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Collapse of an Ice Shelf

Animation of collapsing ice shelf

Source: NASA's Earth Observatory

Published: December 18, 2014

Collapse of the Larsen B Ice Shelf in Antarctica, imaged Jan 31 through April 13, 2002.

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The largest NASA Hubble Space Telescope image ever assembled, this sweeping bird’s-eye view of a portion of the Andromeda galaxy (M31) is the sharpest large composite image ever taken of our ...

The largest NASA Hubble Space Telescope image ever assembled, this sweeping bird’s-eye view of a portion of the Andromeda galaxy (M31) is the sharpest large composite image ever taken of our galactic next-door neighbor.

Hubble’s High-Definition Panoramic View of the Andromeda Galaxy

An infrared composite image of the two hemispheres of Uranus obtained with Keck Telescope adaptive optics.

An infrared composite image of the two hemispheres of Uranus obtained with Keck Telescope adaptive optics.

Keck Telescope Views of Uranus

On April 21, 2010, NASA released the first-light images from its newest sun-monitoring mission, the Solar Dynamics Observatory.

Ribbons of plasma from the sun against the black backdrop of space.

Prominence from the Solar Dynamics Observatory

Bennu and other asteroids represent building blocks of our solar system’s rocky planets.

artist's concept of asteroids in space

Bennu and other asteroids

Dickinson crater on Venus as seen by the Magellan orbiter radar.

Impact Crater on Venus

Dickinson Crater on Venus

On 3 November 1973, the Mariner Venus/Mercury 1973 spacecraft -- also known as Mariner 10 -- was launched from Kennedy Space Center.

On 3 November 1973, the Mariner Venus/Mercury 1973 spacecraft -- also known as Mariner 10 -- was launched from Kennedy Space Center.

Mariner 10 Diagram

Lockheed Martin Space Systems technicians Jim Young (left) and Jack Farmerie (right) work on the science deck of NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander.

Lockheed Martin Space Systems technicians Jim Young (left) and Jack Farmerie (right) work on the science deck of NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander.

Work on Phoenix Science Deck

Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko by Rosetta's OSIRIS narrow-angle camera on 3 August 2014, from a distance of 285 km (177 miles).

Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko by Rosetta's OSIRIS narrow-angle camera on 3 August 2014, from a distance of 285 km (177 miles).

Rosetta's Comet From 177 Miles

This is the original Voyager "Blue Movie" (so named because it was built from blue filter images). It records the approach of Voyager 1 in 1979 during a period of over 60 Jupiter days tak...

animation of rotating jupiter growing larger

Voyager 'Blue Movie'

Voyager 2 obtained this parting shot of Triton, Neptune's largest satellite, shortly after closest approach to the moon and passage through its shadow on the morning of Aug. 25, 1989.

Voyager 2 obtained this parting shot of Triton, Neptune's largest satellite, shortly after closest approach to the moon and passage through its shadow on the morning of Aug. 25, 1989.

Voyager's Parting Shot of Triton

This image captures the swirling cloud formations around the south pole of Jupiter, looking up toward the equatorial region.

Cloud formations around the south pole of Jupiter

Jovian ‘Twilight Zone’

The globe of Saturn, seen here in natural color, is reminiscent of a holiday ornament in this wide-angle view from NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

The globe of Saturn, seen here in natural color, is reminiscent of a holiday ornament in this wide-angle view from NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

Painted Lines on an Ornament

This colorful view of Mercury was produced by using images from the color base map imaging campaign during MESSENGER's primary mission.

The planet Mercury

Colors of the Innermost Planet: View 1

NASA's Dawn spacecraft spotted this tall, conical mountain on Ceres from a distance of 915 miles (1,470 kilometers).

NASA's Dawn spacecraft spotted this tall, conical mountain on Ceres from a distance of 915 miles (1,470 kilometers).

The Lonely Mountain

Saturn's icy moon Rhea passes in front of Titan as seen by NASA's Cassini spacecraft in 2009.

Two crescent moons overlapping in space.

Contrasting Crescents

After more than 13 years at Saturn, and with its fate sealed, NASA's Cassini spacecraft bid farewell to the Saturnian system by firing the shutters of its wide-angle camera and capturing this l...

After more than 13 years at Saturn, and with its fate sealed, NASA's Cassini spacecraft bid farewell to the Saturnian system by firing the shutters of its wide-angle camera and capturing this last, full mosaic of Saturn and its rings two days before the spacecraft's dramatic plunge into the planet's atmosphere.

A Farewell to Saturn

The F ring shows off a rich variety of phenomena in this image from the Cassini spacecraft.

The F ring shows off a rich variety of phenomena in this image from the Cassini spacecraft.

This view of the volcanic plains of Neptune's moon Triton was produced using topographic maps derived from images acquired by NASA's Voyager spacecraft during its August 1989 flyby, 20 year...

This view of the volcanic plains of Neptune's moon Triton was produced using topographic maps derived from images acquired by NASA's Voyager spacecraft during its August 1989 flyby, 20 years ago this week.

Triton's Volcanic Plains #2

This is the highest-resolution color departure shot of Pluto's receding crescent from NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, taken when the spacecraft was 120,000 miles (200,000 kilometers) away f...

This is the highest-resolution color departure shot of Pluto's receding crescent from NASA's New Horizons spacecraft, taken when the spacecraft was 120,000 miles (200,000 kilometers) away from Pluto.

Blue Rays: New Horizons' High-Res Farewell to Pluto

Io, the most volcanic body in the solar system is seen in the highest resolution obtained to date by NASA's Galileo spacecraft.

Io, the most volcanic body in the solar system is seen in the highest resolution obtained to date [Sept.7 & Nov. 6, 1996] by NASA's Galileo spacecraft.

High Resolution Global View of Io

This test image from the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) captures a swath of the southern sky along the plane of our galaxy. More than 200,000 stars are visible in this image.

Black and white image packed with stars.

TESS: 200,000 stars

This is an image of the meteorite that NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity found and examined in September 2010.

This is an image of the meteorite that NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity found and examined in September 2010.

Mars Meteorite: Oileán Ruaidh

A Venera 13 Lander image of the surface of Venus east of Phoebe Regio.

A Venera 13 Lander image of the surface of Venus at 7.5 S, 303. E, east of Phoebe Regio.

Venera 13 on Venus - Colorized

This mosaic of NEAR Shoemaker images, taken on December 3, 2000, from an orbital altitude of 200 kilometers (124 miles), provides an overview of the eastern part of the asteroid's southern hemi...

This mosaic of NEAR Shoemaker images, taken on December 3, 2000, from an orbital altitude of 200 kilometers (124 miles), provides an overview of the eastern part of the asteroid's southern hemisphere.

A Southern Hemisphere Overview

This colorful image from NASA's Dawn mission shows material northwest of the crater Sextilia on the giant asteroid Vesta. Sextilia, located around 30 degrees south latitude, is at the bottom ri...

This colorful image from NASA's Dawn mission shows material northwest of the crater Sextilia on the giant asteroid Vesta. Sextilia, located around 30 degrees south latitude, is at the bottom right of this image.

Vesta's Many Colors at Sextilia

This enhanced color mosaic combines some of the sharpest views of Pluto that NASA's New Horizons spacecraft obtained during its July 14 flyby.

This enhanced color mosaic combines some of the sharpest views of Pluto that NASA's New Horizons spacecraft obtained during its July 14 flyby.

Pluto's Close-up, Now in Color

An image of Phobos by the High-Resolution Stereo Camera on board ESA's Mars Express spacecraft on January 22, 2007.

An image of Phobos by the High-Resolution Stereo Camera on board ESA's Mars Express spacecraft on January 22, 2007.

Phobos Just Below Mars Limb

This high resolution image of the icy crust of Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, reveals a surface criss-crossed by multiple sets of ridges and fractures.

$This high resolution image of the icy crust of Europa, one of Jupiter's moons, reveals a surface criss-crossed by multiple sets of ridges and fractures.$

Ridges and Fractures on Europa

This composite Hubble Space Telescope image captures the positions of Comet Siding Spring and Mars in a never-before-seen close passage of a comet by the Red Planet, which happened at 2:28 p.m. EDT...

This composite Hubble Space Telescope image captures the positions of Comet Siding Spring and Mars in a never-before-seen close passage of a comet by the Red Planet, which happened at 2:28 p.m. EDT October 19, 2014.

Mars and Comet Siding Spring

Color Pluto, July 13, 2015.

Color image of Pluto

In September, the New Horizons team released a stunning but incomplete image of Pluto's crescent.

In September, the New Horizons team released a stunning but incomplete image of Pluto's crescent.

A Full View of Pluto's Stunning Crescent

Three planets and our moon put on a show for astronaut Scott Kelly aboard the International Space Station.

Crescent Earth above a lineup of Jupiter, Venus and Earth's Moon.

Moon, Venus, Jupiter, Earth Lineup

This time-lapse animation of two true-color images taken 12 minutes apart neatly captures storm movement in the southern hemisphere of Jupiter.

Storm movement in the southern hemisphere of Jupiter

Ghost in Motion

Two 2001 images from the Mars Orbiter Camera on NASA's Mars Global Surveyor orbiter show a dramatic change in the planet's appearance when haze raised by dust-storm activity in the south be...

Two 2001 images from the Mars Orbiter Camera on NASA's Mars Global Surveyor orbiter show a dramatic change in the planet's appearance when haze raised by dust-storm activity in the south became globally distributed.

Dust Haze Hiding the Martian Surface in 2001

This image of Europa's southern hemisphere was obtained by the solid state imaging (CCD) system on board NASA's Galileo spacecraft during its sixth orbit of Jupiter.

This image of Europa's southern hemisphere was obtained by the solid state imaging (CCD) system on board NASA's Galileo spacecraft during its sixth orbit of Jupiter.

Thera and Thrace Macula on Europa

Launched on March 2, 1972, Pioneer 10 was the first spacecraft to travel through the asteroid belt, and the first spacecraft to make direct observations and obtain close-up images of Jupiter.

Rocket launching at night.

Pioneer 10 Launch

This picture of Venus was taken by the Galileo spacecrafts Solid State Imaging System on February 14, 1990, at a range of almost 1.7 million miles from the planet.

This picture of Venus was taken by the Galileo spacecrafts Solid State Imaging System on February 14, 1990, at a range of almost 1.7 million miles from the planet.

Venus Cloud Patterns (Colorized and Filtered)

These two pictures of Uranus were compiled from images recorded by Voyager 2 on Jan. 10, 1986, when the NASA spacecraft was 18 million kilometers (11 million miles) from the planet.

These two pictures of Uranus were compiled from images recorded by Voyager 2 on Jan. 10, 1986, when the NASA spacecraft was 18 million kilometers (11 million miles) from the planet.

Uranus, Toward the Planet's Pole of Rotation

This true-color simulated view of Jupiter is composed of 4 images taken by NASA's Cassini spacecraft on December 7, 2000.

This true-color simulated view of Jupiter is composed of 4 images taken by NASA's Cassini spacecraft on December 7, 2000.

High Resolution Globe of Jupiter

These mosaics (6 frames each) show the appearance of the Great Red Spot in infrared light (757 nanometers at upper left), violet light (415 nanometers at upper right), and infrared light within bot...

These mosaics (6 frames each) show the appearance of the Great Red Spot in infrared light (757 nanometers at upper left), violet light (415 nanometers at upper right), and infrared light within both a weak (732 nanometers at lower left) and a strong (886 nanometers at lower right) methane absorption band.

The Great Red Spot at Four Different Wavelengths

In this 30 second exposure, a meteor streaks across the sky during the annual Perseid meteor shower Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015, in Spruce Knob, West Virginia.

In this 30 second exposure, a meteor streaks across the sky during the annual Perseid meteor shower Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015, in Spruce Knob, West Virginia.

Perseid Meteor Shower 2015

This image was made from observations on 2 November 2013, and combines pictures of comet ISON taken through blue and red filters.

This image was made from observations on 2 November 2013, and combines pictures of comet ISON taken through blue and red filters.

ISON in November by Hubble

This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows a portion of the famous "White Rock" feature in Pollack Crater in the Sinus Sabaeus region of Mars.

This Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) Mars Orbiter Camera (MOC) image shows a portion of the famous "White Rock" feature in Pollack Crater in the Sinus Sabaeus region of Mars.

Citizen scientist Rick Lundh created this abstract Jovian artwork using data from the JunoCam imager on NASA’s Juno spacecraft.

Abstract Jovian artwork

Abstract Jupiter Atmosphere

Ceres' Haulani Crater, with a diameter of 21 miles (34 kilometers), shows evidence of landslides from its crater rim.

Ceres' Haulani Crater, with a diameter of 21 miles (34 kilometers), shows evidence of landslides from its crater rim.

Haulani Crater in Enhanced Color

This shaded relief image of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula show a subtle, but unmistakable, indication of the Chicxulub impact crater.

This shaded relief image of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula show a subtle, but unmistakable, indication of the Chicxulub impact crater.

Shaded Relief with Height as Color, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

Like a drop of dew hanging on a leaf, Tethys appears to be stuck to the A and F rings from this perspective.

Like a drop of dew hanging on a leaf, Tethys appears to be stuck to the A and F rings from this perspective.

Stuck on the Rings

This pair of Voyager 2 images (FDS 11446.21 and 11448.10), two 591-s exposures obtained through the clear filter of the wide angle camera, show the full ring system with the highest sensitivity.

This pair of Voyager 2 images (FDS 11446.21 and 11448.10), two 591-s exposures obtained through the clear filter of the wide angle camera, show the full ring system with the highest sensitivity.

Neptune - Full Ring System

This mosaic of NAC images shows the impact crater Hokusai, located on Mercury at a latitude of 58°N.

The Hokusai Crater on the planet Mercury

The Impressive Rays of Hokusai

Scientist-astronaut Harrison H. Schmitt stands by the American flag during a moonwalk on the Apollo 17 mission.

Photo of astronaut next to American flag with Earth in background

A Scientist on the Moon

NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft discovered strange hollows on the surface of Mercury.

NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft discovered strange hollows on the surface of Mercury.

Hollows on Mercury

Saturn's second largest moon Rhea pops in and out of view behind the planet's rings in this image from the Cassini spacecraft, which includes the smaller moon Epimetheus.

Saturn's second largest moon Rhea pops in and out of view behind the planet's rings in this image from the Cassini spacecraft, which includes the smaller moon Epimetheus.

NASA's New Horizons captured this high-resolution enhanced color view of Charon just before closest approach on July 14, 2015.

Enhanced color image showing surface details of moon Charon.

Charon in Enhanced Color

NASA's Dawn mission, together with the International Astronomical Union, established that craters on Ceres would be named for agricultural deities from all over the world, and other features wo...

NASA's Dawn mission, together with the International Astronomical Union, established that craters on Ceres would be named for agricultural deities from all over the world, and other features would be named for agricultural festivals.

New Names on Ceres

Saturn's moon Enceladus reflects sunlight brightly while the planet and its rings fill the background of this Cassini view.

Saturn's moon Enceladus reflects sunlight brightly while the planet and its rings fill the background of this Cassini view.

Bright Enceladus

This rock encountered by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover is an iron meteorite called "Lebanon," similar in shape and luster to iron meteorites found on Mars by the previous generation of ...

This rock encountered by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover is an iron meteorite called "Lebanon," similar in shape and luster to iron meteorites found on Mars by the previous generation of rovers, Spirit and Opportunity.

Curiosity Finds Iron Meteorite on Mars

The mobile service tower at SLC-3 is rolled back to reveal the United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas-V rocket with the NASA InSight spacecraft onboard.

Gantry pulled away from rocket on foggy night.

InSight Rollback

On June 5 2012, SDO collected images of the rarest predictable solar event—the transit of Venus across the face of the sun.

On June 5 2012, SDO collected images of the rarest predictable solar event—the transit of Venus across the face of the sun.

2012 Venus Transit

This mosaic of a prominent mound located on the western side of Cerealia Facula was obtained by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on June 22, 2018 from an altitude of about 21 miles (34 kilometers).

mesa seen from above

Prominent Mound in Ceres’ Cerealia Facula Region

Less than 20 minutes after Cassini's close approach to Titan on March 31, 2005, its cameras captured this view of Saturn through Titan's upper atmosphere. The northern part of Saturn's ...

Hazy image of Saturn

Saturn Through the Haze

Part of the complex geologic history of icy Triton, Neptune's largest satellite, is shown in this Voyager 2 photo, which has a resolution of 900 meters (2,700 feet) per picture element.

Part of the complex geologic history of icy Triton, Neptune's largest satellite, is shown in this Voyager 2 photo, which has a resolution of 900 meters (2,700 feet) per picture element.

Complex Geologic History of Triton

These NASA Hubble Space Telescope views of the blue-green planet Neptune provide three snapshots of changing weather conditions.

These NASA Hubble Space Telescope views of the blue-green planet Neptune provide three snapshots of changing weather conditions.

Hubble's View of Neptune

Sequence of images from Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO) in 171 wavelength of the Venus transit, merged together to show path of Venus across the Sun.

Sequence of images from Solar Dynamic Observatory (SDO) in 171 wavelength of the Venus transit, merged together to show path of Venus across the Sun.

2012 Transit Path

Two light sources illuminate Saturn's highly reflective moon Enceladus in this image featuring bright rings and the small moon Pandora in the foreground.

Two light sources illuminate Saturn's highly reflective moon Enceladus in this image featuring bright rings and the small moon Pandora in the foreground.

Dual Illuminated Enceladus

Dust plumes from Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan blow southward over the Arabian Sea, Dec. 28, 2012.

Satellite image of dust plumes blowing over the Arabian Sea

The Mysteries of Clouds and Aerosols

Spurred by the launch of Sputnik, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, which creates the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, better k...

Spurred by the launch of Sputnik, U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs the National Aeronautics and Space Act of 1958, which creates the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, better known as NASA.

Artist's concept of LADEE spacecraft approaching the moon.

Artist's concept of LADEE spacecraft approaching the moon.

LADEE Approaches the Moon

One of the most captivating views acquired during MESSENGER's first Mercury flyby was of the crater Apollodorus surrounded by the radiating troughs of Pantheon Fossae.

One of the most captivating views acquired during MESSENGER's first Mercury flyby was of the crater Apollodorus surrounded by the radiating troughs of Pantheon Fossae.

The Architect and His Temple

Martian weather between May 14, 2018 and May 20, 2018: The Mars Color Imager (MARCI) aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) acquires a global view of the red planet and its weather ...

The Mars Color Imager (MARCI) aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) acquires a global view of the red planet and its weather patterns every day.

Martian Weather Report

An illustration of the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud in relation to our solar system.

An illustration of the Kuiper Belt and Oort Cloud in relation to our solar system.

The existence of oceans or lakes of liquid methane on Saturn's moon Titan was predicted more than 20 years ago.

The existence of oceans or lakes of liquid methane on Saturn's moon Titan was predicted more than 20 years ago.

Liquid Lakes on Titan

This almost surreal view of Iapetus was acquired by Cassini about 10 minutes after the spacecraft's closest approach to the icy moon during a close flyby on New Year's Eve 2004.

This almost surreal view of Iapetus was acquired by Cassini about 10 minutes after the spacecraft's closest approach to the icy moon during a close flyby on New Year's Eve 2004.

Iapetus by Saturn Shrine

Saturn's moon Enceladus, imaged at high phase, shows off its spectacular water ice plumes emanating from its south polar region.

Saturn's moon Enceladus, imaged at high phase, shows off its spectacular water ice plumes emanating from its south polar region.

High-Phase Plumes

These six narrow-angle color images were made from the first ever 'portrait' of the solar system taken by Voyager 1, which was more than 4 billion miles from Earth and about 32 degrees abov...

