Images Dated 20th May 2004

Constellation of Orion with halo effect

The constellation Orion (the Hunter). Orion is one of the most famous constellations, lying on the celestial equator. The bright star near top left is Betelgeuse, a red supergiant 600 light years (l.y.) away. At bottom centre is the blue supergiant Rigel (900 l.y.). Just left of centre are the three stars that form Orion's Belt, Alnilam, Alnitak and Mintaka. Below these is Orion's Sword, including the pinkish patch of the Orion Nebula, M42 (1,650 l.y.). Orion is visible as a whole from most parts of the Earth, and may be used to find the position of a great number of other stars. The images of the stars of Orion have been enhanced photographically

© John Sanford/Science Photo Library

An A-10 Thunderbolt, F-86 Sabre, P-38 Lightning and P-51 Mustang in flight

A US Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt attack aircraft (left), a F-86 Sabre jet fighter (middle), a vintage P-38 Lightning fighter aircraft (bottom), and a P-51 Mustang fighter aircraft participate in a Heritage Flight formation showing four generations of Air Force Fighters. The Heritage Flight was part of the Airpower over Hampton Roads show at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia

© Stocktrek Images

Cicada insects

Cicada insects (Carineta aratayensis). These specimens have been preserved so that their haemolymph (body fluid) can be extracted. Juvenile cicadas spend many years undergound before emerging as adults to live in treetops. Adult males attract females by producing one of the loudest sounds of any insect, from special organs called tymbals. These and other insects are being screened in search of new antibiotic, anti- inflammatory, anti-viral and anti-cancer drugs by a company called Entomed, based in Strasbourg in France. Between 1999 and 2003, Entomed analysed more than 175 novel molecules with potential medical effects

© VOLKER STEGER/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY