Today, NASA sent a signal to decommission the Galaxy Evolution Explorer (GALEX) after 10 years of tireless work shooting the galaxy in lower Earth orbit. NASA says GALEX will float around for another 65 years before it re-enters the Earth’s atmosphere and essentially self-destructs.
In honour of GALEX’s retirement, here are some of its greatest works in no particular order.
Cartwheel Galaxy
Mira
M83
NGC 7293 aka Helix Nebula
Cygnus Loop Nebula
M33
Fare thee well, Galaxy Hunter. [NASA]