These six narrow-angle color images were made from the first ever 'portrait' of the solar system taken by Voyager 1, which was more than 4 billion miles from Earth and about 32 degrees above the ecliptic.

Solar System Family Portrait

These two images of Saturn show the entire south polar region, not just the little area around the core of the hurricane-like vortex.

These two images of Saturn show the entire south polar region, not just the little area around the core of the hurricane-like vortex.

Saturn's South Polar Region Revealed

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) recently captured a unique view of Earth from the spacecraft's vantage point in orbit around the moon.

NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) recently captured a unique view of Earth from the spacecraft's vantage point in orbit around the moon.

NASA Releases New High-Resolution Earthrise Image

Venus is seen next to the crescent moon during the daytime, prior to the start of occultation, on Monday, 7 December 2015 in Washington, D.C.

Venus is seen next to the crescent moon during the daytime, prior to the start of occultation, on Monday, 7 December 2015 in Washington, D.C.

Lunar Occultation of Venus

NASA's Cassini spacecraft has delivered a glorious view of Saturn, taken while the spacecraft was in Saturn's shadow.

NASA's Cassini spacecraft has delivered a glorious view of Saturn, taken while the spacecraft was in Saturn's shadow.

A Splendor Seldom Seen

The sequence of seven images in this animation shows sunspots as viewed by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover from June 27 to July 8, 2015. From Mars, the rover was in position to see the opposite sid...

The sequence of seven images as viewed by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover from June 27 to July 8, 2015. From Mars, the rover was in position to see the opposite side of the Sun from the side facing Earth during this period.

Tracking Sunspots from Mars, Summer 2015

Pluto's moon Nix (left), shown here in enhanced color as imaged by NASA's New Horizons Ralph instrument, has a reddish spot that has attracted the interest of mission scientists.

Pluto's moon Nix (left), shown here in enhanced color as imaged by NASA's New Horizons Ralph instrument, has a reddish spot that has attracted the interest of mission scientists.

'Capturing' Nix and Hydra

This geological map covers a portion of Pluto's surface that measures 1,290 miles (2,070 kilometers) from top to bottom, and includes the vast nitrogen-ice plain informally named Sputnik Planum...

This geological map covers a portion of Pluto's surface that measures 1,290 miles (2,070 kilometers) from top to bottom, and includes the vast nitrogen-ice plain informally named Sputnik Planum and surrounding terrain.

Putting Pluto's Geology on the Map

This look back at a dune that NASA's Curiosity Mars rover drove across was taken by the rover's Mast Camera (Mastcam) during the 538th Martian day, or sol, of Curiosity's work on Mars (...

This look back at a dune that NASA's Curiosity Mars rover drove across was taken by the rover's Mast Camera (Mastcam) during the 538th Martian day, or sol, of Curiosity's work on Mars (Feb. 9, 2014).

Curiosity's Color View of Martian Dune After Crossing It

Behold one of the more detailed images of the Earth yet created.

Behold one of the more detailed images of the Earth yet created.

Earth by Suomi NPP

MESSENGER's Wide Angle Camera (WAC), part of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS), is equipped with 11 narrow-band color filters.

MESSENGER's Wide Angle Camera (WAC), part of the Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS), is equipped with 11 narrow-band color filters.

Mercury's Subtle Colors

In this 20-second exposure, a meteor lights up the sky over the top of a mountain ridge near Park City, Utah.

In this 20-second exposure, a meteor lights up the sky over the top of a mountain ridge near Park City, Utah.

Falling from Space

This view, like PIA08303, shows Prometheus with a streamer it has created in the inner edge of the F ring.

This view, like PIA08303, shows Prometheus with a streamer it has created in the inner edge of the F ring.

Toying with Gravity

This image of Jupiter's icy satellite Europa shows surface features such as domes and ridges, as well as a region of disrupted terrain including crustal plates which are thought to have broken ...

An image of the surface of Europa

Europa "Ice Rafts" in Local and Color Context

A huge, handle-shaped prominence erupting from the Sun in 1999.

Large handle of glowing plasma extending from the Sun.

Handle-Shaped Prominence on the Sun

The image on the left shows a region of Europa's crust made up of blocks which are thought to have broken apart and "rafted" into new positions.

The image on the left shows a region of Europa's crust made up of blocks which are thought to have broken apart and "rafted" into new positions.

Blocks in the Europan Crust Provide More Evidence of Subterranean Ocean

Japan's Subaru Telescope captured this near-infrared image of Uranus and moons Miranda (top center) and Ariel (bottom left).

Japan's Subaru Telescope captured this near-infrared image of Uranus and moons Miranda (top center) and Ariel (bottom left).

A New Look at Uranus

Triton Voyager 2 approach sequence with latitude-longitude grid superposed.

Triton Voyager 2 approach sequence with latitude-longitude grid superposed.

Color Sequence of Triton Approach Images

New Horizons scientists use enhanced color images to detect differences in the composition and texture of Pluto’s surface.

Full disk image of Pluto.

Pluto Dazzles in False Color

This composite image shows the comparative sizes of nine asteroids. Up until now, Lutetia, with a diameter of 81 miles (130 kilometers), was the largest asteroid visited by a spacecraft, which occu...

This composite image shows the comparative sizes of nine asteroids. Up until now, Lutetia, with a diameter of 81 miles (130 kilometers), was the largest asteroid visited by a spacecraft, which occurred during a flyby.

These three views of Titan from the Cassini spacecraft illustrate how different the same place can look in different wavelengths of light.

These three views of Titan from the Cassini spacecraft illustrate how different the same place can look in different wavelengths of light.

Cassini's Three Views of Titan

Our solar system is made up of a star—the Sun—eight planets, 146 moons, a bunch of comets, asteroids and space rocks, ice, and several dwarf planets, such as Pluto.

Our solar system is made up of a star—the Sun—eight planets, 146 moons, a bunch of comets, asteroids and space rocks, ice, and several dwarf planets, such as Pluto.

Our Solar System

Like early explorers mapping the continents of our globe, astronomers are busy charting the spiral structure of our galaxy, the Milky Way.

Illustration of our galaxy with and without labels.

The Milky Way Galaxy

This sequence of images shows the Sun from its surface to its upper atmosphere and in order of temperature from the first one at 6,000 degrees C on the surface out to about 10 million deg...

This sequence of images shows the Sun from its surface to its upper atmosphere and in order of temperature, the colors go: orange, red, yellow, lighter yellow, purple, blue, green, lighter blue.

From Hot to Hottest

A view of the far side of the Moon as it passed in front of Earth from a vantage point more than a million miles away.

Moon passing in front of Earth.

From a Million Miles Away, Moon Crossing Face of Earth

See a jet stream speeding through Jupiter’s atmosphere in this new view taken by NASA’s Juno spacecraft. The color-enhanced image was taken on May 23, 2018.

colorful swirling clouds

Jovian Jet Stream

Cassini peers through the icy particles that comprise Saturn's rings as Prometheus sits perched on the planet's limb (edge).

Cassini peers through the icy particles that comprise Saturn's rings as Prometheus sits perched on the planet's limb (edge).

Prometheus On the Edge

This composite image shows a sliver of Pluto's large moon, Charon, and all four of Pluto's small moons, as resolved by the Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) on the New Horizons space...

This composite image shows a sliver of Pluto's large moon, Charon, and all four of Pluto's small moons, as resolved by the Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) on the New Horizons spacecraft.

Family Portrait of Pluto's Moons

Voyager 2 took this image of Neptune's irregularly-shaped satellite 1989N1 from a range of 870,000 kilometers (540,000 miles).

Voyager 2 took this image of Neptune's irregularly-shaped satellite 1989N1 from a range of 870,000 kilometers (540,000 miles).

This composite infrared image, derived from data collected by the Jovian Infrared Auroral Mapper (JIRAM) instrument aboard NASA’s Juno mission to Jupiter during a Feb. 2, 2017, pass over the ...

A central cyclone at Jupiter's north pole and the eight cyclones encircling it

Cyclones Encircle Jupiter’s North Pole

Various observations of Pluto over the course of several decades.

Sequence showing improving Pluto views from Discovery to New Horizons flyby in 2015.

Pluto Through the Years

This view is a mosaic of three images of Eros taken by NEAR Shoemaker on August 19, 2000, when the spacecraft was orbiting at about 50 kilometers (31 miles) above the asteroid.

Black and white view of surface features on asteroid Eros

This stunning false-color view of Saturn's moon Hyperion reveals crisp details across the strange, tumbling moon's surface.

This stunning false-color view of Saturn's moon Hyperion reveals crisp details across the strange, tumbling moon's surface.

Mosaic of Triton constructed from 16 individual images.

Mosaic of Triton constructed from 16 individual images.

The exquisite sharpness of this 2005 image from NASA/ESA's Hubble Space Telescope has plucked out an underlying population of infant stars embedded in the nebula NGC 346 that are still forming ...

Infant stars embedded in the nebula NGC 346

Hubble’s Exquisite View of a Stellar Nursery

This view of the asteroid 243 Ida is a mosaic of five image frames acquired by the Galileo spacecraft's solid-state imaging system at ranges of 3,057 to 3,821 kilometers (1,900 to 2,375 miles) ...

Black and white photo of asteroid Ida

Asteroid Ida - Five Frame Mosaic

Ceres' surface shows evidence for different types of flows that indicate the presence of ice in the regolith (as described in PIA21471).

Ceres' surface shows evidence for different types of flows that indicate the presence of ice in the regolith (as described in PIA21471).

Flow Around a Crater on Ceres

This mosaic of images from the Surface Stereo Imager camera on NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander shows several trenches dug by Phoenix, plus a corner of the spacecraft's deck and the Martian arcti...

This mosaic of images from the Surface Stereo Imager camera on NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander shows several trenches dug by Phoenix, plus a corner of the spacecraft's deck and the Martian arctic plain stretching to the horizon.

Composite View from Phoenix Lander

Maat Mons is displayed in this computer generated three-dimensional perspective of the surface of Venus.

Maat Mons is displayed in this computer generated three-dimensional perspective of the surface of Venus.

Venus - 3D Perspective View of Maat Mons

Sapas Mons is displayed in the center of this computer-generated three-dimensional perspective view of the surface of Venus.

Sapas Mons on the the planet Venus

Venus - 3-D Perspective View of Sapas Mons

This color image of the Sun, Earth and Venus was taken by the Voyager 1 spacecraft Feb. 14, 1990, when it was approximately from a distance of about 4 billion miles.

This color image of the Sun, Earth and Venus was taken by the Voyager 1 spacecraft Feb. 14, 1990. The planets appear as scattered rays.

Solar System Portrait – View of the Sun, Earth and Venus

On Dec. 13, 1972, scientist-astronaut Harrison H. Schmitt is photographed standing next to a huge, split lunar boulder during the third Apollo 17 extravehicular activity (EVA) at the Taurus-Littrow...

Astronaut on the moon with lunar boulder

Apollo 17 Extravehicular Activity

This simulated perspective view shows Occator Crater, measuring 57 miles (92 kilometers) across and 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) deep, which contains the brightest area on Ceres.

This simulated perspective view shows Occator Crater, measuring 57 miles (92 kilometers) across and 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) deep, which contains the brightest area on Ceres.

Occator Perspective View

The Cassini spacecraft examines the anti-Saturnian side of Dione and shows the cratered surface east of the moon's distinctive wispy terrain.

The Cassini spacecraft examines the anti-Saturnian side of Dione and shows the cratered surface east of the moon's distinctive wispy terrain.

One year of African fires are shown in red over the course of 2006.

Animation showing fires in Africa during 2006

Saturn's unusual appearance in this picture is a result of the planet being imaged via an infrared filter.

Saturn's unusual appearance in this picture is a result of the planet being imaged via an infrared filter.

Darkness Descending

NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity recorded the dawn of the rover's 4,999th Martian day, or sol, with its Panoramic Camera (Pancam) on Feb. 15, 2018, yielding this processed, approxi...

Dawn of the rover's 4,999th Martian day

New Day for Longest-Working Mars Rover

This close-up view of the icy surface of Europa, a moon of Jupiter, was obtained on December 20, 1996, by the Solid State Imaging system on board the Galileo spacecraft during its fourth orbit arou...

This close-up view of the icy surface of Europa, a moon of Jupiter, was obtained on December 20, 1996, by the Solid State Imaging system on board the Galileo spacecraft during its fourth orbit around Jupiter.

Close-up of Europa's Surface

A giant of a moon appears before a giant of a planet undergoing seasonal changes in this natural color view of Titan and Saturn from NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

A giant of a moon appears before a giant of a planet undergoing seasonal changes in this natural color view of Titan and Saturn from NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

Colorful Colossuses and Changing Hues

This picture shows the asteroids Ida (left) and Gaspra (right) to the same scale.

Image of asteroids Ida and Gastra

Image of Pluto and Charon from New Horizons.

Color image of Pluto and its moon Charon

Pluto and Charon

An image of Jupiter’s southern hemisphere as captured by NASA’s Juno spacecraft on Dec. 16.

hemisphere of jupiter in dark space

Falling Away from Jupiter

This view of the Nicholson Regio/Arbela Sulcus region on Jupiter's moon Ganymede, taken by NASA's Galileo spacecraft, shows the stark contrast between the smooth bright terrain and the surr...

$This view of the Nicholson Regio/Arbela Sulcus region on Jupiter's moon Ganymede, taken by NASA's Galileo spacecraft, shows the stark contrast between the smooth bright terrain and the surrounding highly fractured dark terrain.$

Regional View of Bright and Dark Terrain

The Cassini spacecraft captures here one of its closest views of Saturn's ring-embedded moon Daphnis.

The Cassini spacecraft captures here one of its closest views of Saturn's ring-embedded moon Daphnis.

Closest Daphnis

Sitting along the northwest rim of the Pacific Ring of Fire, Kamchatka is one of the most volcanically active parcels of land in the world.

Aerial view of plumes rising over a volcano on a snow-covered landscape

Plumes Over the Kamchatka Peninsula

Three large meteorite impact craters, with diameters that range from 37 to 50 km (23 to 31 miles), are seen in this image of the Lavinia region on Venus.

Three large meteorite impact craters, with diameters that range from 37 to 50 km (23 to 31 miles), are seen in this image of the Lavinia region on Venus.

Lavinia Region Impact Craters

Saturn's moon Tethys appears to float between two sets of rings in this view from NASA's Cassini spacecraft, but it's just a trick of geometry.

Saturn's moon Tethys appears to float between two sets of rings in this view from NASA's Cassini spacecraft, but it's just a trick of geometry.

Ices and Shadows

The small dot moving slightly off to the left of center in this image is newly-discovered Kuiper Belt object 2004 DW.

The small dot moving slightly off to the left of center in this image is newly-discovered Kuiper Belt object 2004 DW.

Distant Planetoid

NASA's Cassini spacecraft spied details on the pockmarked surface of Saturn's moon Prometheus (86 kilometers, or 53 miles across) during a moderately close flyby on Dec. 6, 2015.

NASA's Cassini spacecraft spied details on the pockmarked surface of Saturn's moon Prometheus (86 kilometers, or 53 miles across) during a moderately close flyby on Dec. 6, 2015.

Prometheus Up Close

A 3D anaglyph view of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko based on two images acquired by Rosetta’s OSIRIS narrow angle camera on 12 August 2015, capturing a spectacular jet event.

3D anaglyph view of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

Comet Jet in 3D

Dr. Wernher von Braun explains the Saturn V Launch System to President John F. Kennedy.

Dr. Wernher von Braun explains the Saturn V Launch System to President John F. Kennedy.

Kennedy and von Braun

This color photo of Neptune's large satellite Triton was obtained on Aug. 24 1989 at a range of 530,000 kilometers (330,000 miles).

This color photo of Neptune's large satellite Triton was obtained on Aug. 24 1989 at a range of 530,000 kilometers (330,000 miles).

Detail of Triton's Surface

What appear to be spiders scampering across the martian landscape are actually cracks in the surface of the southern polar region on Mars, seen by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on August 23, 2009.

What appear to be spiders scampering across the martian landscape are actually cracks in the surface of the southern polar region on Mars, seen by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter on August 23, 2009.

South Pole Spiders

Comet ISON shines in this five-minute exposure taken at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center on 8 Nov. at 5:40 a.m. EST.

Comet ISON shines in this five-minute exposure taken at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center on 8 Nov. at 5:40 a.m. EST.

Comet ISON Passes Through Virgo

This artist's conception of newly-discovered object 'Quaoar' - orbiting our Sun far beyond Pluto - shows how the tiny object compares to the size of North America.

This artist's conception of newly-discovered object 'Quaoar' - orbiting our Sun far beyond Pluto - shows how the tiny object compares to the size of North America.

The NASA InSight spacecraft launches onboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas-V rocket, Saturday, May 5, 2018, from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

Smoke and flame from rocket launch.

InSight Off the Pad

During its flight, the Galileo spacecraft returned images of the Moon. The Galileo spacecraft took these images on December 7, 1992 on its way to explore the Jupiter system in 1995-97.

The Earth's Moon

In Saturn's shadow, the southern hemisphere of Enceladus is lit by sunlight reflected first off of the rings and then onto the nightside of the planet.

In Saturn's shadow, the southern hemisphere of Enceladus is lit by sunlight reflected first off of the rings and then onto the nightside of the planet.

Enceladus in Eclipse

Callisto was revealed by the Voyager cameras to be a heavily cratered and hence geologically inactive world.

Callisto was revealed by NASA's Voyager cameras to be a heavily cratered and hence geologically inactive world.

Callisto Mosaic

The Soviet Union's Venera 9 lander snapped this photo of Venus during its 53-minute mission on the planet's hellish surface.

The Soviet Union's Venera 9 lander snapped this photo of Venus during its 53-minute mission on the planet's hellish surface.

First Look: Venus

This image shows a crescent Uranus, a view that Earthlings never witnessed until Voyager 2 flew near and then beyond Uranus on January 24, 1986.

This image shows a crescent Uranus, a view that Earthlings never witnessed until Voyager 2 flew near and then beyond Uranus on January 24, 1986.

Color Voyager 2 Image Showing Crescent Uranus

This ethereal scene captured by NASA's New Horizons spacecraft tells yet another story of Pluto's diversity of geological and compositional features -- this time in an enhanced color image ...

This ethereal scene captured by NASA's New Horizons spacecraft tells yet another story of Pluto's diversity of geological and compositional features -- this time in an enhanced color image of the north polar area.

The Frozen Canyons of Pluto's North Pole

This colorful composite image from NASA's Dawn mission shows the flow of material inside and outside a crater called Aelia on the giant asteroid Vesta.

This colorful composite image from NASA's Dawn mission shows the flow of material inside and outside a crater called Aelia on the giant asteroid Vesta.

Flowing in, Flowing out of Aelia

The puzzling, fascinating surface of Jupiter's icy moon Europa looms large in this newly-reprocessed color view, made from images taken by NASA's Galileo spacecraft in the late 1990s.

The puzzling, fascinating surface of Jupiter's icy moon Europa looms large in this newly-reprocessed color view, made from images taken by NASA's Galileo spacecraft in the late 1990s.

Europa's Stunning Surface

On July 14 the telescopic camera on NASA's New Horizons spacecraft took the highest resolution images ever obtained of the intricate pattern of "pits" across a section of Pluto's ...

On July 14 the telescopic camera on NASA's New Horizons spacecraft took the highest resolution images ever obtained of the intricate pattern of "pits" across a section of Pluto's prominent heart-shaped region, informally named Tombaugh Regio.

