WISE telescope

NASA has unveiled the first images captured by its new $350 million telescope, including one of a comet discovered in Australia.

NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) was launched in December, the most sensitive satellite of its type in almost three decades.

It searches the sky in infrared for top-notch picture opportunities, taking snaps of anything from stars to luminous galaxies as well as comets and asteroids.

NASA has released just a handful of shots so far - the first of millions to come, say scientists - with images of Comet Siding Spring taking pride of place.

It was discovered in 2007 by Australian Donna Burton at the Siding Spring Observatory in northwest NSW.

The snowball-like comet is also the subject of an animated series of shots, which show it in vivid colour as it streaks across the sky.

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Its proximity to the sun causes it to shed ice and dust, which trail behind it - as captured in the movie.

Astronomers at the Anglo-Australian Telescope have welcomed the WISE mission, saying the data will help their own research projects.