This photo was taken from space, but it’s not a galaxy or a nebula. It’s a massive phytoplankton bloom off the coast of South Africa, just when the Atlantic and the Indian oceans meet.
The phytoplankton — photosynthesising microscopic organisms that have chlorophyll in their cells — are thriving thanks to the extended light times and the release of nutrients trapped in the melting ice.
The true-color image was captured by NASA’s Terra satellite using its Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer. [NASA Goddard]