Zooming in on Pluto's Pattern of Pits

Legendary space scientist James van Allen is seen smoking a pipe alongside physicist Edward Smith at a Pioneer 11 press conference in 1974.

Two met at conference table.

Pioneer 11 Press Conference

This view of the volcanic plains of Neptune's moon Triton was produced using topographic maps derived from images acquired by NASA's Voyager spacecraft during its August 1989 flyby, 20 year...

This view of the volcanic plains of Neptune's moon Triton was produced using topographic maps derived from images acquired by NASA's Voyager spacecraft during its August 1989 flyby, 20 years ago this week.

Triton's Volcanic Plains

The Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) is designed to study the Moon's thin exosphere and the lunar dust environment.

The Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) is designed to study the Moon's thin exosphere and the lunar dust environment.

LADEE 3D Rendering (Gray Background)

Jupiter as seen from above its north pole by Pioneer 11 in 1974.

Old image of Jupiter.

Pioneer 11's Jupiter

An ethereal, glowing spot appears on Saturn's B ring in this view from NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

An ethereal, glowing spot appears on Saturn's B ring in this view from NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

Surge in the Ring

This composite image shows an infrared view of Saturn's moon Titan from NASA's Cassini spacecraft, acquired during the mission's "T-114" flyby on Nov. 13, 2015.

This composite image shows an infrared view of Saturn's moon Titan from NASA's Cassini spacecraft, acquired during the mission's "T-114" flyby on Nov. 13, 2015.

Peering Through Titan's Haze

Saturn's moon Dione passes in front of the larger moon Titan, as seen from the Cassini spacecraft.

Saturn's moon Dione passes in front of the larger moon Titan, as seen from the Cassini spacecraft.

Before Hazy Titan

Processing brings out Uranus' atmosphere.

Processing brings out Uranus' atmosphere.

Uranus' Atmosphere

Saturn's fourth-largest moon, Dione, can be seen through the haze of the planet's largest moon, Titan, in this view of the two posing before the planet and its rings from NASA's Cassini...

Natural color image of Titan and Dione in front of Saturn's rings

Titan and Dione

The bright arc within Saturn's G ring is shown truncated by the shadow of the planet at the bottom of this image.

The bright arc within Saturn's G ring is shown truncated by the shadow of the planet at the bottom of this image.

Slicing the Arc

At first glance, Saturn's rings appear to be intersecting themselves in an impossible way. In actuality, this view from NASA's Cassini spacecraft shows the rings in front of the planet, upo...

At first glance, Saturn's rings appear to be intersecting themselves in an impossible way. In actuality, this view from NASA's Cassini spacecraft shows the rings in front of the planet, upon which the shadow of the rings is cast.

Criss-Crossed Rings

Asteroid 2015 TB145 is depicted in eight individual radar images collected on Oct. 31, 2015 between 5:55 a.m. PDT (8:55 a.m. EDT) and 6:08 a.m. PDT (9:08 a.m. EDT).

Asteroid 2015 TB145 is depicted in eight individual radar images collected on Oct. 31, 2015 between 5:55 a.m. PDT (8:55 a.m. EDT) and 6:08 a.m. PDT (9:08 a.m. EDT).

Halloween Asteroid Rotation

This is an Apollo 17 Astronaut standing upon the lunar surface with the United States flag in the background.

Astronaut on the moon with American flag

Apollo 17 Astronaut and United States Flag on Lunar Surface

A 1909 VDB penny sent to Mars aboard the Curiosity rover as part of an image calibration target (and a nod to a geology tradition of using a coin for scale).

Penny covered with Martian dust.

Lucky Penny on Mars

Cassini peers around the hazy limb of Titan to spy the sunlit south pole of Saturn in the distance beyond.

Cassini peers around the hazy limb of Titan to spy the sunlit south pole of Saturn in the distance beyond.

Peeking at Saturn

Dwarf planet Ceres is shown in these false-color renderings, which highlight differences in surface materials.

An image of the dwarf planet Ceres

Ceres Rotation and Occator Crater

In this 30 second exposure, a meteor streaks across the sky during the annual Perseid meteor shower.

Meteor crosses dark sky.

Perseid Meteor 2016

Mercury's Degas crater in enhanced color, as seen by NASA's MESSENGER spacecraft in 2012.

colorful (enhanced color), rocky surface of Mercury

Degas and Friends

Sea ice is frozen seawater floating on the surface of the ocean that grows and shrinks with the seasons, shown here from Sep. 4, 2009-Jan. 30, 2011. Satellite observations show overall sea ice has ...

Animation showing decline in Arctic sea ice

After climbing Husband Hill, Spirit spent more than four years exploring locations within this view, including the "Comanche" outcrop and the "Home Plate" area.

After climbing Husband Hill, Spirit spent more than four years exploring locations within this view, including the "Comanche" outcrop and the "Home Plate" area.

Spirit's View Southward from Husband Hill

This image from NASA's Juno mission captures the dynamic nature of Jupiter's northern temperate belt. The view reveals a white, oval-shaped anticyclonic storm called WS-4.

colorful swirling clouds

Jupiter’s Dynamic Atmosphere

This view of Ceres, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on December 10, shows an area in southern hemisphere of the dwarf planet.

This view of Ceres, taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on December 10, shows an area in southern hemisphere of the dwarf planet.

Dawn's Lowest Orbit: Near South Pole

Limb clouds over Triton's south polar cap.

Limb clouds over Triton's south polar cap.

Limb clouds over Triton

This natural color mosaic was acquired by the Cassini spacecraft as it soared 39 degrees above the unilluminated side of the rings.

Saturn from above casting a dark shadow across its rings.

Saturn: On the Final Frontier

An artist's conception of an impact event on asteroid Pallas.

An artist's conception of an impact event on asteroid Pallas.

Impact on Asteroid Pallas

These four images are among thousands NEAR Shoemaker acquired during several low-altitude passes over Eros from January 25-28, 2001.

These four images are among thousands NEAR Shoemaker acquired during several low-altitude passes over Eros from January 25-28, 2001.

Closing in on Eros

This artist's concept shows a simulated view from the surface of Jupiter's moon Europa. Europa's potentially rough, icy surface, tinged with reddish areas that scientists hope to learn ...

This artist's concept shows a simulated view from the surface of Jupiter's moon Europa. Europa's potentially rough, icy surface, tinged with reddish areas that scientists hope to learn more about, can be seen in the foreground.

Simulated View from Europa's Surface (Artist's Concept)

Using visible light, astronomers for the first time this century have detected clouds in the northern hemisphere of Uranus.

Using visible light, astronomers for the first time this century have detected clouds in the northern hemisphere of Uranus.

Hubble Spots Northern Hemispheric Clouds on Uranus

Mariner 9's view of the "labyrinth" at the western end of Vallis Marineris on Mars.

Mariner 9's view of the "labyrinth" at the western end of Vallis Marineris on Mars.

Enhanced view of the minerals and surface process on Mercury.

Color enhanced full-globe images.

Unmasking the Secrets of Mercury

Jupiter's four largest satellites, including Io, the golden ornament in front of Jupiter in this image from NASA's Cassini spacecraft, have fascinated Earthlings ever since Galileo Galilei ...

Jupiter's four largest satellites, including Io, the golden ornament in front of Jupiter in this image from NASA's Cassini spacecraft, have fascinated Earthlings ever since Galileo Galilei discovered them in 1610 in one of his first astronomical uses of the telescope.

Io in Front of Jupiter

This composite is a mosaic comprising four individual NAVCAM images taken from 19 miles (31 kilometers) from the center of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko on Nov. 20, 2014. The image resolution is ...

Image mosaic of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko

An Atlas-Centaur launches Mariner 9 toward Mars from Cape Kennedy's Launch Complex 36B.

Rocket launching from the launch pad.

Mariner 9 Launch

Clouds in Saturn's atmosphere create an intricate pattern reminiscent of whipped cream swirling in coffee.

Clouds in Saturn's atmosphere create an intricate pattern reminiscent of whipped cream swirling in coffee.

Coffee and Cream Clouds

The first Kuiper Belt Object -- 1992 QB1 -- was discovered in 1992 by American astronomers David Jewitt and Janet Luu using the 2.2-m telescope at Mauna Kea in Hawaii.

The first Kuiper Belt Object -- 1992 QB1 -- was discovered in 1992 by American astronomers David Jewitt and Janet Luu using the 2.2-m telescope at Mauna Kea in Hawaii.

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission will be approaching Bennu.

Artist's concept of OSIRIS-REx spacecraft in space

Approaching Bennu

A recent Hubble Space Telescope view reveals Uranus surrounded by its four major rings and by 10 of its 17 known satellites.

A recent Hubble Space Telescope view reveals Uranus surrounded by its four major rings and by 10 of its 17 known satellites.

Hubble Finds Many Bright Clouds on Uranus

The top picture is a shaded relief image of the northwest corner of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula generated from Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data, and shows a subtle, but unmistakable,...

The top picture is a shaded relief image of the northwest corner of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula generated from Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) data, and shows a subtle, but unmistakable, indication of the Chicxulub impact crater.

Shaded Relief with Height as Color and Landsat, Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico

The region around the center of our Milky Way galaxy glows colorfully in this new version of an image taken by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope.

The region around the center of our Milky Way galaxy glows colorfully in this new version of an image taken by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope.

Stars Gather in 'Downtown' Milky Way

NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) Observatory is mounted on the vibration table prior to the start of testing, and technicians are removing the protective covers fro...

NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) Observatory is mounted on the vibration table prior to the start of testing, and technicians are removing the protective covers from the delicate thrusters in preparation to begin vibration testing.

LADEE Vibration Test

Saturn's most prominent feature, its dazzling ring system, takes center stage in this stunning natural color mosaic which reveals the color and diversity present in this wonder of the solar sys...

Saturn's most prominent feature, its dazzling ring system, takes center stage in this stunning natural color mosaic which reveals the color and diversity present in this wonder of the solar system.

Panoramic Rings

The recently formed south polar vortex stands out in the color-swaddled atmosphere of Saturn's largest moon, Titan, in this natural color view from NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

Natural color view of a polar vortex in Titan's atmosphere

Polar Vortex in Color

NEAR Shoemaker took this picture at 8:45 p.m. EST on January 25, 2001, during one of the spacecraft's low-altitude passes over the surface of Eros.

NEAR Shoemaker took this picture at 8:45 p.m. EST on January 25, 2001, during one of the spacecraft's low-altitude passes over the surface of Eros.

Lowest Altitude Diversity

A close-up view of an astronaut's bootprint in the lunar soil, photographed with a 70mm lunar surface camera during the Apollo 11 extravehicular activity (EVA) on the moon.

Photograph of close-up of astronaut footprint in lunar soil

Close-up View of Astronaut's Footprint in Lunar Soil

Mercury: Computer Photomosaic of the Southern Hemisphere

Mercury: Computer Photomosaic of the Southern Hemisphere

Mercury's Southern Hemisphere

This is a view of Uranus taken by Voyager 2.

A sliver of Uranus is seen by NASA's Voyager 2. This image was taken through three color filters and recombined to produce the color image.

In August 2012, a long filament of solar material coalesced in the Sun's atmosphere.

In August 2012, a long filament of solar material coalesced in the sun's atmosphere. For several days it was visible, appearing from Earth's viewpoint to curl up and over the left side of the sun.

Solar Filament Coalesces in Sun's Atmosphere

This astronaut photograph, taken from the International Space Station while over China (approximately 400 kilometers to the northwest of Beijing), provides the unusual perspective of looking down o...

This astronaut photograph, taken from the International Space Station while over China (approximately 400 kilometers to the northwest of Beijing), provides the unusual perspective of looking down on a meteor as it passes through the atmosphere.

Looking Down on a Shooting Star

A whimsical artist's concept of the Earth reflected in the LADEE spacecraft's solar panels as it travels to the moon.

A whimsical artist's concept of the Earth reflected in the LADEE spacecraft's solar panels as it travels to the moon.

LADEE: Earth Reflection

This natural color image shows Titan's upper atmosphere -- an active place where methane molecules are being broken apart by solar ultraviolet light and the byproducts combine to form compounds...

This natural color image shows Titan's upper atmosphere -- an active place where methane molecules are being broken apart by solar ultraviolet light and the byproducts combine to form compounds like ethane and acetylene.

Titan: Complex 'Anti-greenhouse'

NASA Administrator Jim Bridenstine, right, and NASA Associate Administrator for the Science Mission Directorate, Thomas Zurbuchen, watch the launch of NASA's InSight spacecraft.

Two men in control room.

InSight Launch: NASA Administrator

Like photographers assembling a portfolio of best shots, astronomers have assembled a new, improved portrait of mankind's deepest-ever view of the universe.

Like photographers assembling a portfolio of best shots, astronomers have assembled a new, improved portrait of mankind's deepest-ever view of the universe.

Hubble Goes to the eXtreme to Assemble Farthest-Ever View of the Universe

On New Year's Eve 2004, Cassini flew past Saturn's intriguing moon Iapetus, capturing the four visible light images that were put together to form this global view.

On New Year's Eve 2004, Cassini flew past Saturn's intriguing moon Iapetus, capturing the four visible light images that were put together to form this global view.

Encountering Iapetus

Aram Chaos lies within a 280 kilometer-diameter ancient impact crater in the Southern Highlands of Mars. Uplifted blocks of light-toned layers, composed largely of the iron-oxide hematite and water...

layered rock outcrops

Uplifted Blocks of Light-Toned Layered Deposits

It is spring in the Northern hemisphere when NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took this image.

It is spring in the Northern hemisphere when NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took this image.

A World of Snowy Dunes

Cassini stared toward Saturn's two-toned moon Iapetus (914 miles or 1,471 kilometers across) for about a week in early 2015, in a campaign motivated in part to investigate subtle color differen...

Cassini stared toward Saturn's two-toned moon Iapetus (914 miles or 1,471 kilometers across) for about a week in early 2015, in a campaign motivated in part to investigate subtle color differences within the moon's bright terrain.

Investigating Subtle Colors on Iapetus

This composite image of the Sun reveals the entire solar atmosphere in multiple wavelengths.

The Sun visualized in multiple pie slice wavelengths.

Slices of the Sun

Nitrogen dioxide pollution, averaged yearly from 2005-2011, has decreased across the United States.

Animation showing decrease in nitrogen dioxide concentration from 2005 to 2011

Breathing Cleaner in the U.S.

In this sequence of four images taken during one night of observation by NASA's Catalina Sky Survey near Tucson, Arizona, the speck of light that moves relative to the background stars is a sma...

In this sequence of four images taken during one night of observation by NASA's Catalina Sky Survey near Tucson, Arizona, the speck of light that moves relative to the background stars is a small asteroid that was, at the time, about as far away as the moon.

Sky Survey Detected This Small Asteroid

A swing high above Saturn by NASA's Cassini spacecraft revealed this stately view of the golden-hued planet and its main rings.

A swing high above Saturn by NASA's Cassini spacecraft revealed this stately view of the golden-hued planet and its main rings.

Jewel of the Solar System

The cameras on NASA's Cassini spacecraft captured this rare look at Earth and its moon from Saturn orbit on July 19, 2013.

The cameras on NASA's Cassini spacecraft captured this rare look at Earth and its moon from Saturn orbit on July 19, 2013.

One Special Day in the Life of Planet Earth

This image captures the intensity of the jets and vortices in Jupiter’s North North Temperate Belt.

Jets and vortices in Jupiter’s North North Temperate Belt

Dark and Stormy Jupiter

In this 30 second exposure, a meteor streaks across the sky during the annual Perseid meteor shower Friday, August 12, 2016 in Spruce Knob, West Virginia.

In this 30 second exposure, a meteor streaks across the sky during the annual Perseid meteor shower Friday, August 12, 2016 in Spruce Knob, West Virginia.

Perseid Meteor Shower 2016

Of the countless equinoxes Saturn has seen since the birth of the solar system, this one, captured here in a mosaic of light and dark, is the first witnessed up close by an emissary from Earth &hel...

Of the countless equinoxes Saturn has seen since the birth of the solar system, this one, captured here in a mosaic of light and dark, is the first witnessed up close by an emissary from Earth … none other than our faithful robotic explorer, Cassini.

The Rite of Spring

These two 591-second exposures of the rings of Neptune were taken with the clear filter by the Voyager 2 wide-angle camera on Aug. 26, 1989 from a distance of 280,000 kilometers (175,000 miles).

These two 591-second exposures of the rings of Neptune were taken with the clear filter by the Voyager 2 wide-angle camera on Aug. 26, 1989 from a distance of 280,000 kilometers (175,000 miles).

Rings of Neptune

The hemispheric view of Venus, as revealed by more than a decade of radar investigations culminating in the 1990-1994 Magellan mission, is centered at 180 degrees east longitude.

The hemispheric view of Venus, as revealed by more than a decade of radar investigations culminating in the 1990-1994 Magellan mission, is centered at 180 degrees east longitude.

Hemispheric View of Venus

This view of the volcanic plains of Neptune's moon Triton was produced using topographic maps derived from images acquired by NASA's Voyager spacecraft during its August 1989 flyby, 20 year...

This view of the volcanic plains of Neptune's moon Triton was produced using topographic maps derived from images acquired by NASA's Voyager spacecraft during its August 1989 flyby, 20 years ago this week.

Triton's "Cantaloupe" Terrain

NEAR takes several images mosaics of Eros daily for purposes of navigating the spacecraft. The one shown here was taken February 29, 2000, from a range of 289 kilometers (180 miles). It shows featu...

Picture showing small landforms on asteroid Eros

The Sculptured Surface of Eros

Artist's concept showing the exploration of the Kuiper Belt so far. New Horizons became the first spacecraft to explore a Kuiper Belt Object - dwarf planet Pluto - up close in 2015.

Artist's concept showing the exploration of the Kuiper Belt so far. New Horizons became the first spacecraft to explore a Kuiper Belt Object - dwarf planet Pluto - up close in 2015.

Kuiper Belt: In Depth

The first ever "portrait" of our solar system as seen from the outside.

Series of images show planets as tiny specks of light.

First-Ever Solar System Portrait

A NASA spacecraft sees a volcanic explosion on Jupiter’s third-largest moon.

A NASA spacecraft sees a volcanic explosion on Jupiter’s third-largest moon.

James Van Allen looking at the cone-shaped Pioneer IV probe, before it was gold plated and painted with stripes.

Man looking inside small spacecraft.

James Van Allen and Pioneer 4

More tradition than superstition, “lucky peanuts” are a fixture at major deep space mission events since 1964.

Jar of peanuts in mission control.

Cassini "Lucky" Peanuts

Four moons huddle near Saturn's multi-hued disk.

Four moons huddle near Saturn's multi-hued disk.

Many Colors, Many Moons

As part of an engineering test, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft captured this image of the Earth and Moon using its NavCam1 imager on January 17 from a distance of 39.5 million miles (63.6 milli...

Earth and Moon, captured by NASA’s OSIRIS-REx spacecraft

NASA’s OSIRIS-REx Captures New Earth-Moon Image

This dramatic view of the crescents of Neptune and Triton was acquired by Voyager 2 approximately 3 days, 6 and one-half hours after its closest approach to Neptune (north is to the right).

This dramatic view of the crescents of Neptune and Triton was acquired by Voyager 2 approximately 3 days, 6 and one-half hours after its closest approach to Neptune (north is to the right).

Crescents of Neptune and Triton

Our solar system features eight planets, seen in this artist's diagram.

Our solar system features eight planets, seen in this artist's diagram.

Our Solar System

In 2002, NASA scientists and visualizers stitched together strips of brand new data, in natural color, collected over four months from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, or MO...

View of the Earth from space

Blue Marble 2002

Close-up image of Mars' satellite Deimos from the Viking 2 Orbiter showing craters and associated streaks.

Close-up image of Mars' satellite Deimos from the Viking 2 Orbiter showing craters and associated streaks.

Deimos from 25 miles

Astronaut James B. Irwin, lunar module pilot, works at the Lunar Roving Vehicle during the first Apollo 15 lunar surface extravehicular activity (EVA) at the Hadley-Apennine landing site.

Astronaut James B. Irwin standing next to the Lunar Roving Vehicle on the moon

Apollo 15 on the Moon

NASA's Cassini spacecraft sees bright methane clouds drifting in the summer skies of Saturn's moon Titan, along with dark hydrocarbon lakes and seas clustered around the north pole.

Image of clouds in Titan's atmosphere

Northern Summer on Titan

NASA and Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) released the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) Global Digital Elevation Model (GDEM) to the ...

NASA and Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI) released the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer (ASTER) Global Digital Elevation Model (GDEM) to the worldwide public on June 29, 2009.

ASTER's Global Digital Elevation Model

This pair of images shows color-coded maps from NASA's Dawn mission, revealing the highs and lows of topography on the surface of dwarf planet Ceres.

This pair of images shows color-coded maps from NASA's Dawn mission, revealing the highs and lows of topography on the surface of dwarf planet Ceres.

Topographic Maps of Ceres' East and West Hemispheres

This is a 225 meter per pixel Magellan radar image mosaic of Venus, centered at 47 degrees south latitude, 25 degrees east longitude in the Lada region.

This is a 225 meter per pixel Magellan radar image mosaic of Venus, centered at 47 degrees south latitude, 25 degrees east longitude in the Lada region.

System of Lava Flows and Ridge Belt

The crescent Earth rises above the lunar horizon in this spectacular photograph taken from the Apollo 17 spacecraft in lunar orbit during final lunar landing mission in the Apollo program.

The crescent Earth rises above the lunar horizon in this spectacular photograph taken from the Apollo 17 spacecraft in lunar orbit during final lunar landing mission in the Apollo program.

This graphic shows the orbits of all the known Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs), numbering over 1,400 as of early 2013.

This graphic shows the orbits of all the known Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs), numbering over 1,400 as of early 2013.

Orbits of Potentially Hazardous Asteroids (PHAs)

This image shows the bright light of a solar flare on the left side of the Sun and an eruption of solar material shooting through the Sun's atmosphere.

This image shows the bright light of a solar flare on the left side of the Sun and an eruption of solar material shooting through the Sun's atmosphere.

Sun Emits a Solstice Flare and CME

This mosaic comprises about 50 red-, green-, and violet-filter Viking Orbiter images, mosaiced in an orthographic projection at a scale of 1 km/pixel.

This mosaic comprises about 50 red-, green-, and violet-filter Viking Orbiter images, mosaiced in an orthographic projection at a scale of 1 km/pixel.

This 2007 view from NASA's Opportunity Mars Exploration Rover processed by an amateur image enthusiast shows the tracks left by a drive executed with more onboard autonomy than has been used on...

Image of Opportunity's tracks on Mars

This image shows the potentially hazardous near-Earth object 1998 KN3 as it zips past a cloud of dense gas and dust near the Orion nebula.

This image shows the potentially hazardous near-Earth object 1998 KN3 as it zips past a cloud of dense gas and dust near the Orion nebula.

Asteroid Zips By Orion

These color-enhanced views of Deimos, the smaller of the two moons of Mars, result from imaging on Feb. 21, 2009, by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mar...

These color-enhanced views of Deimos, the smaller of the two moons of Mars, result from imaging on Feb. 21, 2009, by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

Martian Moon Deimos in High Resolution

Artist's concept of the New Horizons spacecraft flying by a possible binary 2014 MU69 on Jan. 1, 2019.

Artist's concept of the New Horizons spacecraft flying by a possible binary 2014 MU69 on Jan. 1, 2019.

Artist Concept: Flying by MU69

This image highlights the striking differences between Pluto and it's largest moon, Charon.

Pluto in front of Charon.

Pluto and Charon: Strikingly Different Worlds

Comet ISON photographed by the crew aboard the International Space Station.

Comet ISON photographed by the crew aboard the International Space Station.

ISON from the ISS

This colorized image of Europa is a product of clear-filter grayscale data from one orbit of NASA's Galileo spacecraft, combined with lower-resolution color data taken on a different orbit.

This colorized image of Europa is a product of clear-filter grayscale data from one orbit of NASA's Galileo spacecraft, combined with lower-resolution color data taken on a different orbit.

Reddish Bands on Europa

Vertical structures, among the tallest seen in Saturn's main rings, rise abruptly from the edge of Saturn's B ring to cast long shadows on the ring in this image taken by NASA's Cassini...

Vertical structures, among the tallest seen in Saturn's main rings, rise abruptly from the edge of Saturn's B ring to cast long shadows on the ring in this image taken by NASA's Cassini spacecraft two weeks before the planet's August 2009 equinox.

The Tallest Peaks

On Dec. 4, 1973, NASA's Pioneer 10 spacecraft sent back images of Jupiter of ever-increasing size.

Sequence of Jupiter getting smaller then larger and vice versa.

Pioneer 10 at Jupiter

This picture of Neptune was produced from the last whole planet images taken through the green and orange filters on the Voyager 2 narrow angle camera.

This picture of Neptune was produced from the last whole planet images taken through the green and orange filters on the Voyager 2 narrow angle camera.

Neptune Full Disk View

Although travelling at great speed, the Cassini spacecraft managed to capture this close view of Saturn's small moon Helene during a flyby on March 3, 2010.

Although travelling at great speed, the Cassini spacecraft managed to capture this close view of Saturn's small moon Helene during a flyby on March 3, 2010.

Catching Helene

Crater Isabella, the second largest impact crafter on Venus with a diameter of 108 miles (175 kilometers), as seen by the Magellan spacecraft's radar.

Crater on Venus

Isabella Crater on Venus

In a Magellan image dubbed the "Crater Farm" we see the curious layering of volcanic activity and impact craters.

In a Magellan image dubbed the "Crater Farm" we see the curious layering of volcanic activity and impact craters.

The Crater Farm

An artist’s impression of the InSight lander on Mars.

NASA's InSight lander on Mars

InSight Probes the ‘Inner Space’ of Mars

As seen in this Landsat 8 image, several glaciers flow into the Shimshal Valley perpendicular to the flow of the river, and they have little room to move before they intersect with the water.

Satellite image of glaciers intersecting with river

When Glaciers and Rivers Collide

This artist’s concept shows the OSIRIS-REx mission returning a sample from Bennu to Earth.

Artist's concept of the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft in space

This computer-generated image shows the structure of the cyclonic pattern observed over Jupiter’s North pole: a central cyclone surrounded by eight circumpolar cyclones with diameters ra...

Cyclones at Jupiter's north pole

A New View on Jupiter’s North Pole

This narrow-angle color image of the Earth s a part of the first ever "portrait" of the solar system taken by Voyager 1.

This narrow-angle color image of the Earth s a part of the first ever "portrait" of the solar system taken by Voyager 1.

X-rays stream off the Sun in this image showing observations by NASA's Nuclear Spectroscopic Telescope Array, or NuSTAR.

X-rays stream off the sun in this image showing NuSTAR data, seen in green and blue, revealing solar high-energy emission (green shows energies between 2 and 3 kiloelectron volts, and blue shows energies between 3 and 5 kiloelectron volts).

Sun Shines in High-Energy X-rays

This perspective view of Damascus Sulcus was generated using high resolution images of Enceladus acquired in August 2008 at 12 to 30 meters (40 to 100 feet) resolution, together with a new topograp...

This perspective view of Damascus Sulcus was generated using high resolution images of Enceladus acquired in August 2008 at 12 to 30 meters (40 to 100 feet) resolution, together with a new topographic map of the region produced by Dr. Paul Schenk at the Lunar and Planetary Institute in Houston, TX.

Perspective view of Damascus Sulcus, Enceladus

Phobos and Deimos, the moons of Mars, are seen in this movie put together from 19 images taken by Mars Odyssey's camera.

Phobos and Deimos, the moons of Mars

Mars Odyssey Observes Martian Moons

Some of the most breathtaking views of Earth taken from space are those that capture our planet’s limb.

Images of Earth's limb at sunset and the Moon as seen through Earth's limb

Moon Over Earth

Kitty Joyner, electrical engineer, at Langley in 1952.

Kitty Joyner, electrical engineer, at Langley in 1952.

Kitty Joyner, Electrical Engineer

Saturn's dynamic F ring contains many different types of features to keep scientists perplexed.

Saturn's dynamic F ring contains many different types of features to keep scientists perplexed.

Gored Clump in Saturn's F Ring

The Cassini spacecraft looks down on the north pole of Titan, showing night and day in the northern hemisphere of Saturn's largest moon.

NASA's Cassini spacecraft looks down on the north pole of Titan, showing night and day in the northern hemisphere of Saturn's largest moon.

Colorful Northern Crescent

This image of the Moon was created with images taken by NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter.

Image of full moon

Rare Full Moon on Christmas Day

This series of oblique images highlight the wall and exterior of the beautiful volcanic vent located to the northeast of Rachmaninoff basin and west of Copland crater.

Hyper Vent-ilating

This enhanced-color mosaic of Saturn's icy moon Tethys shows a range of features on the moon's trailing hemisphere.

This enhanced-color mosaic of Saturn's icy moon Tethys shows a range of features on the moon's trailing hemisphere.

The Colors of Tethys I

A team of engineers at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., tests an electrical interface on the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) spacecraft to ensure all o...

A team of engineers at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., tests an electrical interface on the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) spacecraft to ensure all of the cable pins are in the correct location and that it is safe to connect.

LADEE Spacecraft Gets Final Science Instrument Installed

This self-portrait of NASA's Curiosity Mars rover shows the vehicle at the "Mojave" site, where its drill collected the mission's second taste of Mount Sharp.

Curiosity Rover on Mars Surface

Curiosity Self-Portrait at 'Mojave' Site on Mount Sharp

This sequence of color-enhanced images shows how quickly the viewing geometry changes for NASA's Juno spacecraft as it swoops by Jupiter.

This sequence of color-enhanced images shows how quickly the viewing geometry changes for NASA's Juno spacecraft as it swoops by Jupiter.

95 Minutes Over Jupiter

Voyager 2's post-encounter view of Neptune's south pole as the spacecraft sped away on a southward trajectory.

Voyager 2's post-encounter view of Neptune's south pole as the spacecraft sped away on a southward trajectory.

Post-encounter View of Neptune's South Pole

On a clear day on Mars, you can see tens of thousands of rocks.

On a clear day on Mars, you can see tens of thousands of rocks.

Mars Rocky Horizon

The highly reflective moon Enceladus appears as a bright dot beyond a crescent Saturn in this Cassini image.

The highly reflective moon Enceladus appears as a bright dot beyond a crescent Saturn in this Cassini image.

Brilliant Blip Beyond Saturn

Taking its first peek at Uranus, NASA Hubble Space Telescope's Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) has detected six distinct clouds in images taken July 28, 1997.

Taking its first peek at Uranus, NASA Hubble Space Telescope's Near Infrared Camera and Multi-Object Spectrometer (NICMOS) has detected six distinct clouds in images taken July 28, 1997.

Hubble Tracks Clouds on Uranus

Images from NASA's Cassini spacecraft using three different filters reveal cloud structures and movements at different depths in the atmosphere around Jupiter's south pole.

Images from NASA's Cassini spacecraft using three different filters reveal cloud structures and movements at different depths in the atmosphere around Jupiter's south pole.

Jupiter Clouds in Depth

The trail of NASA’s Mars InSight lander over the Los Angeles area after launch.

Rocket trail arcing over Los Angeles.

InSight Launch Over Los Angeles

This picture of Venus was taken by the Galileo spacecrafts Solid State Imaging System on February 14, 1990, at a range of almost 1.7 million miles from the planet.

This picture of Venus was taken by the Galileo spacecrafts Solid State Imaging System on February 14, 1990, at a range of almost 1.7 million miles from the planet.

Venus Cloud Patterns

Comet ISON appeared in the higher-resolution HI-1 camera on NASA's STEREO-A spacecraft.

Comet ISON appeared in the higher-resolution HI-1 camera on NASA's STEREO-A spacecraft.

Comet ISON From STEREO

This image is from the last sequence of images NASA's Dawn spacecraft obtained of the giant asteroid Vesta, looking down at Vesta's north pole as it was departing.

This image is from the last sequence of images NASA's Dawn spacecraft obtained of the giant asteroid Vesta, looking down at Vesta's north pole as it was departing.

A Last Look Back at Vesta

Comet ISON shows off its tail in this three-minute exposure taken on 19 Nov. 2013 at 6:10 a.m. EST, using a 14-inch telescope located at the Marshall Space Flight Center.

Comet ISON shows off its tail in this three-minute exposure taken on 19 Nov. 2013 at 6:10 a.m. EST, using a 14-inch telescope located at the Marshall Space Flight Center.

Comet ISON Streaks Toward the Sun

See Jupiter's southern hemisphere in beautiful detail in this new image taken by NASA's Juno spacecraft.

See Jupiter's southern hemisphere in beautiful detail in this new image taken by NASA's Juno spacecraft.

Jupiter's Stunning Southern Hemisphere

Occator Crater and Ahuna Mons appear together in this view obtained by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on February 11, 2017.

Occator Crater and Ahuna Mons appear together in this view obtained by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on February 11, 2017.

Occator and Ahuna

This enhanced color map was produced by using images from the color base map imaging campaign during MESSENGER's primary mission.

Color enhanced map of Mercury

Enhanced Color Mercury Map

This global view of Jupiter's moon, Io, was obtained during the tenth orbit of Jupiter by NASA's Galileo spacecraft. Io, which is slightly larger than Earth's moon, is the most volcanic...

This global view of Jupiter's moon, Io, was obtained during the tenth orbit of Jupiter by NASA's Galileo spacecraft. Io, which is slightly larger than Earth's moon, is the most volcanically active body in the solar system.

Io's Pele Hemisphere After Pillan Changes

Four images from NASA's New Horizons' Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) were combined with color data from the Ralph instrument to create this global view of Pluto.

Four images from NASA's New Horizons' Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) were combined with color data from the Ralph instrument to create this global view of Pluto.

Pluto in True Color

An artists's concept of NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) spacecraft seen orbiting near the surface of the moon.

An artists's concept of NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) spacecraft seen orbiting near the surface of the moon.

LADEE Above the Lunar Surface Artist's Concept

Eight days after its final encounter with the Earth, the Galileo spacecraft looked back and captured this remarkable view of the Earth and Moon.

Eight days after its final encounter with the Earth, the Galileo spacecraft looked back and captured this remarkable view of the Earth and Moon.

The Earth-Moon System

Florida, the Bahamas and Cuba as seen by the International Space Station.

Florida, The Bahamas, and Cuba

Florida, the Bahamas, and Cuba

Saturn's rings cut across an eerie scene that is ruled by Titan's luminous crescent and globe-encircling haze, broken by the small moon Enceladus, whose icy jets are dimly visible at its so...

Photo of Saturn's rings, Titan, and Enceladus

Candle in the Dark

Capturing the interplay between light and shadow, the Cassini spacecraft looks toward the night side of Saturn where sunlight reflected off the rings has dimly illuminated what would otherwise be t...

Capturing the interplay between light and shadow, the Cassini spacecraft looks toward the night side of Saturn where sunlight reflected off the rings has dimly illuminated what would otherwise be the dark side of the planet.

Light and Dark Tricks

Scientists think Bennu is part of a larger body that broke apart. This artist’s concept shows that event.

Artist's concept of asteroids in space

Part of a Larger Body

An artist’s rendition of the InSight lander operating on the surface of Mars.

InSight lander on the surface of Mars

InSight on the Surface of Mars

The Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) is designed to study the Moon's thin exosphere and the lunar dust environment.

The Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) is designed to study the Moon's thin exosphere and the lunar dust environment.

LADEE (Early Design Concept)

SDO collected images of the rarest predictable solar event—the transit of Venus across the face of the Sun in 2012.

On June 5, 2012, SDO collected images of the rarest predictable solar event—the transit of Venus across the face of the Sun.

Venus Transit Across the Sun (2014)

Magellan radar image of the Venera 10 landing site on Venus.

Magellan radar image of the Venera 10 landing site on Venus.

Venus - Magellan

The flattened, potato-like form of Prometheus glides silently within the Roche Division, between Saturn's A and F rings.

The flattened, potato-like form of Prometheus glides silently within the Roche Division, between Saturn's A and F rings.

Spotting Prometheus

The set of images shown here in color was acquired as part of a sequence intended to monitor any changes in the calibration of the multispectral Wide Angle Camera over time, but it also gives a bea...

Craters on Mercury

The Beauty of Calibration

The northern hemisphere is displayed in this global view of the surface of Venus.

The planet Venus

Venus - Computer Simulated Global View of the Northern Hemisphere

This image of Phobos is one product of the first pointing at that Martian moon by the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) camera on NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter.

This image of Phobos is one product of the first pointing at that Martian moon by the Thermal Emission Imaging System (THEMIS) camera on NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter.

Martian Moon Phobos Observed by NASA's Odyssey

This NASA Hubble Space Telescope image of Comet (C/2012 S1) ISON was photographed on April 10, when the comet was slightly closer than Jupiter's orbit at a distance of 386 million miles from th...

This NASA Hubble Space Telescope image of Comet (C/2012 S1) ISON was photographed on April 10, when the comet was slightly closer than Jupiter's orbit at a distance of 386 million miles from the Sun (394 million miles from Earth).

Hubble Captures Comet ISON

Just 15 minutes after its closest approach to Pluto on July 14, 2015, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft looked back toward the sun and captured this near-sunset view of the rugged, icy mountains a...

Just 15 minutes after its closest approach to Pluto on July 14, 2015, NASA's New Horizons spacecraft looked back toward the sun and captured this near-sunset view of the rugged, icy mountains and flat ice plains extending to Pluto's horizon.

Pluto's Majestic Mountains, Frozen Plains and Foggy Hazes

The famed wispy terrain on Saturn's moon Dione is front and center in this recent Cassini spacecraft image.

The famed wispy terrain on Saturn's moon Dione is front and center in this recent Cassini spacecraft image.

Wispy Terrain on Dione

New insights into the nature of Saturn’s rings are revealed in this panoramic mosaic of 15 images taken during the planet’s August 2009 equinox.

New insights into the nature of Saturn’s rings are revealed in this panoramic mosaic of 15 images taken during the planet’s August 2009 equinox.

Ring Scan Spilling Secrets

NASA's Cassini spacecraft captures a composite near-true-color view of the huge storm churning through the atmosphere in Saturn's northern hemisphere.

NASA's Cassini spacecraft captures a composite near-true-color view of the huge storm churning through the atmosphere in Saturn's northern hemisphere.

Spotting Saturn's Northern Storm

Winter is approaching in the southern hemisphere of Saturn and with this cold season has come the familiar blue hue that was present in the northern winter hemisphere at the start of NASA's Cas...

Winter is approaching in the southern hemisphere of Saturn and with this cold season has come the familiar blue hue that was present in the northern winter hemisphere at the start of NASA's Cassini mission.

'Tis the Season

A dynamic storm at the southern edge of Jupiter's northern polar region dominates this Jovian cloudscape, courtesy of NASA's Juno spacecraft.

Depiction of a storm on the surface of Jupiter

Jupiter Storm of the High North

A Voyager 2 view of Neptune processed by an amateur image processor. The image was taken on August 31st 1989 around 17:00 UTC by Voyager 2’s narrow angle camera.

