Official SpaceX Images

Crew-6 Mission Image Credit: Official SpaceX Photos

Crew-2 Return Mission Image Credit: Official SpaceX Photos

Transporter-4 Mission Image Credit: Official SpaceX Photos

Axiom-1 Mission Image Credit: Official SpaceX Photos

GPS III Mission Image Credit: Official SpaceX Photos

GPS III Mission Image Credit: Official SpaceX Photos

GPS III Mission Image Credit: Official SpaceX Photos

Amazonas Nexus Mission Image Credit: Official SpaceX Photos

Starlink Mission Image Credit: Official SpaceX Photos

Crew-6 Mission Image Credit: Official SpaceX Photos

Crew-6 Mission Image Credit: Official SpaceX Photos

Starlink Mission Image Credit: Official SpaceX Photos

Starlink Mission Image Credit: Official SpaceX Photos

Crew-6 Mission Image Credit: Official SpaceX Photos

Crew-6 Mission Image Credit: Official SpaceX Photos

Crew-6 Mission Image Credit: Official SpaceX Photos

Starship Full Stack Image Credit: Official SpaceX Photos

Artemis 1 Images

A Full Moon in View Image Credit: NASA/Cory Huston

A Bird’s Eye View Image Credit: NASA/Chris Coleman, Kevin Davis

A camera on the mobile launcher shows the rocket and spacecraft lifting off Image Credit: NASA/Chris Coleman, Kevin Davis

A portion of the far side of the Moon looms large just beyond Orion in this image taken on the sixth day of the Artemis I mission by a camera on the tip of one of Orion’s solar array wings Image Credit: NASA

The spacecraft reached a maximum distance from Earth when it was 432,210 kilometres away from our home planet Image Credit: NASA

Orion captured the Earth rising behind the Moon following its second close flyby above the lunar surface as the spacecraft trekked toward home Image Credit: NASA

At 17:40 UTC, 11 Dec 2022, Orion splashed down in the Pacific Ocean west of Baja California, completing its 25.5 day mission beyond the Moon Image Credit: NASA/Josh Valcarcel

Orion was recovered by personnel on the USS Portland Image Credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett

Best of JWST so far

Carina Nebula Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, Megan Reiter (Rice University), with image processing by Joseph DePasquale (STScI), Anton M. Koekemoer (STScI)

A Galactic Panoramic Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, A. Pagan (STScI) & R. Jansen (ASU).

Pillars of Creation (NIRCam and MIRI Composite Image) Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI

Galactic Get-Together Image Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, L. Armus, A. Evan

Countdown to a New Star Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI

Webb Reveals IC 5332 Image Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA & CSA, J. Lee and the PHANGS-JWST and PHANGS-HST Teams

NASA’s Webb Reveals Intricate Networks of Gas and Dust in Nearby Galaxies Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, J. Lee (NOIRLab) and A. Pagan (STScI)

NASA’s Webb Uncovers New Details in Pandora’s Cluster Image Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, I. Labbe (Swinburne University of Technology), R. Bezanson (University of Pittsburgh) and Alyssa Pagan (STScI)

Webb Unveils Dark Side of Pre-stellar Ice Chemistry Image Credit: ESA, CSA, and M. Zamani (ESA). Science: M. K. McClure (Leiden Observatory), F. Sun (Steward Observatory), Z. Smith (Open University), and the Ice Age ERS Team

he Enduring Stellar Lifecycle in 30 Doradus (Composite: Infrared + X-ray) Image Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/Penn State Univ./L. Townsley et al.; IR: NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/JWST ERO Production Team

The planned mission period was intended to be only 2.5 years with a pre-launch expectation that the mission could extend to five or slightly more years until the onboard liquid helium supply was exhausted. The liquid helium supply was was completely spent on 15 May 2009. Without any liquid helium to cool the telescope to the very low temperatures needed to operate, most of the instruments were no longer usable. However, the two shortest-wavelength modules of the IRAC camera continued to operate with the same sensitivity as before the cryogen was exhausted, and continued to be used into early 2020 in the Spitzer Warm Mission.

