NASA's Astronomy Picture Of The Day: 2010's Ten Best

For 15 years now, NASA has been putting out an Astronomy Picture of the Day, picking whatever hits their fancy from the archives or new stuff coming in from up above.

Here are ten of the best they posted this year.

10. Atlantis takes off

Photos courtesy NASA

​In the early morning hours of July 12, 2001, the shuttle Atlantis takes off to visit the International Space Station.

9. The Darks Sands of Mars

​
Trees on Mars? Not exactly. Dark sand is cascading down lighter pink sand in this photo near the north pole of Mars.

8. The Space Station Cruises Along

​
The International Space Station, as seen from above.

7. Giant Dust Pillars

​
A star is being born inside that dustpillar, which measures a light-year in length. The bright pink spots outside are stars that have already been birthed.

6. Saturn Moons, Passing Each Other

​
The big moon here is Rhea, caught here passing Epimetheus, one of Saturn's smaller moons. You can see the rings, and the background is the planet itself.