View of Neptune from Voyager 2

Neptune - August 31, 1989

This composite image of Earth and its moon, as seen from Mars, combines the best Earth image with the best moon image from four sets of images acquired on Nov. 20, 2016, by the High Resolution Imag...

This composite image of Earth and its moon, as seen from Mars, combines the best Earth image with the best moon image from four sets of images acquired on Nov. 20, 2016, by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.

Earth and Its Moon, as Seen From Mars

This is an image of the dwarf planet Eris (centre) and its satellite Dysnomia (at 9 o'clock position) taken with NASA/ESA's Hubble Space Telescope on Aug. 30, 2006.

This is an image of the dwarf planet Eris (centre) and its satellite Dysnomia (at 9 o'clock position) taken with NASA/ESA's Hubble Space Telescope on Aug. 30, 2006.

Hubble view of Eris and Dysnomia

A rippled linear dune of dark Martian sand, "Nathan Bridges Dune," dominates this full-circle panorama from the Mast Camera (Mastcam) of NASA's Curiosity Mars rover.

A rippled linear dune of dark Martian sand, "Nathan Bridges Dune," dominates this full-circle panorama from the Mast Camera (Mastcam) of NASA's Curiosity Mars rover.

'Nathan Bridges Dune' on a Martian Mountain

This view of a rock called "Block Island," the largest meteorite yet found on Mars, comes from the panoramic camera (Pancam) on Opportunity.

This view of a rock called "Block Island," the largest meteorite yet found on Mars, comes from the panoramic camera (Pancam) on Opportunity.

'Block Island' Meteorite

The upper series of images represents the best yet of the four small inner satellites of Jupiter taken by the camera on NASA's Galileo spacecraft.

The upper series of images represents the best yet of the four small inner satellites of Jupiter taken by the camera on NASA's Galileo spacecraft.

Shapes of the Small Inner Satellites of Jupiter

This image from the atlas of the giant asteroid Vesta was created from images taken as NASA's Dawn mission flew around the object, also known as a protoplanet.

This image from the atlas of the giant asteroid Vesta was created from images taken as NASA's Dawn mission flew around the object, also known as a protoplanet.

Engineers too eager to wait for image processing hand-colored this first-ever TV image of Mars in 1964.

Hand-colored image of Mars from orbit.

First TV Image of Mars (Hand Colored)

Sunlight illuminates the deep cut of Ithaca Chasma on Saturn's moon Tethys.

Sunlight illuminates the deep cut of Ithaca Chasma on Saturn's moon Tethys.

Chasma Crescent

This image captures swirling cloud belts and tumultuous vortices within Jupiter’s northern hemisphere.

Swirling cloud belts and tumultuous vortices within Jupiter’s northern hemisphere

Chaotic Clouds of Jupiter

Earth and its Moon are nicely framed in this image taken from the aft windows of the Space Shuttle Discovery in 1998. Discovery—on mission STS-95—was flying over the Atlantic Ocean at t...

Photo from space shuttle of the Earth and Moon

This artist’s concept shows the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft collecting a sample from Bennu.

This artist’s concept shows the OSIRIS-REx spacecraft collecting a sample from Bennu

Artist's concept

Average yearly AIRS CO2 data shown in yellow is laid over MODIS vegetation data in green. CO2 accumulates in the Northern Hemisphere winter and spring, then the vegetation's photosynthesis abso...

Animation showing changes in carbon dioxide concentration around the globe

Carbon Dioxide Waxes and Wanes

The Hubble Space Telescope is deployed from the cargo bay of space shuttle Discovery on April 25, 1990 as part of STS-31.

Hubble in space above Space Shuttle cargo bay.

Hubble Space Telescope Deployed

Mawrth Vallis is one of the oldest valleys on Mars, formed in and subsequently covered by layered rocks, from beneath which it is now being exhumed.

Mawrth Vallis is one of the oldest valleys on Mars, formed in and subsequently covered by layered rocks, from beneath which it is now being exhumed.

Layered Rocks near Mawrth Vallis

An Apollo 10 photograph of Earth taken from 100,000 miles away.

An Apollo 10 photograph of Earth taken from 100,000 miles away.

Apollo 10 View of the Earth

This false-color, visible-light image of comet ISON was taken with Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3.

This false-color, visible-light image of comet ISON was taken with Hubble's Wide Field Camera 3.

Compass and Scale Image for Comet ISON

The Voyager spacecraft was 8.6 million kilometers (5.3 million miles) from Neptune when it took this 61 second exposure through the clear filter with the narrow angle camera on August 19, 1989.&nbs...

The Voyager spacecraft was 8.6 million kilometers (5.3 million miles) from Neptune when it took this 61 second exposure through the clear filter with the narrow angle camera on August 19, 1989.

Neptune: Ring Arcs

This enhanced color image of the region surrounding the young impact crater Pwyll on Jupiter's moon Europa was produced by combining low resolution color data with a higher resolution mosaic of...

This enhanced color image of the region surrounding the young impact crater Pwyll on Jupiter's moon Europa was produced by combining low resolution color data with a higher resolution mosaic of images obtained on December 19, 1996 by the Solid State Imaging (CCD) system aboard NASA's Galileo spacecraft.

Pwyll Crater on Europa

This computer-generated image shows the structure of the cyclonic pattern observed over Jupiter’s south pole.

Cyclonic patterns at Jupiter's south pole

Jupiter’s Southern Exposure in Infrared

Summer is slowly coming to Saturn's northern hemisphere.

Summer is slowly coming to Saturn's northern hemisphere.

Summer is Coming!

Hubble Space Telescope ultraviolet-light image of Venus.

False color image reveals clouds on Venus.

Venus Cloud Tops Viewed by Hubble

A whimsical artist's concept captures the spirit of NASA's Voyager mission.

Artist's concept of Voyager

Voyager: Humanity's Farthest Journey

This image of Jupiter's southern hemisphere was captured by NASA's Juno spacecraft on the outbound leg of a close flyby of the gas-giant planet.

colorful bands of clouds on planet

Outbound View of Jupiter

These two global images of Iapetus show the extreme brightness dichotomy on the surface of this peculiar Saturnian moon.

These two global images of Iapetus show the extreme brightness dichotomy on the surface of this peculiar Saturnian moon.

Global View of Iapetus' Dichotomy

This impact crater appears relatively recent as it has a sharp rim and well-preserved ejecta, the material thrown out of the crater when a meteorite hit Mars.

This impact crater appears relatively recent as it has a sharp rim and well-preserved ejecta, the material thrown out of the crater when a meteorite hit Mars.

Crisp Crater in Sirenum Fossae

These two images taken by the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) show Mars' two small moons, Phobos and Deimos, as seen from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's low ...

These two images taken by the Compact Reconnaissance Imaging Spectrometer for Mars (CRISM) show Mars' two small moons, Phobos and Deimos, as seen from the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's low orbit around Mars.

CRISM Views Phobos and Deimos

A section of the smaller of Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko’s two lobes as seen through Rosetta’s narrow-angle camera from a distance of about 8 km to the surface on 14 October 20...

A photo of the smaller of Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko’s two lobes

Comet from 8 km

This false color image of Triton is a composite of images taken through the violet, green and ultraviolet filters.

This false color image of Triton is a composite of images taken through the violet, green and ultraviolet filters.

This wide-angle image shows the south polar region of Saturn's moon Enceladus and outlines the area covered by the high-resolution mosaic combining data from the imaging science subsystem and c...

This wide-angle image shows the south polar region of Saturn's moon Enceladus and outlines the area covered by the high-resolution mosaic combining data from the imaging science subsystem and composite infrared spectrometer aboard NASA's Cassini spacecraft (PIA11696).

Enceladus' Warm Baghdad Sulcus in Context

A high-resolution version of the spectrum of our Sun.

A high-resolution version of the spectrum of our Sun with colors descending from red to orange to yellow to green to blue.

The Solar Spectrum

The sharp eye of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has captured the tiny moon Phobos during its orbital trek around Mars.

The sharp eye of NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has captured the tiny moon Phobos during its orbital trek around Mars.

NASA's Hubble Sees Martian Moon Orbiting the Red Planet

Rosetta’s OSIRIS narrow-angle camera captured this image of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko at 01:20 GMT from an altitude of about 16 km above the surface during the spacecraft’s final ...

Rosetta’s OSIRIS narrow-angle camera captured this image of Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko at 01:20 GMT from an altitude of about 16 km above the surface during the spacecraft’s final descent on 30 September.

Comet from 16 KM

This new, detailed global mosaic color map of Pluto is based on a series of three color filter images obtained by the Ralph/Multispectral Visual Imaging Camera aboard New Horizons during the NASA s...

Color map of Pluto

Pluto Global Color Map

During the Viking Mission, the Viking Lander Camera System acquired many high-resolution images of the scene at Chryse Planitia.

During the Viking Mission, the Viking Lander Camera System acquired many high-resolution images of the scene at Chryse Planitia.

Morning on Chryse Planitia

The low Sun elevation in this scene emphasizes the topography of Van Eyck crater.

Detailed view of impact crater.

Van Eyck and the Formation

NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) spacecraft being prepared in the clean room at Wallops Flight Facility.

NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) spacecraft being prepared in the clean room at Wallops Flight Facility.

LADEE Preparations

Saturn's moon Epimetheus passes in front of Janus in this "mutual event" chronicled by the Cassini spacecraft.

Saturn's moon Epimetheus passes in front of Janus in this "mutual event" chronicled by the Cassini spacecraft.

Cruising Past Janus

View of a small region of the thin, disrupted, ice crust in the Conamara region of Jupiter's moon Europa showing the interplay of surface color with ice structures.

View of a small region of the thin, disrupted, ice crust in the Conamara region of Jupiter's moon Europa showing the interplay of surface color with ice structures.

Europa - Ice Rafting View

Astronaut Edwin E. Aldrin Jr., lunar module pilot, walks on the surface of the moon near a leg of the Lunar Module during the Apollo 11 extravehicular activity (EVA).

Buzz Aldrin on the moon

Apollo 11 Buzz Aldrin

This image shows two views of the trailing hemisphere of Jupiter's ice-covered satellite, Europa.

This image shows two views of the trailing hemisphere of Jupiter's ice-covered satellite, Europa.

Natural and False Color Views of Europa

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover used a new drill method to produce a hole on February 26 in a target named Lake Orcadie. The hole marks the first operation of the rover's drill since a motor pr...

A hole in Lake Orcadie marks Curiosity's first operation of the rover drill since a motor problem

Curiosity Tests a New Drill Method on Mars

The F ring shepherd moon Prometheus touches the face of Saturn once more before moving off into blackness and continuing in its orbit.

The F ring shepherd moon Prometheus touches the face of Saturn once more before moving off into blackness and continuing in its orbit.

Prometheus Makes Contact

This image of Ceres is part of a sequence taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on May 7, 2015, from a distance of 8,400 miles (13,600 kilometers).

This image of Ceres is part of a sequence taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on May 7, 2015, from a distance of 8,400 miles (13,600 kilometers).

Dawn RC3 Image 23

The Sun blew out a coronal mass ejection along with part of a solar filament over a three-hour period (Feb. 24, 2015).

Coronal mass ejection erupting from sun

NASA's Cassini spacecraft looks toward the night side of Saturn's largest moon and sees sunlight scattering through the periphery of Titan's atmosphere and forming a ring of color.

Photo of the night side of Titan

A Ring of Color

This Cassini narrow-angle camera image -- one of those acquired in the survey conducted by the Cassini imaging science team of the geyser basin at the south pole of Enceladus -- was taken as Cassin...

This Cassini narrow-angle camera image -- one of those acquired in the survey conducted by the Cassini imaging science team of the geyser basin at the south pole of Enceladus -- was taken as Cassini was looking across the moon's south pole.

Encroaching Shadow

Each Voyager spacecraft carries a copy of the Golden Record, which has been featured in several works of science fiction.

Golden record and golden record cover

Voyager Golden Record

This image of Ceres is part of a sequence taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft April 24 to 26, 2015, from a distance of 8,400 miles (13,600 kilometers).

Black and white image of Ceres

Dawn RC3 Image 3

Since its discovery in 2005, Pluto's moon Hydra has been known only as a fuzzy dot of uncertain shape, size, and reflectivity.

Since its discovery in 2005, Pluto's moon Hydra has been known only as a fuzzy dot of uncertain shape, size, and reflectivity.

Hydra Emerges from the Shadows

The sun emitted a mid-level solar flare, peaking at 8:13 p.m. EDT on Oct. 1, 2015. NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory, which watches the sun constantly, captured an image of the event.&nb...

The sun with solar flares

NASA's SDO Sees Sun Emit Mid-Level Flare Oct. 1

The approximate sizes of Pluto's moons Nix and Hydra compared to Denver, Colorado.

The approximate sizes of Pluto's moons Nix and Hydra compared to Denver, Colorado.

Nix and Hydra Compared to Denver

This image mosaic, showing Eros' saddle and a shadowed feature to its left, was taken on March 3, 2000 from a distance of 204 kilometers (127 miles).

Black and white picture of shadowed feature on asteroid Eros

Glimpses into Eros' Shadows

Spacecraft specialists huddle to discuss the critical lift of NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander into a thermal vacuum chamber.

Spacecraft specialists huddle to discuss the critical lift of NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander into a thermal vacuum chamber.

Team Huddle Before Lifting Phoenix into Test Chamber

The Mars Color Imager (MARCI) aboard the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) acquires a global view of the Red Planet and its weather patterns every day. During the week of March 5, 2018, w...

full disc of mars with clouds and dust clouds visible

Clouds and Dust Storms on Mars

NASA's Cassini spacecraft looks toward the night side of Saturn's moon Titan in a view that highlights the extended, hazy nature of the moon's atmosphere.

NASA's Cassini spacecraft looks toward the night side of Saturn's moon Titan in a view that highlights the extended, hazy nature of the moon's atmosphere.

Highlighting Titan's Hazes

Deputy Administrator Shana Dale unveiled the agency's anniversary logo Thursday in a ceremony at WIRED Magazine's annual NextFest in Los Angeles. NASA's "birthday" is Oct...

NASA Unveils 50th Anniversary Logo

NASA, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Smithsonian Institution (SI) recently renewed their agreement to search for, collect and curate Antarctic meteorites in a partnership known as AN...

NASA, the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Smithsonian Institution (SI) recently renewed their agreement to search for, collect and curate Antarctic meteorites in a partnership known as ANSMET—the Antarctic Search for Meteorites Program.

Science from the Sky: NASA Renews Search for Antarctic Meteorites

The young rays of Mena crater contrast brightly against the surrounding surface, though the rays will gradually fade with time.

Mena crater on the planet Mercury

The Bright Rays of Mena

MarCO, which is a separate mission launched on the same rocket as NASA’s InSight mission to Mars, will test new miniaturized deep space communication equipment.

Man and woman standing next to MarCo cubesat.

MarCo Pre-Launch Briefing

The New Horizons Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) captured these two images of Jupiter's outermost large moon, Callisto, as the spacecraft flew past Jupiter in late February 2007.

The New Horizons Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) captured these two images of Jupiter's outermost large moon, Callisto, as the spacecraft flew past Jupiter in late February 2007.

Capturing Callisto

NASA's next Mars-bound spacecraft, the Phoenix Mars Lander, was partway through assembly and testing at Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, in September 2006, progressing toward an August 20...

NASA's next Mars-bound spacecraft, the Phoenix Mars Lander, was partway through assembly and testing at Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, in September 2006, progressing toward an August 2007 launch from Florida.

Phoenix Mars Lander in Testing

This view of the two moons of Mars comes from a set of images taken by NASA's Mars rover Curiosity as the larger moon, Phobos, passed in front of the smaller one, Deimos, from Curiosity's p...

This view of the two moons of Mars comes from a set of images taken by NASA's Mars rover Curiosity as the larger moon, Phobos, passed in front of the smaller one, Deimos, from Curiosity's perspective, on Aug. 1, 2013.

Two Moons of Mars in One Enhanced View

Close up detail focusing on a smooth region on the 'base' of the 'body' section of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

Close up detail focusing on a smooth region on the 'base' of the 'body' section of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

Rosetta's Target Up Close

This natural color image of the limb of Triton was taken early in the morning of Aug. 25 1989, when the Voyager 2 spacecraft was at a distance of about 210,000 kilometers (128,000 miles) from the i...

This natural color image of the limb of Triton was taken early in the morning of Aug. 25 1989, when the Voyager 2 spacecraft was at a distance of about 210,000 kilometers (128,000 miles) from the icy satellite.

The Limb of Triton

Jim Christy points to the photographic plate on which he and a colleague discovered Pluto’s largest moon, Charon, in 1978.

Man pointing at small dots on clear photographic plate.

James Christy, Co-Discoverer of Charon, Pluto's Largest Moon

The Sun emitted a significant solar flare on Dec. 19, 2014.

The Sun emitted a significant solar flare. NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory captured an X-class solar flare erupting on the sun on Dec. 19, 2014. This image blends two wavelengths of extreme ultraviolent light, 171 (gold) and 131 (purple).

Holiday Lights on the Sun: Imagery of a Solar Flare

NEAR Shoemaker's scientific observations of Eros focus on different priorities as the spacecraft descends into lower orbits.

Close-up of asteroid Eros's major features

A Swath of Eros

MESSENGER's Earth flyby on Aug. 2, 2005, not only adjusted the spacecraft's path to Mercury - the gravity assist maneuver allowed the spacecraft team to test several MESSENGER science instr...

MESSENGER's Earth flyby on Aug. 2, 2005, not only adjusted the spacecraft's path to Mercury - the gravity assist maneuver allowed the spacecraft team to test several MESSENGER science instruments by observing its home planet.

The first image captured by one of NASA's Mars Cube One (MarCO) CubeSats. The image, which shows both the CubeSat's unfolded high-gain antenna at right and the Earth and its moon in the cen...

The CubeSat's unfolded high-gain antenna at right and the Earth and its moon in the center

First Image from MarCO-B

The NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope has revisited one of its most iconic and popular images: the Eagle Nebula’s Pillars of Creation.

Color image of the Eagle Nebula's Pillars of Creation

New View of the Pillars of Creation — Visible

This image shows a perspective view, looking towards Mercury's north and colorized by the topographic height of the surface.

Colorized topographical view of Mercury

Lowlands in Mercury's North

The image shown here was acquired at 24 m/pixel, the highest resolution that has been obtained for any of Mercury's shadowed polar craters.

Interior of dark crater.

A Shot in the Dark

As it swooped past the south pole of Saturn's moon Enceladus on July 14, 2005, Cassini acquired high resolution views of this puzzling ice world.

As it swooped past the south pole of Saturn's moon Enceladus on July 14, 2005, Cassini acquired high resolution views of this puzzling ice world.

Zooming In On Enceladus (Mosaic)

In this ten-second exposure, a meteor streaks across the sky above Washington, DC during the annual Perseid meteor shower, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015, in Arlington, Va.

In this ten-second exposure, a meteor streaks across the sky above Washington, DC during the annual Perseid meteor shower, Thursday, Aug. 13, 2015, in Arlington, Va.

Perseid Meteor Shower - Washington, DC - 2015

NEAR Shoemaker took these images of Eros on October 16, 2000, while orbiting 54 kilometers (34 miles) above the asteroid.

NEAR Shoemaker took these images of Eros on October 16, 2000, while orbiting 54 kilometers (34 miles) above the asteroid.

The Subtle Colors of Eros

The first and last image taken by the MESSENGER spacecraft while in orbit at Mercury.

The surface of Mercury.

From the First to the Last

This mosaic taken by NASA's Mars Curiosity rover looks uphill at Mount Sharp, which Curiosity has been climbing. Spanning the center of the image is an area with clay-bearing rocks that scienti...