Enjoy Fifteen years of Spitzer Highlights

Tarantula Nebula Spitzer 3-Color Image Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Perseus Molecular Cloud Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

The Jack-o-Lantern Nebula Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Bubbles, Bubbles Everywhere! Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

M81 Galaxy by Starlight Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Perfectly Sideways Galaxy (NGC 5866) Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

The Whirlpool Galaxy in Visible Light Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Cepheus C and Cepheus B (IRAC-MIPS) Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

Space Butterfly Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

The Cat’s Paw Nebula MIPS & IRAC Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/span>

You can find the entire NASA Spitzer image collection in their archive.

Hubble features a 2.4-meter (7.9 ft) mirror, and its four main instruments observe in the ultraviolet, visible, and near infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Hubble’s orbit outside the distortion of Earth’s atmosphere allows it to capture extremely high-resolution images with substantially lower background light than ground-based telescopes. It has recorded some of the most detailed visible light images, allowing a deep view into space. Many Hubble observations have led to breakthroughs in astrophysics, such as determining the rate of expansion of the universe.

Enjoy Thirty of the Best Images Taken by Hubble Year by Year

Cosmic Reef (2020) Image Credit: NASA

Southern Crab Nebula (2019) Image Credit: NASA

Lagoon Nebula (2018) Image Credit: NASA

Galaxies NGC 4302 and NGC 4298 Image Credit: NASA

Bubble Nebula (2016) Image Credit: NASA

Westerlund 2 (2015) Image Credit: NASA

Monkey Head Nebula (2014) Image Credit: NASA

Horsehead Nebula in Infrared Light (2013) Image Credit: NASA

Star Factory 30 Doradus (2012) Image Credit: NASA

Colliding Galaxy Pair Arp 273 (2011) Image Credit: NASA

Mystic Mountain (2010) Image Credit: NASA

Interacting Galaxy Group Arp 194 (2009)) Image Credit: NASA

Interacting Galaxies (2008) Image Credit: NASA

Carina Nebula (2007) Image Credit: NASA

Galaxy M82 (2006) Image Credit: NASA

Whirlpool Galaxy (2005) Image Credit: NASA

Blue Stars Circle Nucleus of Galaxy AM 0644-741 (2004) Image Credit: NASA

Omega Nebula (2003)) Image Credit: NASA

Cone Nebula (2002) Image Credit: NASA

Horsehead Nebula (2000) Image Credit: NASA

NGC 6751 (2000) Image Credit: NASA

Jupiter and Its Moon Io (1999) Image Credit: NASA

Infrared Saturn (1998) Image Credit: NASA

M2-9 Twin Jet Nebula (1997) Image Credit: NASA

Galaxy Cluster 0024+1654 Gravitational Lens (1996) Image Credit: NASA

Eagle Nebula Pillars (1995) Image Credit: NASA

Core of Galaxy M100 (1994) Image Credit: NASA

Cygnus Loop (1993) Image Credit: NASA

The Hub of Galaxy NGC 4261 (1992) Image Credit: NASA

Jupiter (1991) Image Credit: NASA

The Juno mission launched on August 5, 2011 and arrived in the Jupiter system July 5, 2016 after travelling approximately 2.8 billion kilometres.

The scientific objectives of the mission are to: ¹

• Determine the ratio of oxygen to hydrogen, effectively measuring the abundance of water in Jupiter, which will help distinguish among prevailing theories linking Jupiter’s formation to the Solar System.

• Obtain a better estimate of Jupiter’s core mass, which will also help distinguish among prevailing theories linking Jupiter’s formation to the Solar System.

• Precisely map Jupiter’s gravitational field to assess the distribution of mass in Jupiter’s interior, including properties of its structure and dynamics.

• Precisely map Jupiter’s magnetic field to assess the origin and structure of the field and how deep in Jupiter the magnetic field is created. This experiment will also help scientists understand the fundamental physics of dynamo theory.

• Map the variation in atmospheric composition, temperature, structure, cloud opacity and dynamics to pressures far greater than 100 bars (10 MPa; 1,450 psi) at all latitudes.

• Characterise and explore the three-dimensional structure of Jupiter’s polar magnetosphere and auroras.

• Measure the orbital frame-dragging, known also as Lense–Thirring precession caused by the angular momentum of Jupiter, and possibly a new test of general relativity effects connected with the Jovian rotation.

images

Dramatic atmospheric features in Jupiter’s northern hemisphere are captured in this view from NASA’s Juno spacecraft. The new perspective shows swirling clouds that surround a circular feature within a jet stream region called “Jet N6.”

