A Handpicked Collection of the Ultimate Space Pictures
A collection of truly spectacular pictures taken in space.
Saturn’s Rings from the Other Side
Credit: Cassini Imaging Team, SSI, JPL, ESA, NASA
We normally see Saturn’s rings the side from which the sun shines on them. This picture was taken from the other side by the robot Cassini spacecraft. I think it’s still spectacular.
An Antarctic Total Solar Eclipse
Credit and Copyright:Fred Bruenjes (moonglow.net)
From the location of Antarctica, this mind boggling picture was taken of the Sun’s total eclipse behind the Moon. This picture shows the Sun’s corona around the Moon. A photographer and his deck chair are also caught up in the middle.
The Fox Fur Nebula
Credit & Copyright: Jean-Charles Cuillandre (CFHT) & Giovanni Anselmi (Coelum Astronomia), Hawaiian Starlight
Simply put, this is a load of dust and gas. Named Fox Fur Nebula, this particular interstellar event is a mixture of that dust and gas, together with lights and winds from stars. They can be found about 2,500 light years away.
If you lean your head towards the right, the left of this picture looks like the head and neck of a grizzly bear and not a fox (from my interpretation anyway).
Phobos: Doomed Moon of Mars
Credit: HiRISE, MRO, LPL (U. Arizona), NASA
Mars, the red planet in our magnificent solar system, has two moons - Phobos and Deimos. These names are derived from Greek, meaning Fear and Panic.
The one in this picture, Phobos, orbits so close to Mars that gravity is pulling it down. Scientists believe that gradually, the stress would shatter it. Poor thing!
Cat’s Eye Hubble Remix
Credit & Copyright: Vicent Peris (OAUV / PTeam), MAST, STScI, AURA, NASA
The Cat’s Eye Nebula is 3,000 light years away from Earth. Even people who’re not really interested in Astronomy know of this well-known sky dweller.
This is actually a sad picture of a dying sun-like star. The picture has been reprocessed to sharpen the visibility of the details.
Hole in the Sun
Credit: SOHO - EIT Consortium, ESA, NASA
Welcome to our Sun, and welcome to its coronal hole. Sometimes high-speed solar winds, atoms and electrons flow out from this hole causing colourful displays of auroral lights visible from Earth.
Lunation
Credit & Copyright: António Cidadão
This is actually a slide show, so if it doesn’t work properly from this page, go here (press control and click) because you simply must see it. This shows what our Moon looks like during all the phases of its lunar cycle. This full cycle takes about 29 and a half days, not unlike the menstrual cycle of a woman.
The surface of Mars
Credit: Viking Project, NASA
The Viking Lander 2 captured a fine image of Mars’ surface which is covered by a thin layer of ice. Either that, or this is a close-up of a ham and cheese pizza.
The Eclipsed Earth
Credit: Mir 27 Crew; Copyright: CNES
This is a picture of Earth during a solar eclipse. The relatively tiny shadow which can be seen darkening the surface is that of the Moon. This shadow moved across the Earth at about 2,000 km per hour. Only people at the very middle of the dark circle can see a total solar eclipse, people further away are able to see a partial one. If you look carefully, you’ll see two bright spots at the top left, which are thought to be Jupiter and Saturn.
I’m always impressed by these space pictures. I could see them again and again and still find something new to look at every time. Time after time, I shall be getting some more of these together. These are my favourite ones at the minute, what’s yours?
The second installment is now available here.
Other Works in This Series of Space Pictures
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35 Responses to “A Handpicked Collection of the Ultimate Space Pictures”
On June 14, 2008 at 9:37 am
great article with awesome photos,..space travel will soon be the next craze
On June 14, 2008 at 9:47 am
Wonderful article and photos.
On June 14, 2008 at 12:45 pm
Wonderful series, thanks for sharing the pictures and info.
On June 14, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Amazing,and good comments also.
On June 14, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Found this site on stumble, really cool pictures! I can’t wait till we can get some more robots out there to take surface images of other planets.
My favorite picture of this bunch is that last one. It’s really rare to get an image of Earth like that, and it shows how we are in line with the other planets. Very weird but cool!
On June 14, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Who loves APOD then???
