The Japanese infrared space telescope AKARI has sent back a raft of stunning new images of stellar evolution, from the earliest stages of star formation to the final death throes of stars in our own galaxy.
The observatory was launched in February this year and is about halfway through building its first infrared sky map.
More: http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/08/31/stellar_akari/
Even more: http://www.pparc.ac.uk/Nw/akari.asp