NASA scientists have created 21 modern constellations for the gamma-ray sky

To celebrate a long-lived space telescope that has mapped an invisible side of the universe, NASA has published a list of 21 modern and unofficial constellations.

The space might look like a dark void dotted with a few points of light, but it's an illusion.

We see only a rainbow of visible light: a limited slice of the electromagnetic spectrum and reality itself. Our human eyes can not detect less energetic "colors" of light than deep red, such as radio, microwaves and infrared. Neither can we see a more energetic light than violet, such as ultraviolet rays, X-rays, and gamma rays, the most energetic light form in the universe.

But special telescopes can see these wavelengths and make them visible.

One of these observatories is the Fermi gamma ray space telescope. NASA launched the car-size satellite in 2008 and since then, it has mapped a normally invisible side of the universe (shown above).

Fermi's view of the universe of gamma rays has revealed to astronomers all kinds of objects, including unseen views of solar flares, cosmic explosions and other processes very energetic and often violent in space.

So, to celebrate Fermi's 10th anniversary, the team's scientists proposed 21 new and different hilarious gamma-ray constellations.

NASA has called the constellations unofficial, since there are only 88 recognized constellations, according to the International Astronomical Union. Nevertheless, imagine a giant Godzilla, Hulk, Albert Einstein and even the Fermi telescope itself as a constellation in a normally invisible sky is an expanding exercise.

"The development of these unofficial constellations was a fun way to celebrate a decade of Fermi accomplishments," NASA's NASA Goddard Space Flight Center scientist Julie McEnery said in a press release. "In one way or another, all gamma ray constellations have a connection to Fermi science."

See the gamma ray constellations of scientists

The gamma-ray constellations suggested by scientists span the gamut.

In the northern sky, there is Schroedinger's cat (a tribute to an experience of strange physical thought), "The Little Prince" (taken from the famous French novel), a Saturn V rocket (the one used by astronauts in France). Apollo to reach the moon), Starship Enterprise (Star Trek) and the Roman Coliseum.

NASA

The incredible Hulk, the Eiffel Tower, the Fermi Telescope and a TARDIS (a call box for the space and time police of Doctor Who) are also found in the northern sky.

NASA

The southern night sky has its own strange new constellations of gamma rays.

Among them is a black widow spider, Mount Fuji, Mjolnir (the mythical hammer of the Norse god Thor) and a portrait of Einstein.

NASA

You can explore all the new constellations on Fermi's interactive web page. The feature also lets you see where the constellations are in the visible night sky, compared to official constellations such as Ursa Major, Orion, and Gemini.