Space

Photography and astronomy offer humanity a fascinating view into the universe.
A Nikon camera sits next to a white spherical camera with red accents, resembling a design inspired by space gear, on a white surface. The background is dark with a moonlike texture.

The Custom Nikon Z9 and Thermal Blanket Headed to the Moon

Nikon and NASA have a rich history of collaboration dating back more than 50 years when Nikon supplied specialized analog cameras for Apollo missions. Nikon cameras are headed back to the Moon, and Nikon showed off some of the new lunar-bound technology this week at CES.

A detailed grayscale image of the Moon's surface, featuring numerous craters and a stark contrast between illuminated and shadowed areas. Several large craters are prominent in the center-left, highlighting the rugged lunar terrain.

The Three Best Photos From BepiColombo’s Historic Mercury Flyby

The joint European Space Agency (ESA) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) BepiColombo mission performed its sixth flyby of Mercury yesterday, January 8, 2025. This historic maneuver enabled the spacecraft to capture incredible new photos of the planet's surface from just 295 kilometers (183 miles) away.

A vast, colorful galaxy cluster filled with numerous bright stars and galaxies against a dark backdrop. The image showcases a celestial spectacle with scattered light sources of varying sizes and colors, highlighting the universe's vastness.

The 570-Megapixel Dark Energy Camera’s Dazzling View of 230 Sparkling Galaxies

The groundbreaking Dark Energy Camera (DECam) entered service in 2012 and served as the primary camera used for the Dark Energy Survey. The 570-megapixel camera, which features 74 total CCD image sensors, recently captured a dazzling photo of the Antlia Cluster (Abell S636), a group of at least 230 galaxies located about 130 million light-years from Earth.

Left side: A vibrant star cluster with multicolored cosmic clouds and bright stars scattered throughout. Right side: A nebula with greenish hues, featuring a dense cluster of stars and cloudy patterns.

NASA Embraces Holiday Spirit With Images of Stellar Wreath and Cosmic Christmas Tree

Scientists frequently combine data from NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST/Webb) and Chandra X-ray Observatory (Chandra) to get a complete picture of cosmic objects and learn more about the Universe's history. However, this week, the collaboration has a special festive twist as NASA shared new images of a cosmic "wreath" and "Christmas tree" in deep space.

A group of astronauts in yellow space suits with helmets walk in formation under a dark, cloudy sky. The suits feature various patches and insignias. A large aircraft is partially visible in the background.

A Game of Inches: The Suit That Kept a Photographer Alive

It was not on the flight, but rather the day before, as I was sitting in a pressure chamber testing my spacesuit one last time, that I realized how absolute my reliance on it would be. I was well aware of the extreme risk to anyone who had the misfortune of being ejected from a U2. Yet, I took solace in knowing that because of this multi-layered suit, there would at least be a chance, although small, of survival should that situation become a reality.

A deep space image of a bright galaxy with a luminous blue core on the left, extending a faint, irregular jet of light to the right. The background is a dark, star-speckled sky.

This Is the Closest Ever Image of a Galaxy-Eating Quasar

A brand-new Hubble image delivers an incredible view of a quasar, enabling the space telescope to "peer closer than ever into the throat of an energetic monster black hole." The new views, described as "weird," show what could be a group of galaxies falling into a black hole.

Illustration of a spacecraft with solar panels in space, positioned against the backdrop of a glowing sun. The sun's corona is visible, creating a halo effect around the central black circle, which depicts the sun's obscured surface.

How ESA’s Proba-3 Mission Will Create Solar Eclipses in Orbit

After a slight hiccup and one-day delay, the European Space Agency's incredible Proba-3 mission successfully launched into space. The Proba-3 mission will do something never seen before: it will precisely and repeatedly create solar eclipses in orbit using two satellites. Lining up these satellites is a remarkable technological feat and relies heavily on breakthrough imaging technology.

A vibrant cosmic scene displays colorful clouds of interstellar gas and dust in green, red, and yellow hues, surrounded by a multitude of bright stars against a deep space background.

The Final Images from NASA’s Burned-Up NEOWISE Space Telescope

Launched in December 2009, the Near-Earth Object Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (NEOWISE) ended its mission on July 31, 2024, and, as expected, reentered Earth's atmosphere on November 1, burning up. However, while NEOWISE is gone, its impact is still felt. As Space reports, the NEOWISE team recently did one final data release and shared never-before-seen images.

A stunning, colorful image of Jupiter's turbulent atmosphere with swirling clouds and vortices, showcasing shades of blue, white, orange, and brown. The dynamic patterns create a sense of movement across the planet's northern hemisphere.

The Most Spectacular Images From Juno’s Latest Close Flyby of Jupiter

NASA's Juno spacecraft recently made its 66th flyby, or "perijove," of the gas giant, Jupiter, returning many spectacular raw images to Earth. While NASA processes many photos from the Juno mission, community editors are a significant part of the photography efforts, and the latest community submissions are incredible.

A vivid image of a nebula in space, showcasing bright colors with swirling patterns. Orange and red clouds contrast against a dark background, with a striking blue formation resembling a gaseous arc. Twinkling stars are scattered throughout.

This Astrophotographer Captures the Universe Unlike Anyone Else

Through his fantastic images, Finnish astrophotographer J-P Metsavainio shows how photos can be breathtakingly beautiful when art meets science. One of Metsavainio's recent images, WR 134 as a Rising Phoenix, is a brilliant example of the aesthetic wonders of the cosmos and the extreme technical precision required to do astrophotography.