This colour-enhanced image was taken at 9:20 a.m. PST on Feb. 12, 2019 (12:20 p.m. EST), as the spacecraft performed its 18th close flyby of the gas giant planet. At the time, Juno was about 8,000 miles (13,000 kilometres) from the planet’s cloud tops, above a latitude of approximately 55 degrees north.

Citizen scientist Kevin M. Gill created this image using data from the spacecraft’s JunoCam imager. The image has been rotated approximately 100 degrees to the right.

Dramatic Jupiter. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Kevin M. Gill

This image of Jupiter’s turbulent southern hemisphere was captured by NASA’s Juno spacecraft as it performed its most recent close flyby of the gas giant planet on Dec. 21, 2018.

This new perspective captures the notable Great Red Spot, as well as a massive storm called Oval BA. The storm reached its current size when three smaller spots collided and merged in the year 2000. The Great Red Spot, which is about twice as wide as Oval BA, may have formed from the same process centuries ago.

Juno captured Oval BA in another image earlier on in the mission on Feb. 7, 2018. The turbulent regions around, and even the shape of, the storm have significantly changed since then. Oval BA further transformed in recent months, changing colour from reddish to a more uniform white.

Juno took the three images used to produce this colour-enhanced view on Dec. 21, between 9:32 a.m. PST (12:32 p.m. EST) and 9:42 a.m. PST (12:42 p.m. EST). At the time the images were taken, the spacecraft was between approximately 23,800 miles (38,300 kilometres) to 34,500 miles (55,500 kilometres) from the planet’s cloud tops above southern latitudes spanning 49.15 to 59.59 degrees.

Citizen scientists Gerald Eichstädt and Seán Doran created this image using data from the spacecraft’s JunoCam imager.

Juno’s Latest Flyby of Jupiter Captures Two Massive Storms. Image Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Gerald Eichstädt/Seán Doran

Clouds in a Jovian jet stream, called Jet N5, swirl in the center of this color-enhanced image from NASA’s Juno spacecraft. A brown oval known as a “brown barge” can be seen in the North North Temperate Belt region in the top-left portion of the image.

This image was taken at 5:58 p.m. PDT on Sept. 6, 2018 (8:58 p.m. EDT) as the spacecraft performed its 15th close flyby of Jupiter. At the time, Juno was 7,600 miles (12,300 kilometers) from the planet’s cloud tops, above a northern latitude of approximately 52 degrees.

Citizen scientists Brian Swift and Seán Doran created this image using data from the spacecraft’s JunoCam imager. The view has been rotated 90 degrees to the right from the original image.

Jovian Swirls. Image Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Brian Swift/Seán Doran

Colourful swirling cloud belts dominate Jupiter’s southern hemisphere in this image captured by NASA’s Juno spacecraft.

Jupiter appears in this colour-enhanced image as a tapestry of vibrant cloud bands and storms. The dark region in the far left is called the South Temperate Belt. Intersecting the belt is a ghost-like feature of slithering white clouds. This is the largest feature in Jupiter’s low latitudes that’s a cyclone (rotating with clockwise motion).

This image was taken on Dec. 16, 2017 at 10:12 PST (1:12 p.m. EST), as Juno performed its tenth close flyby of Jupiter. At the time the image was taken, the spacecraft was about 8,453 miles (13,604 kilometres) from the tops of the clouds of the planet at a latitude of 27.9 degrees south.

The spatial scale in this image is 5.6 miles/pixel (9.1 kilometres/pixel).

Citizen scientist Kevin M. Gill processed this image using data from the JunoCam imager.

Jupiter’s Colourful Cloud Belts. Image credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Kevin M. Gill

See Jupiter’s southern hemisphere in beautiful detail in this new image taken by NASA’s Juno spacecraft. The colour-enhanced view captures one of the white ovals in the “String of Pearls,” one of eight massive rotating storms at 40 degrees south latitude on the gas giant planet.

The image was taken on Oct. 24, 2017 at 11:11 a.m. PDT (2:11 p.m. EDT), as Juno performed its ninth close flyby of Jupiter. At the time the image was taken, the spacecraft was 20,577 miles (33,115 kilometres) from the tops of the clouds of the planet at a latitude of minus 52.96 degrees. The spatial scale in this image is 13.86 miles/pixel (22.3 kilometres/pixel).