Mars Curiosity rover looks uphill at Mount Sharp

Curiosity is Ready for Clay

Saturn's rings obscure part of Titan's colorful visage in this image from NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

Saturn's rings obscure part of Titan's colorful visage in this image from NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

Obscured by Rings

This composite, false-color view of Venus' south pole was captured by VIRTIS onboard the European Space Agency's Venus Express.

This composite, false-color view of Venus' south pole was captured by VIRTIS onboard the European Space Agency's Venus Express.

Venus' South Pole

On Oct. 9, NASA's Juno spacecraft flew past Earth, using our home planet's gravity to get the final boost it needed to reach Jupiter.

On Oct. 9, NASA's Juno spacecraft flew past Earth, using our home planet's gravity to get the final boost it needed to reach Jupiter.

Earth from Juno

Smoke plume from California's Rim Fire, Aug. 23, 2013.

Satellite image of smoke plume from the 2013 Rim Fire in California

Smoke Plumes From Space

This image shows the first flash of sunlight reflected off a hydrocarbon lake on Saturn's moon Titan.

This image shows the first flash of sunlight reflected off a hydrocarbon lake on Saturn's moon Titan.

Reflection of Sunlight off Titan Lake

The Voyager 2 spacecraft flew by Triton, a moon of Neptune, in the summer of 1989.

The Voyager 2 spacecraft flew by Triton, a moon of Neptune, in the summer of 1989.

This Kepler image of Earth’s reflection as it slipped past the telescoipe's field of view was so extraordinarily bright that it created a saber-like saturation bleed across the instrument...

Black and white view of Earth as a bright lens flare against a background of stars.

Earth from 94 Million Miles Away

Two moons that have profound impacts on the rings, Mimas and Prometheus, are seen here with the F ring.

Two moons that have profound impacts on the rings, Mimas and Prometheus, are seen here with the F ring.

NASA's Dawn spacecraft has revealed many landslides on Ceres, which researchers interpret to have been shaped by a significant amount of water ice.

NASA's Dawn spacecraft has revealed many landslides on Ceres, which researchers interpret to have been shaped by a significant amount of water ice.

Landslides on Ceres

Magellan radar image of Wheatley crater on Venus.

Magellan radar image of Wheatley crater on Venus.

Wheatley Crater, Venus

This image of Occator Crater's northern wall was obtained by NASA's Dawn spacecraft on June 16, 2018 from an altitude of about 21 miles (33 kilometers).

Occator's Northern Wall

This Voyager 2 high resolution color image, taken 2 hours before closest approach, provides obvious evidence of vertical relief in Neptune's bright cloud streaks.

This Voyager 2 high resolution color image, taken 2 hours before closest approach, provides obvious evidence of vertical relief in Neptune's bright cloud streaks.

Neptune Clouds Showing Vertical Relief

As Cassini approached the intriguing ice world of Enceladus for its extremely close flyby on July 14, 2005, the spacecraft obtained images in several wavelengths that were used to create this false...

As Cassini approached the intriguing ice world of Enceladus for its extremely close flyby on July 14, 2005, the spacecraft obtained images in several wavelengths that were used to create this false-color composite view.

Enceladus in False Color

These three images of Jupiter, taken through the narrow angle camera of NASA's Cassini spacecraft from a distance of 77.6 million kilometers (48.2 million miles) on October 8, reveal more than ...

These three images of Jupiter, taken through the narrow angle camera of NASA's Cassini spacecraft from a distance of 77.6 million kilometers (48.2 million miles) on October 8, reveal more than is apparent to the naked eye through a telescope.

Jupiter in blue, ultraviolet and Near Infrared

Pluto from 476000 miles, July 13, 2015.

Black and white photo of Pluto

Pluto From 476,000 Miles

The Cassini spacecraft focuses on a streamer-channel feature in Saturn's F ring.

The Cassini spacecraft focuses on a streamer-channel feature in Saturn's F ring.

Streamer Channel

RCW 108 is a region where stars are actively forming within the Milky Way galaxy about 4,000 light years from Earth.

Color photo of star cluster embedded in a cloud of molecular hydrogen

Massive Young Stars Trigger Stellar Birth

This image taken by NASA's Cassini spacecraft on Dec. 1, 2000, shows details of Jupiter's Great Red Spot and other features that were not visible in images taken earlier, when Cassini was f...

This image taken by NASA's Cassini spacecraft on Dec. 1, 2000, shows details of Jupiter's Great Red Spot and other features that were not visible in images taken earlier, when Cassini was farther from Jupiter.

Jupiter Eye to Io

Of all the planets NASA has explored, none have matched the dynamic complexity of our own.

Of all the planets NASA has explored, none have matched the dynamic complexity of our own.

Blue Marble, Eastern Hemisphere

From right to left in the mosaic, each fan appears dark above the bright core of the F ring near the larger, diagonal channels created by the ring's shepherding moon Prometheus.

From right to left in the mosaic, each fan appears dark above the bright core of the F ring near the larger, diagonal channels created by the ring's shepherding moon Prometheus.

Multiple F-Ring "Fans"

Sand dunes on the slopes of Nectaris Montes within Coprates Chasma, which is part of Mars' giant Valles Marineris canyon system, as seen by the HiRISE camera aboard NASA's Mars Reconnaissan...

colorful sand dunes

Dunes in Nectaris Montes

In this 30 second exposure, a meteor streaks across the sky during the annual Perseid meteor shower.

Meteor in the sky at twilight.

Perseid Meteor 2016

The United Launch Alliance (ULA) Atlas-V rocket with the NASA InSight spacecraft onboard shortly after the mobile service tower was rolled back, May 4, 2018. InSight launched on May 5.

Spotlights on rocket on the launchpad.

InSight on the Pad

This enhanced color view from NASA's New Horizons spacecraft zooms in on the southeastern portion of Pluto's great ice plains, where at lower right the plains border rugged, dark highlands ...

This enhanced color view from NASA's New Horizons spacecraft zooms in on the southeastern portion of Pluto's great ice plains, where at lower right the plains border rugged, dark highlands informally named Krun Macula.

The Jagged Shores of Pluto's Highlands

An artist's concept of the dwarf planet Eris and its moon Dysnomia.

An artist's concept of the dwarf planet Eris and its moon Dysnomia.

Eris and Dysnomia (Artist Concept)

Cassiopeia A (Cas A) is the remnant of a massive star that exploded about 300 years ago. The X-ray image shows an expanding shell of hot gas produced by the explosion.

Colorful image of supernova remnant

Cassiopeia A Supernova Remnant

A Girl Scout waits to look through a telescope at the first-ever White House Campout with fifty fourth-grade girls in 2015.

Girl on White House lawn with others at night.

Stargazing Girl Scout

This area east of Mercury's giant Caloris Basin is thought to be related to ejecta from the basin impact event.

Craters and ridges on Mercury

Small water ice particles fly from fissures in the south polar region of Saturn's moon Enceladus in this image taken during the Aug. 13, 2010, flyby of the moon by NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

Small water ice particles fly from fissures in the south polar region of Saturn's moon Enceladus in this image taken during the Aug. 13, 2010, flyby of the moon by NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

Looming Enceladus

This 2006 image taken by the Hubble Space Telescope shows bands and a new dark spot in Uranus' atmosphere.

This 2006 image taken by the Hubble Space Telescope shows bands and a new dark spot in Uranus' atmosphere.

Hubble's Uranus

Bruce Banerdt, InSight principal investigator discusses his mission during a pre-launch media briefing, Thursday, May 3, 2018.

Man standing behind spacecraft model.

Bruce Banerdt and InSight Model

The spinning vortex of Saturn's north polar storm resembles a deep red rose of giant proportions surrounded by green foliage in this false-color image from NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

The spinning vortex of Saturn's north polar storm resembles a deep red rose of giant proportions surrounded by green foliage in this false-color image from NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

This very deep combined image shows the interstellar asteroid ‘Oumuamua at the center of the image.

Image of small dot in a field of stars.

Telescope Image of 'Oumuamua

This image of Ceres approximates how the dwarf planet's colors would appear to the eye.

This image of Ceres approximates how the dwarf planet's colors would appear to the eye.

Saturn's largest and second largest moons, Titan and Rhea, appear to be stacked on top of each other in this true-color scene from NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

Saturn's largest and second largest moons, Titan and Rhea, appear to be stacked on top of each other in this true-color scene from NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

NASA's New Horizons spacecraft observations of Kuiper Belt object Quaoar ("Kwa-war"), which - at 690 miles or 1,100 kilometers in diameter - is roughly half the size of Pluto.

NASA's New Horizons spacecraft observations of Kuiper Belt object Quaoar ("Kwa-war"), which - at 690 miles or 1,100 kilometers in diameter - is roughly half the size of Pluto.

Mosaic of the Valles Marineris hemisphere of Mars projected into point perspective, a view similar to that which one would see from a spacecraft.

Full disk color image of Mars showing Valles Marineris canyon and volcanoes.

Mars Valles Marineris Hemisphere Enhanced

Titan and Saturn have very few things in common, but a hazy appearance is one feature they share. Although their faces seem similar in images like this, appearances can be misleading.

Image of Titan in front of Saturn

Saturn's moon Prometheus casts a shadow near a streamer-channel created by the moon in the thin F ring in this image taken about a month after the planet's August 2009 equinox.

Saturn's moon Prometheus casts a shadow near a streamer-channel created by the moon in the thin F ring in this image taken about a month after the planet's August 2009 equinox.

Shadow Between the Shepherds

This unusual photograph, taken during the second Apollo 12 extravehicular activity (EVA), shows two U.S. spacecraft on the surface of the moon.

Two U.S. spacecraft on the surface of the moon

Apollo 12 and Surveyor 3

Researchers from NASA's Dawn mission have composed the first comprehensive views of the north (left) and south pole regions (right) of dwarf planet Ceres, using images obtained by the Dawn spac...

Researchers from NASA's Dawn mission have composed the first comprehensive views of the north (left) and south pole regions (right) of dwarf planet Ceres, using images obtained by the Dawn spacecraft.

First Complete Look at Ceres' Poles

This image, taken by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on board ESA's Mars Express spacecraft, is one of the highest-resolution pictures so far of the Martian moon Phobos.

This image, taken by the High Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on board ESA's Mars Express spacecraft, is one of the highest-resolution pictures so far of the Martian moon Phobos.

Color image of Phobos from Mars Express

An iron meteorite from the Barringer Meteorite Crater.

An iron meteorite from the Barringer Meteorite Crater.

This image of Triton was taken from a distance of about 130,000 kilometers (80,000 miles) at 12:20 a.m. PDT Aug. 25 1989.

This image of Triton was taken from a distance of about 130,000 kilometers (80,000 miles) at 12:20 a.m. PDT Aug. 25 1989.

On Oct. 9, 2008, just after coming within 25 kilometers (15.6 miles) of the surface of Enceladus, NASA's Cassini captured this stunning mosaic as the spacecraft sped away from this geologically...

On Oct. 9, 2008, just after coming within 25 kilometers (15.6 miles) of the surface of Enceladus, NASA's Cassini captured this stunning mosaic as the spacecraft sped away from this geologically active moon of Saturn.

A Tectonic Feast

Jupiter, its Great Red Spot and three of its four largest satellites are visible in this photo taken Feb. 5, 1979, by Voyager 1.

Jupiter, its Great Red Spot and three of its four largest satellites are visible in this photo taken Feb. 5, 1979, by Voyager 1.

Jupiter and Three Galilean Satellites

This is a NASA Hubble Space Telescope color image of Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt.

This is a NASA Hubble Space Telescope color image of Ceres, the largest object in the asteroid belt.

Color View of Ceres

NASA's Juno spacecraft soared directly over Jupiter's south pole when JunoCam acquired this image on February 2, 2017 at 6:06 a.m. PT (9:06 a.m. ET), from an altitude of about 62,800 miles ...

NASA's Juno spacecraft soared directly over Jupiter's south pole when JunoCam acquired this image on February 2, 2017 at 6:06 a.m. PT (9:06 a.m. ET), from an altitude of about 62,800 miles (101,000 kilometers) above the cloud tops.

Jovian Stormy Weather

This orthographic projection shows dwarf planet Ceres as seen by NASA's Dawn spacecraft.

This orthographic projection shows dwarf planet Ceres as seen by NASA's Dawn spacecraft.

High Resolution Ceres View

As millions of people observed the total lunar eclipse on October 8, 2014, MESSENGER was also watching from Mercury.

Earth's moon seems to disappear during lunar eclipse viewed from Mercury. Both Earth and its moon are seen as small dots.

Lunar Eclipse From Mercury

Ligeia Mare, shown here in a false-color image from NASA's Cassini mission, is the second largest known body of liquid on Saturn's moon Titan.

Ligeia Mare, shown here in a false-color image from NASA's Cassini mission, is the second largest known body of liquid on Saturn's moon Titan.

Vast Ligeia Mare in False Color

Lava spills onto the surface of Io during a volcanic eruption.

Lava spills onto the surface of Io during a volcanic eruption.

This series of images captures cloud patterns near Jupiter's south pole, looking up towards the planet’s equator.

Cloud patterns near Jupiter's south pole

Time-lapse Sequence of Jupiter’s South Pole

North Atlantic phytoplankton bloom off the coast of Iceland, June 24, 2010.

Satellite view of phytoplankton bloom

Dance of the Plankton

On July 19, 2012, million-degree plasma in the sun's atmosphere began to cool and fall to the surface, resulting in a dazzling magnetic display known as coronal rain.

Image of plasma downpour on the sun

Raindrops Falling on the Sun

This global view of the surface of Venus is centered at 180 degrees east longitude. Magellan synthetic aperture radar mosaics from the first cycle of Magellan mapping are mapped onto a computer-sim...

Radar image reveals Venus surface.

Computer Simulated Global View of Venus

A pair of small moons that NASA's Hubble Space Telescope discovered orbiting Pluto now have official names: Nix and Hydra.

A pair of small moons that NASA's Hubble Space Telescope discovered orbiting Pluto now have official names: Nix and Hydra.

Pluto and Its Moons: Charon, Nix, and Hydra

Besides viewing Mars, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera can also be used to view other planets.

Besides viewing Mars, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera can also be used to view other planets.

Earth and Moon as Seen from Mars

This image mosaic of Eros' southern hemisphere, taken by NEAR Shoemaker on November 30, 2000, offers a long-distance look at the cratered terrain south of where the spacecraft will touch down o...

Black and white photo of asteroid Eros

The Environs of NEAR Shoemaker's Landing Site

The Cassini spacecraft watches as clouds swirl through Saturn's equatorial latitudes.

The Cassini spacecraft watches as clouds swirl through Saturn's equatorial latitudes.

Swirling Clouds

Nereid, the last satellite of Neptune to be discovered before Voyager's recent discoveries, was first seen by Gerard Kuiper in 1949.

Nereid, the last satellite of Neptune to be discovered before Voyager's recent discoveries, was first seen by Gerard Kuiper in 1949.

Hubble Space Telescope has peered deep into Uranus' atmosphere to see clear and hazy layers created by a mixture of gases.

Hubble Space Telescope has peered deep into Uranus' atmosphere to see clear and hazy layers created by a mixture of gases.

Hubble Captures Detailed Image of Uranus' Atmosphere

To make sure that the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment (LADEE) spacecraft is perfectly balanced for flight, engineers mount it onto a spin table and rotate it at high speeds, approximately one...

To make sure that the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment (LADEE) spacecraft is perfectly balanced for flight, engineers mount it onto a spin table and rotate it at high speeds, approximately one revolution per second.

LADEE Balance Test

Viking 2 Orbiter image of the Martian satellite Deimos taken from 1400 km.

Viking 2 Orbiter image of the Martian satellite Deimos taken from 1400 km.

Mars' moon Deimos from 870 miles

Tethys, dwarfed by the scale of Saturn and its rings, appears as an elegant crescent in this image taken by NASA's Cassini Spacecraft.

Tethys, dwarfed by the scale of Saturn and its rings, appears as an elegant crescent in this image taken by NASA's Cassini Spacecraft.

Crescent Tethys and Rings

On Aug. 7, 1972, in the heart of the Apollo era, an enormous solar flare exploded from the sun’s atmosphere.

On Aug. 7, 1972, in the heart of the Apollo era, an enormous solar flare exploded from the sun’s atmosphere.

Real Martians: How to Protect Astronauts from Space Radiation on Mars

This enhanced color image of Ceres' surface was made from data obtained on April 29, 2017, when NASA's Dawn spacecraft was exactly between the sun and Ceres.

This enhanced color image of Ceres' surface was made from data obtained on April 29, 2017, when NASA's Dawn spacecraft was exactly between the sun and Ceres.

Enhanced Color View of Ceres at Opposition

Collapsed volcanoes form large, dark spots on Io’s surface.

Collapsed volcanoes form large, dark spots on Io’s surface.

NASA's Cassini spacecraft captured this parting view showing the rough and icy crescent of Saturn's moon Dione following the spacecraft's last close flyby of the moon on Aug. 17, 2015.

NASA's Cassini spacecraft captured this parting view showing the rough and icy crescent of Saturn's moon Dione following the spacecraft's last close flyby of the moon on Aug. 17, 2015.

Departing Dione

NASA's Galileo spacecraft acquired its highest resolution images of Jupiter's moon Io on 3 July 1999 during its closest pass to Io since orbit insertion in late 1995.

NASA's Galileo spacecraft acquired its highest resolution images of Jupiter's moon Io on 3 July 1999 during its closest pass to Io since orbit insertion in late 1995.

Global Image of Io (True Color)

This three-image mosaic is the highest resolution view yet obtained of Enceladus' north polar region.

This three-image mosaic is the highest resolution view yet obtained of Enceladus' north polar region.

The North Polar Region of Enceladus

A NASA camera aboard the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite captured a unique view of the moon as it moved in front of the sunlit side of Earth last month.

A NASA camera aboard the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite captured a unique view of the moon as it moved in front of the sunlit side of Earth last month.

From a Million Miles Away, NASA Camera Shows Moon Crossing Face of Earth

This view from NASA’s Dawn mission shows the floor of Ceres’ Juling Crater. The crater floor shows evidence of the flow of ice and rock, similar to rock glaciers in Earth’s polar ...

The floor of Ceres' Juling Crater

Juling Crater’s floor

This is one of the most detailed views of the surface of Triton taken by Voyager 2 on its flyby of the large satellite of Neptune early in the morning of Aug. 25, 1989.

This is one of the most detailed views of the surface of Triton taken by Voyager 2 on its flyby of the large satellite of Neptune early in the morning of Aug. 25, 1989.

Triton High Resolution View of Northern Hemisphere

Portrait of the prime crew of the Apollo 12 lunar landing mission.

Photo of the 3 Apollo 12 crew members

This Voyager 2 image of the Uranian rings delta, gamma, eta, beta and alpha (from top) was taken Jan. 23, 1986.

This Voyager 2 image of the Uranian rings delta, gamma, eta, beta and alpha (from top) was taken Jan. 23, 1986.

Rings of Uranus

The Philae lander of the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission took this self-portrait of the spacecraft on Sept. 7, 2014, at a distance of about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from comet 67P/Chury...

The Philae lander of the European Space Agency's Rosetta mission took this self-portrait of the spacecraft on Sept. 7, 2014, at a distance of about 10 miles (16 kilometers) from comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

Rosetta Mission Selfie at 10 Miles

NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft captured this high-resolution enhanced color view of Pluto on July 14, 2015.

Pluto in enhanced color

The Rich Color Variations of Pluto

Updated view of a Galileo spacecraft image of the Nicholson Regio/Arbela Sulcus region on Jupiter's moon Ganymede.