On June 14, 2008 at 3:23 pm
very good i take it the phobos moon was the death star pics that where on the press a while back
again well done
On June 14, 2008 at 4:13 pm
Our galaxy is so beautiful it’s scary.
On June 14, 2008 at 4:53 pm
Doesn’t mars’ moon look like it has some type of symbol/writing on it on the left?
On June 14, 2008 at 6:38 pm
that looks awesome!
On June 15, 2008 at 6:54 am
First I looked at the pictures without reading anything and that was enough to click on ‘I Like It’ The choice of pictures is fantastic. Then I read what you had to write and it makes the pictures appear even nicer. Keep up the good work.
On June 15, 2008 at 4:31 pm
Fab pictures, looking at space, just a glimpse of what’s out there - the immensity of it all - always starts my brain whirring.
I begin to think about all the random happenings that have enabled life to exist on Earth and this amazing chance we have to be here, I think about what I do with my life on a day to day basis - then I get sad and want to skive work and do something fun and interesting instead.
On June 15, 2008 at 8:49 pm
…Hi there, what amazing pictures,
just to think about what is in outer
space, truly awesome. Great work, and
very educational. Take care.
On June 16, 2008 at 6:28 am
Thanks for your comments everyone. Our world is a truly magnificent place. S Hayes, I agree with you that we were given an amazing chance to be here, but I do not beleive that it was just ‘random happenings’.
On June 16, 2008 at 7:28 am
awesome pictures
On June 16, 2008 at 10:53 am
Wow, I’ve always been fascinated by space, and these pictures are very impressive. My particular favourite was the “Fox Fur Nebula” one. I love science fiction, particularly (yes, here it comes) Star Wars, the idea of life beyond the stars is really appealing to me.
Thanks for putting this on here.
On June 16, 2008 at 1:15 pm
More photos to put on my screensaver! I never thought I’d see a photo of a solar eclipse taken from Antartica, but there it is. And that is the best photo of Phobos I have ever seen (it’s the only one I recall that’s in color, for one thing).
Random chance, indeed. Not within the lifetime of this universe, with all due respect. I’m with you on that one.
On June 17, 2008 at 2:11 am
wow it’s so very amazing.my favorite is “Fox Fur Nebula”..
more picture pls…haha
On June 17, 2008 at 8:44 pm
Awesome, revelatory pictures, almost impossible for the human mind to grasp (size, power, distance); we are such a tiny part of the universe!
On June 18, 2008 at 10:11 am
I counted 5 “awesomes” in the comments here! And am adding another one now. AWESOME!
Ever wonder who hung up all those planets and stars up there and made it spin with such precision. The mind boggles!
On June 20, 2008 at 2:05 am
Awesome #6 - It made me miss my home planet Mars!
On June 20, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Great collection of photos,thanks for posting them
On June 22, 2008 at 6:48 am
Fabulous pictures.
On June 22, 2008 at 9:10 am
nice one…^_^
On June 22, 2008 at 5:40 pm
I heard of a new star visible with the naked eye from Earth that has been recently discovered last october. If anyone has any information about what this “comet” could be… Please reply.
On July 4, 2008 at 2:01 am
Thanks for your kind comments everyone. I’ll soon be doing some more of these.
On July 30, 2008 at 11:30 am
Some impressive photos. Especially the Antarctic and MiR eclipse.
On September 27, 2008 at 5:10 pm
супер подборка!
On October 30, 2008 at 9:35 am
Cool moon phase slide show thingy
On October 30, 2008 at 12:54 pm
Shopped.
On October 31, 2008 at 7:10 am
Красиво, но я сомневаюсь в реалистичности фото…как-то тянет фотошопом от этого…
On October 31, 2008 at 7:13 am
Особенно Сатурн…баян
On November 3, 2008 at 2:40 pm
These pictures are amazing! I love the other side of Saturn, I don’t think I have see it before and the Antarctic Total Solar Eclipse is amazing.
On January 12, 2009 at 5:43 pm
A fantastic collection of images and article. Thank you much for sharing.
On April 13, 2009 at 10:23 am
I think tacos made with Juliet Mae Spices, “Seriously Great Taco Blend” (online), are a tasty treat to enjoy while viewing the universe.
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