Webb & Hubble AI Generated with SD PhotoReal Photo V2 AI Generated Description This photograph captures the rugged surface of Mars, taken by the Mars rover, Perseverance. The image focuses on a patch of the Martian terrain, showcasing fine, reddish-brown Martian soil interspersed with small rocks and dust. The rover’s shadow is visible in the foreground, providing a unique perspective of the scene and indicating the rover's position relative to the ground. In the center, a small trench or gouge in the soil reveals possible sampling or digging activity by the rover. The composition emphasizes the barren, desolate beauty of the Martian landscape, characterized by its expansive, flat area that fades into distant hills. Overall, this photograph encapsulates both the exploration spirit of the mission and the intriguing geology of the Red Planet. Shadow of Ingenuity's Damaged Rotor Blade Shadow of Ingenuity's Damaged Rotor Blade Image Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, Ingenuity Shadow of Ingenuity's Damaged Rotor Blade February 10, 2024 - APoD Explanation On January 18, 2024, during its 72nd flight in the thin Martian atmosphere, autonomous Mars Helicopter Ingenuity rose to an altitude of 12 meters (40 feet) and hovered for 4.5 seconds above the Red Planet. Ingenuity's 72nd landing was a rough one though. During descent it lost contact with the Perseverance rover about 1 meter above the Martian surface. Ingenuity was able to transmit this image after contact was re-established, showing the shadow of one of its rotor blades likely damaged during landing. And so, after wildly exceeding expectations during over 1,000 days of exploring Mars, the history-making Ingenuity has ended its flight operations. Nicknamed Ginny, Mars Helicopter Ingenuity became the first aircraft to achieve powered, controlled flight on another planet on April 19, 2021. Before launch, a small piece of material from the lower-left wing of the Wright Brothers Flyer 1, the first aircraft to achieve powered, controlled flight on planet Earth, was fixed to the underside of Ingenuity's solar panel. AI Generated with SD PhotoReal Photo V2 Auroral Hummingbird over Norway February 10, 2025 - Explanation Is this the largest hummingbird ever? Although it may look like a popular fluttering nectarivore, what is pictured is actually a beautifully detailed and colorful aurora, complete with rays reminiscent of feathers. This aurora was so bright that it was visible to the unaided eye during blue hour -- just after sunset when the sky appears a darkening blue. However, the aurora only looked like a hummingbird through a sensitive camera able to pick up faint glows. As reds typically occurring higher in the Earth's atmosphere than the greens, the real 3D shape of this aurora would likely appear unfamiliar. Auroras are created when an explosion on the Sun causes high energy particles to flow into the Earth's atmosphere and excite atoms and molecules of nitrogen and oxygen. The featured image was captured about two weeks ago above Lyngseidt, Norway. Auroral Hummingbird over Norway Image Credit: Mickael Coulon Auroral Hummingbird over Norway Auroral Hummingbird over Norway Image Credit: Mickael Coulon AI Generated with Stable Diffusion v1.4 AI Generated with OpenJourney v4 AI Generated with Juggernaut XL V9 AI Generated with SD PhotoReal Photo V2 Auroral Hummingbird over Norway Image Credit: Mickael Coulon Auroral Hummingbird over Norway AI Generated Description The image is a stunning depiction of the Northern Lights, also known as the aurora borealis. The captivating display features vibrant hues of purple, green, and hints of yellow cascading across the night sky. The luminescent colors seem to swirl and dance, creating a dramatic effect reminiscent of flowing fabric or celestial flames. In the foreground, there's a snow-covered landscape with rocky terrain, hinting at a colder environment typical of regions where the northern lights are prevalent. Sparse trees, possibly evergreens, line the upper edge of this snowy expanse. The scene is accompanied by countless stars twinkling in the deep blue night sky, enhancing the ethereal quality of the aurora. This striking natural phenomenon is a breathtaking reminder of the beauty and wonder found in our world, especially in the polar regions during winter nights. Auroral Hummingbird over Norway February 10, 2025 - APoD Explanation Is this the largest hummingbird ever? Although it may look like a popular fluttering nectarivore, what is pictured is actually a beautifully detailed and colorful aurora, complete with rays reminiscent of feathers. This aurora was so bright that it was visible to the unaided eye during blue hour -- just after sunset when the sky appears a darkening blue. However, the aurora only looked like a hummingbird through a sensitive camera able to pick up faint glows. As reds typically occurring higher in the Earth's atmosphere than the greens, the real 3D shape of this aurora would likely appear unfamiliar. Auroras are created when an explosion on the Sun causes high energy particles to flow into the Earth's atmosphere and excite atoms and molecules of nitrogen and oxygen. The featured image was captured about two weeks ago above Lyngseidt, Norway. AI Generated with Juggernaut XL V9