Surface details on Ganymede.

Ganymede Terrain

An artist's concept of NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) spacecraft firing its maneuvering thrusters in order to maintain a safe altitude as it orbits the moon.

An artist's concept of NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) spacecraft firing its maneuvering thrusters in order to maintain a safe altitude as it orbits the moon.

LADEE Fires Thrusters Artist's Concept

This wide-angle Voyager 2 image, taken through the camera's clear filter, is the first to show Neptune's rings in detail.

This wide-angle Voyager 2 image, taken through the camera's clear filter, is the first to show Neptune's rings in detail.

Neptune's Rings

An Atlas-Agena 5 carrying the Mariner 1 spacecraft lifts off from the Cape Kennedy Launch Complex on a mission to Venus.

An Atlas-Agena 5 carrying the Mariner 1 spacecraft lifts off from the Cape Kennedy Launch Complex on a mission to Venus.

Mariner 1 Launch

This is a montage of New Horizons images of Jupiter and its volcanic moon Io, taken during the spacecraft's Jupiter flyby in early 2007.

This is a montage of New Horizons images of Jupiter and its volcanic moon Io, taken during the spacecraft's Jupiter flyby in early 2007.

Jupiter-Io Montage

Voyager 2 took this picture of Neptune's largest satellite,Triton, from less than 80,000 km (50,000 miles).

Voyager 2 took this picture of Neptune's largest satellite,Triton, from less than 80,000 km (50,000 miles).

This dramatic view of the crescents of Neptune and Triton was acquired by Voyager 2 approximately 3 days, 6 and one-half hours after its closest approach to Neptune (north is to the right).

This dramatic view of the crescents of Neptune and Triton was acquired by Voyager 2 approximately 3 days, 6 and one-half hours after its closest approach to Neptune (north is to the right).

Crescents of Neptune and Triton

These four images of Jupiter and the luminous night-side impact of fragment W of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 were taken by the Galileo spacecraft on July 22, 1994.

These four images of Jupiter and the luminous night-side impact of fragment W of Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 were taken by the Galileo spacecraft on July 22, 1994.

Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 Fragment W Impact With Jupiter

A paired picture of Uranus, the sharpest, most detailed picture of the distant planet to date, reveals a raft of new details about the planet's enigmatic atmosphere.

A paired picture of Uranus, the sharpest, most detailed picture of the distant planet to date, reveals a raft of new details about the planet's enigmatic atmosphere.

Uranus in Detail

Jets of water ice particles spew from Saturn's moon Enceladus in this image obtained by NASA's Cassini spacecraft on Aug. 13, 2010.

Jets of water ice particles spew from Saturn's moon Enceladus in this image obtained by NASA's Cassini spacecraft on Aug. 13, 2010.

Before Saturn's Limb

NASA's Dawn spacecraft successfully observed Ceres at opposition on April 29, 2017, taking images from a position exactly between the sun and Ceres' surface.

NASA's Dawn spacecraft successfully observed Ceres at opposition on April 29, 2017, taking images from a position exactly between the sun and Ceres' surface.

Ceres During 'Opposition Surge'

This picture of Triton is a mosaic of the highest resolution images taken by Voyager 2 on Aug. 25, 1989 from a distance of about 40,000 kilometers (24,800 miles).

This picture of Triton is a mosaic of the highest resolution images taken by Voyager 2 on Aug. 25, 1989 from a distance of about 40,000 kilometers (24,800 miles).

Active regions on the Sun give it the appearance of a jack-o'-lantern. This image is a blend of 171 and 193 angstrom light as captured by the Solar Dynamics Observatory.

Active regions on the Sun give it the appearance of a jack-o'-lantern. This image is a blend of 171 and 193 angstrom light as captured by the Solar Dynamics Observatory.

On 13 Sep 2015, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory—a joint project of the European Space Agency and NASA—discovered its 3,000th comet, cementing its standing as the greatest comet f...

On 13 Sep 2015, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory—a joint project of the European Space Agency and NASA—discovered its 3,000th comet, cementing its standing as the greatest comet finder of all time.

SOHO: The Comet Hunter

Looking cool and serene, Saturn shares its soft glow with Cassini.

Looking cool and serene, Saturn shares its soft glow with Cassini.

World of Clouds and Ice

This artist's concept puts solar system distances in perspective.

This artist's concept puts solar system distances in perspective.

Solar System, in Perspective

This view of Uranus was recorded by Voyager 2 on Jan 25, 1986, as the spacecraft left the planet behind and set forth on the cruise to Neptune.

This view of Uranus was recorded by Voyager 2 on Jan 25, 1986, as the spacecraft left the planet behind and set forth on the cruise to Neptune.

Uranus - Final Image

Just before Saturn's August 2009 equinox, Dione joined other Saturnian moons in casting shadows on the planet's main rings.

Just before Saturn's August 2009 equinox, Dione joined other Saturnian moons in casting shadows on the planet's main rings.

Dione's Ring Shadow Premiere

This image captures a close-up view of a storm with bright cloud tops in the northern hemisphere of Jupiter.

Close-up view of a storm on Jupiter

Rose-Colored Jupiter

In this view captured by NASA's Cassini spacecraft on its closest-ever flyby of Saturn's moon Mimas, large Herschel Crater dominates Mimas, making the moon look like the Death Star in the m...

In this view captured by NASA's Cassini spacecraft on its closest-ever flyby of Saturn's moon Mimas, large Herschel Crater dominates Mimas, making the moon look like the Death Star in the movie "Star Wars."

Flying by the "Death Star" Moon

Eleven years in the life of the Sun, spanning most of solar cycle 23.

Eleven years in the life of the Sun, spanning most of solar cycle 23, as it progressed from solar minimum (upper left) to maximum conditions and back to minimum (upper right) again, seen as a collage of ten full-disk images of the lower corona.

On Jan. 22, 2012, the Sun erupted with a solar flare, a coronal mass ejection, and a burst of highly energetic protons known as solar energetic particles.

On January 22, 2012, the sun erupted with a solar flare, a coronal mass ejection, and a burst of highly energetic protons known as solar energetic particles.

This mosaic of oblique images highlights the spectacular interior of Abedin crater.

Mountains in a crater on Mercury.

This poster shows a set of images acquired by the European Space Agency's Huygens probe descent imager/spectral radiometer, in the four cardinal directions (north, south, east, west), at five d...

Color images of Titan's surface

Views of Titan from Different Altitudes

This view from NASA’s Dawn mission shows where ice has been detected in the northern wall of Ceres’ Juling Crater, which is in almost permanent shadow.

Ice on the northern wall of Ceres' Juling Crater

Juling Crater’s shadow

Only Cassini could provide this enchanting, natural color view of crescent Saturn, which gazes down onto the unlit side of the planet's spectacular rings.

Only Cassini could provide this enchanting, natural color view of crescent Saturn, which gazes down onto the unlit side of the planet's spectacular rings.

Greetings from Saturn

This image from NASA's Cassini mission was taken on Nov. 27, 2012, with Cassini's narrow-angle imaging camera.

Black and white image of swirling storm.

Vortex at Saturn's North Pole

This true color image captured by NASA'S Cassini spacecraft before a distant flyby of Saturn's moon Titan on June 27, 2012, shows a south polar vortex, or a swirling mass of gas around the ...

This true color image captured by NASA'S Cassini spacecraft before a distant flyby of Saturn's moon Titan on June 27, 2012, shows a south polar vortex, or a swirling mass of gas around the pole in the atmosphere.

Titan's Colorful South Polar Vortex

Mariner 10 was launched on November 3, 1973, 12:45 am PST, from Cape Canaveral on an Atlas/Centaur rocket (a reconditioned Intercontinental Ballistic Missile - ICBM).

Mariner 10 was launched on November 3, 1973, 12:45 am PST, from Cape Canaveral on an Atlas/Centaur rocket (a reconditioned Intercontinental Ballistic Missile - ICBM).

Earth and Moon as Viewed by Mariner 10

A still camera on a sound trigger captured this intriguing photo of an airborne frog as NASA's LADEE spacecraft lifts off from Pad 0B at Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

A still camera on a sound trigger captured this intriguing photo of an airborne frog as NASA's LADEE spacecraft lifts off from Pad 0B at Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia.

LADEE Frog Photobomb

Map projection of Charon, the largest of Pluto's five moons, annotated with its first set of official feature names.

Flat map of Charon with feature names.

Charon's First Official Feature Names

This false-color view of the rings of Uranus was made from images taken by Voyager 2 on Jan. 21, 1986, from a distance of 4.17 million kilometers (2.59 million miles).

This false-color view of the rings of Uranus was made from images taken by Voyager 2 on Jan. 21, 1986, from a distance of 4.17 million kilometers (2.59 million miles).

Uranus Rings in False Color

Looming like a giant flying saucer in our outer solar system, Saturn puts on a show as the planet and its magnificent ring system nod majestically over the course of its 29-year journey around the ...

Looming like a giant flying saucer in our outer solar system, Saturn puts on a show as the planet and its magnificent ring system nod majestically over the course of its 29-year journey around the Sun.

A Change of Seasons on Saturn

This extraordinary view of Jupiter was captured by NASA’s Juno spacecraft on the outbound leg of its 12th close flyby of the gas giant planet.

A new perspective of Jupiter from the south makes the Great Red Spot appear as though it is in northern territory

A New Perspective

This is a montage of New Horizons images of Jupiter and its volcanic moon Io, taken during the spacecraft’s Jupiter flyby in early 2007.

A montage of images of Jupiter and its volcanic moon Io

Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter slewed 54 degrees to the east to snap a dramatic oblique view of the Chang'e 3 site (arrow).

Photo of Chang'e landing site

Chang'e Lunar Rover Landing Site

In this 30 second exposure, a meteor streaks across the sky during the annual Perseid meteor shower Friday, August 12, 2016 in Spruce Knob, West Virginia.

In this 30 second exposure, a meteor streaks across the sky during the annual Perseid meteor shower Friday, August 12, 2016 in Spruce Knob, West Virginia.

Perseid Meteor Over West Virginia

A large sunspot was the source of a powerful solar flare and a coronal mass ejection (Sept. 6, 2017). The flare was the largest solar flare of the last decade. For one thing, it created a strong sh...

A large sunspot was the source of a powerful solar flare (an X 9.3) and a coronal mass ejection (Sept. 6, 2017).

Major Solar Flare

Saturn and its moon Titan as seen by Pioneer 11 in 1973.

Fuzzy view of Saturn, it's rings and the giant moon Titan.

Pioneer 11 at Saturn

A comparison image shows how Martian winds help clean the Opportunity rover's solar panels over three months in 2014.

Comparison shows cleaner solar panels over three months.

Windswept Opportunity Rover

The small moon Mimas passes in front of the larger moon Rhea, which is partly obscured by Saturn's rings, in this movie from NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

The small moon Mimas passes in front of the larger moon Rhea, which is partly obscured by Saturn's rings, in this movie from NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

Before a Veiled Rhea

More than 100 asteroids were captured in this view from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, during its primary all-sky survey.

More than 100 asteroids were captured in this view from NASA's Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer, or WISE, during its primary all-sky survey.

Asteroid Tracks Among the Stars

This picture of Eros, the first of an asteroid taken from an orbiting spacecraft, is a mosaic of four images obtained by NEAR on February 14, 2000, immediately after the spacecraft's insertion ...

Black and white photo of asteroid Eros

NEAR's First Whole-Eros Mosaic from Orbit

The highest resolution image of Pluto to date (July 14, 2015).

High resolution image of Pluto

Pluto in High Resolution

This 8-image mosaic was acquired during the late afternoon (near 5pm LST, note the long shadows) on Sol 2 as part of the predeploy "insurance panorama" and shows the newly deployed rover ...

This 8-image mosaic was acquired during the late afternoon (near 5pm LST, note the long shadows) on Sol 2 as part of the predeploy "insurance panorama" and shows the newly deployed rover sitting on the Martian surface.

Newly Deployed Sojourner Rover

Less than a month before the end of the mission, Rosetta's high-resolution camera has revealed the Philae lander wedged into a dark crack on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

Less than a month before the end of the mission, Rosetta's high-resolution camera has revealed the Philae lander wedged into a dark crack on Comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko.

In this 30 second exposure, a meteor streaks across the sky during the annual Perseid meteor shower Friday, Aug. 12, 2016 in Spruce Knob, West Virginia.

In this 30 second exposure, a meteor streaks across the sky during the annual Perseid meteor shower Friday, Aug. 12, 2016 in Spruce Knob, West Virginia.

Perseids Meteor 2016

Voyager 2 was 530,000 kilometers (330,000 miles) from Neptune's largest satellite, Triton, when this photo was taken, Aug. 24, 1989.

Voyager 2 was 530,000 kilometers (330,000 miles) from Neptune's largest satellite, Triton, when this photo was taken, Aug. 24, 1989.

Triton's Surface Topography

Based on the first direct measurements ever obtained of Martian rocks and terrain, scientists on NASA's Mars Pathfinder mission report in this week's Science magazine that the red...

Based on the first direct measurements ever obtained of Martian rocks and terrain, scientists on NASA's Mars Pathfinder mission report in this week's Science magazine that the red planet may have once been much more like Earth, with liquid water streaming through channels and nourishing a much thicker atmosphere.

Pathfinder on Mars

As it entered the Saturn system, NASA's Cassini spacecraft performed its first targeted flyby of one of the planet's moons.

As it entered the Saturn system, NASA's Cassini spacecraft performed its first targeted flyby of one of the planet's moons.

Arrival and Departure at Phoebe

This map-projected view of Ceres was created from images taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft during its high-altitude mapping orbit, in August and September, 2015.

This map-projected view of Ceres was created from images taken by NASA's Dawn spacecraft during its high-altitude mapping orbit, in August and September, 2015.

Hints at Ceres' Composition from Color

The four images that make up this montage of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko were taken on September 26, 2014 by the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft.

The four images that make up this montage of comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko were taken on September 26, 2014 by the European Space Agency's Rosetta spacecraft.

Rosetta Comet Fires Its Jets

Dramatic plumes, both large and small, spray water ice and vapor from many locations along the famed "tiger stripes" near the south pole of Saturn's moon Enceladus.

NASA's Cassini spacecraft captured dramatic plumes, both large and small, spray water ice out from many locations along the famed 'tiger stripes' near the south pole of Saturn's moon Enceladus.

Bursting at the Seams: the Geyser Basin of Enceladus

Special plaque mounted on the Pioneer 10 spacecraft.

Black and white image of plaque with illustrations on it mounted to spacecraft.

This composite image, which has become a popular poster, shows a global view of Earth at night, compiled from over 400 satellite images

Global image of city lights.

This image was acquired on 28 July 2008 with the nadir channel of the High Resolution Stereo Camera.

This image was acquired on 28 July 2008 with the nadir channel of the High Resolution Stereo Camera.

Close-Up of Phobos from Mars Express

This 400 by 900 light-year mosaic of several Chandra images of the central region of our Milky Way galaxy reveals hundreds of white dwarf stars, neutron stars, and black holes bathed in an incandes...

Colorful image of galactic center

Chandra X-ray Mosaic of Galactic Center

The complex structure of Saturn's quirky F ring is unfurled in this mosaic made up of images taken by NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

The complex structure of Saturn's quirky F ring is unfurled in this mosaic made up of images taken by NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

Unrolling the F-ring

This feature on Europa was seen as a dark, diffuse circular patch on a previous Galileo global image of Europa's leading hemisphere on April 3, 1997.

This feature on Europa was seen as a dark, diffuse circular patch on a previous Galileo global image of Europa's leading hemisphere on April 3, 1997.

Ancient Impact Basin on Europa

This Voyager 2 image of Saturn was acquired on Aug. 4, 1981, from a distance of 21 million kilometers (13 million miles).

This Voyager 2 image of Saturn was acquired on Aug. 4, 1981, from a distance of 21 million kilometers (13 million miles).

Saturn Taken from Voyager 2

Titan's smoggy atmosphere glows brilliantly in scattered sunlight, creating a thin, gleaming crescent beyond Saturn's rings.

Titan's smoggy atmosphere glows brilliantly in scattered sunlight, creating a thin, gleaming crescent beyond Saturn's rings.

Titan Shines Through

This image was returned by the Voyager 2 spacecraft on July 3, 1989, when it was 76 million kilometers (47 million miles) from Neptune.

This image was returned by the Voyager 2 spacecraft on July 3, 1989, when it was 76 million kilometers (47 million miles) from Neptune.

Neptune and Triton

Why is Venus so different from Earth?

Why is Venus so different from Earth?

Night on Venus in Infrared from Orbiting Akatsuki

This computer generated montage shows Neptune as it would appear from a spacecraft approaching Triton, Neptune's largest moon at 2706 km (1683 mi) in diameter.

This computer generated montage shows Neptune as it would appear from a spacecraft approaching Triton, Neptune's largest moon at 2706 km (1683 mi) in diameter.

Montage of Neptune and Triton

Commonly known as "The Little White House" at 1520 H Street, NW, in Washington, DC.

Commonly known as "The Little White House" at 1520 H Street, NW, in Washington, DC.

NASA's First Headquarters

The dwarf planet, formerly known as 2003 UB313 (or Xena), is now called Eris, after the Greek goddess of discord and strife.

The dwarf planet, formerly known as 2003 UB313 (or Xena), is now called Eris, after the Greek goddess of discord and strife.

Eris Discovery Image

Ranger 1 was first in a series of test spacecraft to attempt to explore deep space.

Rocket launching.

Ranger 1 Launch

These color composite frames of the mid-section of Jupiter were of narrow angle images acquired on December 31, 2000, a day after Cassini's closest approach to the planet.

These color composite frames of the mid-section of Jupiter were of narrow angle images acquired on December 31, 2000, a day after Cassini's closest approach to the planet.

Jupiter in True and False Color

Los Angeles Basin bordered on the north by the San Gabriel Mountians. ASTER's simulated natural color image, collected Aug 15, 2006, is draped over the ASTER Global Digital Elevation Model.

Simulated image of the Los Angeles Basin

Top that Topo Map

A solar eruption gracefully rose up from the sun on December 31, 2012, twisting and turning.

A solar eruption

Solar Ballet on the Sun

Occator Crater, measuring 57 miles (92 kilometers) across and 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) deep, contains the brightest area on Ceres.

Occator Crater, measuring 57 miles (92 kilometers) across and 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) deep, contains the brightest area on Ceres.

Occator Crater and Ceres' Brightest Spots

The image shows change in sea ice and solar absorption in the summer months in the Arctic between 2000 and 2014. Blue shows where sea ice has decreased, and red shows where solar radiation absorpti...

Animation showing change in sea ice and solar absorption in the Arctic from 2000 to 2014.

This 2013 animation shows multiple-planet systems discovered by Kepler.

This 2013 animation shows multiple-planet systems discovered by Kepler.

Kepler Orrery III

A meteor streaks across the sky during the annual Perseid meteor shower.

Meteor streak across dark sky.

Perseid Meteor 2016

The small moon Janus is almost hidden between the planet's rings and the larger moon Rhea.

The small moon Janus is almost hidden between the planet's rings and the larger moon Rhea.

Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter stands in front of the NASA insignia at Cape Canaveral.

Mercury astronaut Scott Carpenter stands in front of the NASA insignia at Cape Canaveral.

This narrow-angle color image of the Earth, dubbed 'Pale Blue Dot', is a part of the first ever 'portrait' of the solar system taken by Voyager 1.

This narrow-angle color image of the Earth, dubbed 'Pale Blue Dot', is a part of the first ever 'portrait' of the solar system taken by Voyager 1.

