The Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope orbits Earth with a complicated motion. This map shows the position of a particular pulsar (the Vela pulsar) inside the field of view of the telescope as it orbits around the Earth rocking north/south; rolls to keep its solar panels facing the Sun; and processes around its axis once ever 54 days. It is a compound of these three motions that gives rise to this image.
This tumblr curated by Gary Schroeder: web designer, content strategist, social media fetishist, image monger and oenophile.
