Like a ribbon trailing from a parade float, a streamer of hydrogen gas seems to waft across the stars in an image taken by the Hubble Space Telescope.

Federal investigators say a Veterans Day parade float in Midland, Texas hit by a train on Thursday crossed onto the railroad tracks despite warning signals.

Each "krewe" (pronounced "crew") builds a parade float that reflects one of these periods. The "krewes" also appear in period costume at a number of gala events during the festival.