Citizen scientists Gerald Eichstädt and Seán Doran processed this image using data from the JunoCam imager.

Jupiter’s Stunning Southern Hemisphere. Image Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS/Gerald Eichstädt/ Seán Doran

More information about the Juno mission can be found at NASA and SWRI.

Apollo 11 liftoff as viewed from the launch tower. Image Credit: NASA

“Buzz” Aldrin salutes U.S. Flag. Image Credit: NASA

“Buzz” Aldrin’s boot print in the lunar soil. Image Credit: NASA

“Buzz” Aldrin poses for a portrait with Neil Armstrong’s reflection in his visor. Image Credit: NASA

Orbital view of Sabine and Ritter craters. Image Credit: NASA

Earthrise sequence - Earth rises over lunar horizon. Image Credit: NASA

View of Daedalus crater from lunar orbit. Image Credit: NASA

The Lunar Module approaches the Command / Service Module for docking with Earthrise in the background. Image Credit: NASA

M101. Image Credit: Hubble

This is a fantastic image of a classic spiral galaxy, taken by the Hubble Space Telescope. This image, almost taken face-on, shows the typical structure of a large spiral galaxy like our Milky Way.

M31 - Andromeda Galaxy. Image Credit: Wikimedia Commons

This is probably one of my favourite Galaxies M31 also known as the Andromeda Galaxy. For those interested Andromeda is on a collision course with the Milky Way! Don’t worry the inevitable collision will not occur during our life time but in about 10 billion years.

Centaurus A. Image Credit: NASA

Well here is an image of Centaurus A located in the constellation of Centaurus. This just happens to be the strongest radio source in the constellation hence the ‘A’. You can probably make out the huge jets of material being flung more than 13,000 light years from the galaxy’s centre.

If you want read a little more on galaxies you can here.

The Orion Nebula Image Credit: Hubble

This is definitely one of my all time favourites and can be seen with the naked eye. This image was taken with Hubble’s Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS). The image consists of a mosaic consisting of a billion pixels. This image also uncovered approximately 3,000 stars of various sizes. Some of these had never been viewed in visible light before. Among these stars are brown dwarves stars that nearly were but did not have enough gravity to innate nuclear fusion.

The Trifid Nebula Image Credit: ESO

This is a beauty! This is the Trifid Nebula tucked away in the constellation of Sagitarius. This nebula is a massive star factory and is a rare combination of three types of nebula:

• Reflection,
• Emission, and
• Dark

These fantastic images were taken by the European Southern Observatory in northern Chile.

The Omega Nebula(M17) Image Credit: ESO

This is the Omega nebula and this is one of the sharpest images ever taken of it from the ground. The VLT(Very Large Telescope) was used and reveals incredible detail of new born stars an pink gas clouds.

The Carina Nebula Image Credit: NASA, ESA and Hubble

Well I think on this occasion I have left the best for last with this absolute stunner of the Carina Nebula. Nancy Atkinson of universe today put it like this:

The radiation from massive stars inside the nebula eats away at cold molecular clouds, creating bizarre, fantasy-like structures. These are one-light-year-tall pillars of cold hydrogen and dust, imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope’s Advanced Camera for Surveys, in a composite image from observations taken in 2005 in hydrogen light (light emitted by hydrogen atoms) along with observations taken in oxygen light (light emitted by oxygen atoms) in 2010. What Hubble can see from about 7,500 light-years away is nothing short of breathtaking.

An Oblique View of Victoria Crater Image Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

Firstly this older image of Victoria Crater. This is an oblique view of Victoria, the crater that MER rover Opportunity studied for over a year. Here, the image has been rotated so that we are looking east, with MRO pointed 22 degrees east of straight down, so it is comparable to a view from an airplane window. Some of the rover tracks are still visible to the north of the crater (left side of the image).

Now the rest of the images I’m about to share with you are from the latest image releases from HiRISE site this month.

“steep north polar peripheral scarp.” Image Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

“Nili Patera” Image Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

“scalloped surface in Utopia region” Image Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

“gullied crater wall” Image Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

“active dune gullies in Kaiser crater” Image Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

“dark-capped plain and hills in western Arabia region intercrater terrain” Image Credit: NASA/JPL/University of Arizona