2012: The year in space (36 images)

This undated NASA image taken by the WISE, Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, shows Barnard 3, or IRAS Ring G159.6-18.5, that is awash in bright green and red dust clouds. Interstellar clouds like these are stellar nurseries, where baby stars are being born, December 31, 2011. UPI/NASA

This February 29, 2012 NASA infrared image captured by the Spitzer Space Telescope shows a new view of the Orion Nebula, March 12, 2012. UPI/NASA

This undated NASA composite image shows the central region of the spiral galaxy NGC 4151. X-rays (blue) from the Chandra X-ray Observatory are combined with optical data (yellow) showing positively charged hydrogen (H II) from observations with the 1-meter Jacobus Kapteyn Telescope, December 31, 2011. UPI/NASA

This NASA image captured by the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope released on June 25, 2012 shows galaxy DDO 82. This dwarf galaxies contains between a few million and a few billion stars. DDO 82 can be found in the constellation of Ursa Major (the Great Bear) approximately 13 million light-years away. UPI/NASA