Solar System Portrait

This trio of Junocam views of Earth was taken during Juno's close flyby on October 9, 2013.

This trio of Junocam views of Earth was taken during Juno's close flyby on October 9, 2013.

Earth Triptych from NASA's Juno Spacecraft

What looks like a pair of Saturnian satellites is actually a trio upon close inspection.

What looks like a pair of Saturnian satellites is actually a trio upon close inspection.

C. Alexander Gate, a feature on comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko, is named in honor of Claudia Alexander, a NASA scientist who passed away in July 2015.

Twin peaks on tip of comet.

Claudia Alexander Gate

This composite image shows the progression of a total solar eclipse over Madras, Oregon, on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017.

This composite image shows the progression of a total solar eclipse over Madras, Oregon, on Monday, Aug. 21, 2017.

Total Solar Eclipse Over Madras, Oregon

A pair of elongated filaments observed across the Sun by SDO (Solar Dynamics Observatory).

A pair of elongated filaments observed across the Sun. The image was made by combining three images in different wavelengths of extreme ultraviolet light shown in blues, yellow and dark red.

Two Long Filaments

This image of Jupiter's iconic Great Red Spot (GRS) was created by citizen scientist Björn Jónsson using data from the JunoCam imager on NASA's Juno spacecraft.

This image of Jupiter's iconic Great Red Spot (GRS) was created by citizen scientist Björn Jónsson using data from the JunoCam imager on NASA's Juno spacecraft.

Jupiter's Great Red Spot in True Color

High-mass stars are important because they are responsible for much of the energy pumped into our galaxy over its lifetime.

Color image of nebula

The 'Pacman Nebula'

Saturn's potato-shaped moon Prometheus is rendered in three dimensions in this close-up from Cassini.

Saturn's potato-shaped moon Prometheus is rendered in three dimensions in this close-up from Cassini.

This view of the twilight sky and Martian horizon taken by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover includes Earth as the brightest point of light in the night sky.

This view of the twilight sky and Martian horizon taken by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover includes Earth as the brightest point of light in the night sky.

Bright 'Evening Star' Seen from Mars is Earth

New Horizons took this image of the icy moon Europa rising above Jupiter's cloud tops with its Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) at 11:48 Universal Time on February 28, 2007, six hours a...

New Horizons took this image of the icy moon Europa rising above Jupiter's cloud tops with its Long Range Reconnaissance Imager (LORRI) at 11:48 Universal Time on February 28, 2007, six hours after the spacecraft's closest approach to Jupiter.

This enhanced color view of Jupiter's south pole was created by citizen scientist Gabriel Fiset using data from the JunoCam instrument on NASA's Juno spacecraft.

A Color-enhanced image of Jupiter's south pole

Approaching Jupiter

Maps of magnesium/silicon (left) and thermal neutron absorption (right) across Mercury's surface (red indicates high values, blue low) are shown. These maps, together with maps of other element...

Color enhanced mineral maps

Surface Chemistry Maps

The colorful globe of Saturn's largest moon, Titan, passes in front of the planet and its rings in this true color snapshot from NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

The colorful globe of Saturn's largest moon, Titan, passes in front of the planet and its rings in this true color snapshot from NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

Venera 13 lander images of the surface of Venus ast of Phoebe Regio taken in March 1982.

Black and white image of the surface of Venus with the edge of a spacecraft visual.

Venera 13 on Venus

This photo was taken around the time of the Mariner 4 launch to Mars, which launched on 28 November 1964.

This photo was taken around the time of the Mariner 4 launch to Mars, which launched on 28 November 1964.

Working Long Hours on Mariner 4

Engineers at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., prepare NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) Observatory for acoustic environmental testing.

Engineers at NASA's Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, Calif., prepare NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) Observatory for acoustic environmental testing.

Active geysers on Triton spew nitrogen gas.

Active geysers on Triton spew nitrogen gas.

Ocean Worlds: Triton

Slipping into shadow, the south polar vortex at Saturn's moon Titan still stands out against the orange and blue haze layers that are characteristic of Titan's atmosphere.

Slipping into shadow, the south polar vortex at Saturn's moon Titan still stands out against the orange and blue haze layers that are characteristic of Titan's atmosphere.

Dusk in the South

Pluto's strange shape in this fuzzy 1978 telescope image led to the discovery of its companion moon, Charon.

Fuzzy image of Pluto and Charon together.

Charon Discovery Image

The Earth as seen from the Moon.

The Earth as seen from the Moon.

The Earth from the Moon

Galileo Galilei's observations that Venus appeared in phases -- similar to those of Earth's Moon -- in our sky was evidence that Venus orbited the sun and contributed to the downfall of the...

Galileo Galilei's observations that Venus appeared in phases -- similar to those of Earth's Moon -- in our sky was evidence that Venus orbited the sun and contributed to the downfall of the centuries-old belief that the sun and planets revolved around Earth.

Galileo's Phases of Venus and Other Planets

Global color mosaic of Triton, taken in 1989 by Voyager 2 during its flyby of the Neptune system.

Global color mosaic of Triton, taken in 1989 by Voyager 2 during its flyby of the Neptune system.

Global Color Mosaic of Triton

Just 15 minutes after its closest approach to Pluto on July 14, 2015, NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft looked back toward the sun and captured this near-sunset view of the rugged, icy mountains...

Pluto's mountains, frozen plains and foggy hazes

Closer Look: Majestic Mountains and Frozen Plains

Io is the most volcanically active body in the solar system. At 2,263 miles in diameter, it is slightly larger than Earth’s moon.

Io is the most volcanically active body in the solar system. At 2,263 miles in diameter, it is slightly larger than Earth’s moon.

Saturn's rings appear curved in this Cassini spacecraft view, which also shows the moon Janus in the distance.

Saturn's rings appear curved in this Cassini spacecraft view, which also shows the moon Janus in the distance.

Beyond Curved Rings

The Helioseismic Magnetic Imager (HMI) aboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory takes a series of images every 45 seconds in a very narrow range of wavelengths in visible light of the solar photospher...

The Helioseismic Magnetic Imager (HMI) aboard the Solar Dynamics Observatory takes a series of images every 45 seconds in a very narrow range of wavelengths in visible light of the solar photosphere.

The Active Sun from SDO: HMI Dopplergram

This artist's concept shows an x-ray image of the Phoenix Lander in its pre-landing stowed configuration.

This artist's concept shows an x-ray image of the Phoenix Lander in its pre-landing stowed configuration.

One year of the global vegetation cycle show seasonal variations in different parts of the world.

Animation showing changes in global vegetation over the course of a year

Global Vegetation Cycle

Bright scars on a darker surface testify to a long history of impacts on Jupiter's moon Callisto in this image of Callisto from NASA's Galileo spacecraft.

Bright scars on a darker surface testify to a long history of impacts on Jupiter's moon Callisto in this image of Callisto from NASA's Galileo spacecraft.

Global Callisto in Color

This image shows the Minotaur V rocket that will carry NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) on a pad at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility at Wallops Island, Va.

This image shows the Minotaur V rocket that will carry NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) on a pad at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility at Wallops Island, Va.

LADEE's Minotaur V Rocket

This image of the Earth is one of 60 frames taken by the Voyager 1 spacecraft on Feb. 14, 1990 from a distance of approximately 4 billion miles and about 32 degrees above the ecliptic plane.

This image of the Earth is one of 60 frames taken by the Voyager 1 spacecraft on Feb. 14, 1990 from a distance of approximately 4 billion miles and about 32 degrees above the ecliptic plane.

Solar System Portrait - Earth

This dramatic view looks across the region of Enceladus' geyser basin and down on the ends of the Baghdad and Damascus fractures that face Saturn.

$This dramatic view looks across the region of Enceladus' geyser basin and down on the ends of the Baghdad and Damascus fractures that face Saturn.$

Elevated View of Enceladus' South Pole

This color-enhanced image of Jupiter and two of its largest moons—Io and Europa—was captured by NASA's Juno spacecraft as it performed its eighth flyby of the gas giant planet.

Juno Observes Jupiter, Io and Europa

Juno Observes Jupiter, Io and Europa

On July 19, 2013, in an event celebrated the world over, NASA's Cassini spacecraft slipped into Saturn's shadow and turned to image the planet, seven of its moons, its inner rings -- and, i...

On July 19, 2013, in an event celebrated the world over, NASA's Cassini spacecraft slipped into Saturn's shadow and turned to image the planet, seven of its moons, its inner rings -- and, in the background, our home planet, Earth.

The Day the Earth Smiled

Bright spokes and the shadow of a moon grace Saturn's B ring in this Cassini spacecraft image.

Bright spokes and the shadow of a moon grace Saturn's B ring in this Cassini spacecraft image.

Bright Spokes, Dark Shadow

This false-color composite image, constructed from data obtained by NASA's Cassini spacecraft, shows Saturn's rings and southern hemisphere.

This false-color composite image, constructed from data obtained by NASA's Cassini spacecraft, shows Saturn's rings and southern hemisphere.

Majestic Saturn, in the Infrared

NASA's new Aquarius instrument has produced its first global map of the salinity, or saltiness, of Earth's ocean surface, providing an early glimpse of the mission's anticipated discove...

NASA's new Aquarius instrument has produced its first global map of the salinity, or saltiness, of Earth's ocean surface, providing an early glimpse of the mission's anticipated discoveries.

NASA's "Salt of the Earth" Aquarius Reveals First Map

U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Kristina Williams, weather officer, 30th Space Wing, Vandenberg Air Force Base, right, discusses NASA's InSight mission during a pre-launch media briefing.

Two women in front of a computer screen.

InSight Launch Weather Report

Russia's Zond 5 -- carrying an extensive biological payload including two steppe tortoises -- was the first successful circumlunar mission.

Russia's Zond 5 -- carrying an extensive biological payload including two steppe tortoises -- was the first successful circumlunar mission.

Copernicus is 93 km wide and is located within the Mare Imbrium Basin, northern nearside of the Moon (10 degrees N. 20 degrees W.).

Copernicus is 93 km wide and is located within the Mare Imbrium Basin, northern nearside of the Moon (10 degrees N. 20 degrees W.).

Young Moon Rocks

The dark, smooth-surfaced object at the center of this Oct. 30, 2016, image from the Mast Camera (Mastcam) on NASA's Curiosity Mars rover was examined with laser pulses and confirmed to be an i...

The dark, smooth-surfaced object at the center of this Oct. 30, 2016, image from the Mast Camera (Mastcam) on NASA's Curiosity Mars rover was examined with laser pulses and confirmed to be an iron-nickel meteorite.

Curiosity Rover Finds and Examines a Meteorite on Mars

The NASA InSight spacecraft launches onboard a United Launch Alliance Atlas-V rocket, Saturday, May 5, 2018, from Vandenberg Air Force Base in California.

Rocket launching in fog.

The above illustration, based on Galileo spacecraft images, shows the approximate difference in apparent size between a full moon at perigee (the closest point in the lunar orbit, pictured at left)...

The above illustration, based on Galileo spacecraft images, shows the approximate difference in apparent size between a full moon at perigee (the closest point in the lunar orbit, pictured at left) and a full moon at apogee, the farthest point in the lunar orbit.

Since NASA's Cassini spacecraft arrived at Saturn in mid-2004, the planet's appearance has changed greatly.

Since NASA's Cassini spacecraft arrived at Saturn in mid-2004, the planet's appearance has changed greatly.

Saturn, Approaching Northern Summer

The Galilean satellite Io floats above the cloudtops of Jupiter in this image captured on the dawn of the new millennium, January 1, 2001 10:00 UTC (spacecraft time), two days after Cassini's c...

The Galilean satellite Io floats above the cloudtops of Jupiter in this image captured on the dawn of the new millennium, January 1, 2001 10:00 UTC (spacecraft time), two days after Cassini's closest approach.

A New Year for Jupiter and Io

This high-resolution swath of Pluto (right) sweeps over the cratered plains at the west of the New Horizons' encounter hemisphere and across numerous prominent faults, skimming the eastern marg...

This high-resolution swath of Pluto (right) sweeps over the cratered plains at the west of the New Horizons' encounter hemisphere and across numerous prominent faults, skimming the eastern margin of the dark, forbidding region informally known as Cthulhu Regio, and finally passing over the mysterious, possibly cryovolcanic edifice Wright Mons, before reaching the terminator or day-night line.

Zigzagging across Pluto

Here we see President John F. Kennedy giving his historic message to a joint session of the Congress, on 25 May 1961.

Here we see President John F. Kennedy giving his historic message to a joint session of the Congress, on 25 May 1961.

Kennedy Giving Historic Speech to Congress

This true color mosaic of Jupiter was constructed from images taken by the narrow angle camera onboard NASA's Cassini spacecraft on December 29, 2000, during its closest approach to the giant p...

This true color mosaic of Jupiter was constructed from images taken by the narrow angle camera onboard NASA's Cassini spacecraft on December 29, 2000, during its closest approach to the giant planet at a distance of approximately 10 million kilometers (6.2 million miles).

Cassini Jupiter Portrait

Artist's concept of NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) spacecraft in orbit above the moon as dust scatters light during the lunar sunset.

Artist's concept of NASA's Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) spacecraft in orbit above the moon as dust scatters light during the lunar sunset.

LADEE Above Lunar Sunset Artist's Concept

This image was returned January 14, 2005 by the European Space Agency's Huygens probe during its successful descent to land on Titan. This is the colored view, following processing to...

Color image of Titan's surface, showing rock-like objects

First Color View of Titan's Surface

The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took two images of the larger of Mars' two moons, Phobos, within 10 minutes of each othe...

The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter took two images of the larger of Mars' two moons, Phobos, within 10 minutes of each other on March 23, 2008.

Phobos from 5,800 Kilometers (Color)

This image of Jupiter’s iconic Great Red Spot and surrounding turbulent zones was captured by NASA’s Juno spacecraft.

swirling clouds of Jupiter's atmosphere

Jupiter’s Great Red Spot, Spotted

Recent Cassini images of Saturn's moon Enceladus backlit by the sun show the fountain-like sources of the fine spray of material that towers over the south polar region.

This NASA Cassini image of Saturn's moon Enceladus backlit by the sun shows the fountain-like sources of the fine spray of material that towers over the south polar region.

Fountains of Enceladus - Image #2

This movie of asteroid 2014 JO25 was generated using radar data collected by NASA's 230-foot-wide (70-meter) Deep Space Network antenna at Goldstone, California on April 19, 2017.

This movie of asteroid 2014 JO25 was generated using radar data collected by NASA's 230-foot-wide (70-meter) Deep Space Network antenna at Goldstone, California on April 19, 2017.

New Radar Images of Asteroid 2014 JO25

Six of Saturn's moons orbiting within and beyond the planet's rings are collected in this Cassini spacecraft image.

Six of Saturn's moons orbiting within and beyond the planet's rings are collected in this Cassini spacecraft image.

Sextet of Moons

Peering over the shoulder of giant Saturn, through its rings, and across interplanetary space, NASA's Cassini spacecraft spies the bright, cloudy terrestrial planet, Venus.

Peering over the shoulder of giant Saturn, through its rings, and across interplanetary space, NASA's Cassini spacecraft spies the bright, cloudy terrestrial planet, Venus.

Cassini Spies Bright Venus from Saturn Orbit

The brightly reflective moon Enceladus appears before Saturn's rings while the larger moon Titan looms in the distance.

The brightly reflective moon Enceladus appears before Saturn's rings while the larger moon Titan looms in the distance.

The Tale Continues...

A dynamical interplay between Saturn's largest moon, Titan, and its rings is captured in this view from NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

A dynamical interplay between Saturn's largest moon, Titan, and its rings is captured in this view from NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

The Synchronicity of Rhythms

This set of three images shows views three seconds apart as the larger of Mars' two moons, Phobos, passed directly in front of the sun as seen by NASA's Mars rover Curiosity.

This set of three images shows views three seconds apart as the larger of Mars' two moons, Phobos, passed directly in front of the sun as seen by NASA's Mars rover Curiosity.

Annular Eclipse of the Sun by Phobos, as Seen by Curiosity

This is the final view taken by the JunoCam instrument on NASA's Juno spacecraft before Juno's instruments were powered down in preparation for orbit insertion.

Image of Jupiter, Callisto, Ganymede, Io and Europa

Juno Closes in on Jupiter

The MESSENGER spacecraft has captured the first portrait of our Solar System from the inside looking out.

The MESSENGER spacecraft has captured the first portrait of our Solar System from the inside looking out.

A Solar System Family Portrait, from the Inside Out

"Marathon Valley" on Mars opens northeastward to a view across the floor of Endeavour Crater in this scene from the panoramic camera (Pancam) of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportun...

"Marathon Valley" on Mars opens northeastward to a view across the floor of Endeavour Crater in this scene from the panoramic camera (Pancam) of NASA's Mars Exploration Rover Opportunity.

Opportunity's Panorama of 'Marathon Valley'

A meteor streaks across the sky during the annual Perseid meteor shower.

Meteor crossing dark sky above trees.

Perseid Meteor 2016

MESSENGER captured this departure sequence of Venus after a close flyby of the planet in 2007.

Series showing the crescent of Venus growing smaller.

MESSENGER Bids Farewell to Venus

The north pole of Saturn, in the fresh light of spring, is revealed in this color image from NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

The north pole of Saturn, in the fresh light of spring, is revealed in this color image from NASA's Cassini spacecraft.

Spring at the North Pole

This is an image of the planet Uranus taken by the spacecraft Voyager 2 on January 14th 1986 from a distance of approximately 7.8 milllion miles ( 12.7 million km ).

This is an image of the planet Uranus taken by the spacecraft Voyager 2 on January 14th 1986 from a distance of approximately 7.8 milllion miles ( 12.7 million km ).

Uranus as seen by NASA's Voyager 2

In the lower left portion of this image, the Earth can be seen, as well as the much smaller Moon to Earth's right.

In the lower left portion of this image, the Earth can be seen, as well as the much smaller Moon to Earth's right.

Earth and Moon from 114 Million Miles

Scroll through the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) infographic to learn about the mission.

Scroll through the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) infographic to learn about the mission.

LADEE Infographic

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Juno’s JIRAM instrument points to a new heat source close to the south pole of Io that could indicate a previously undiscovered volcano.

NASA Juno Data Indicate Another Possible Volcano on Jupiter Moon Io

NASA Juno Data Indicate Another Possible Volcano on Jupiter Moon Io

Three of the world's largest radio telescopes have revealed that a near-Earth asteroid discovered last year is actually two objects, nearly equal in size, orbiting each other.

Observatories Team Up to Reveal Rare Double Asteroid

Observatories Team Up to Reveal Rare Double Asteroid

New research from NASA's Cassini spacecraft's up-close Grand Finale orbits shows a surprisingly powerful and dynamic interaction of plasma waves moving from Saturn to its rings and its moon Enceladus

Listen: Sound of Electromagnetic Energy Moving Between Saturn, Enceladus

Listen: Sound of Electromagnetic Energy Moving Between Saturn, Enceladus

A dust storm continues to envelop the Red Planet and Curiosity's labs are back in action.

NASA Mars Report: July 3, 2018

NASA Mars Report: July 3, 2018

NASA’s Dawn spacecraft reached its lowest-ever and final orbit around dwarf planet Ceres on June 6 and has been returning thousands of stunning images and other data.

Dawn’s Latest Orbit Reveals Dramatic New Views of Occator Crater

Dawn’s Latest Orbit Reveals Dramatic New Views of Occator Crater

A new study uses Earth as a stand-in for an exoplanet and shows that even with very little light -- as little as one pixel -- it is still possible to measure key characteristics of distant worlds.

NASA Uses Earth as Laboratory to Study Distant Worlds

NASA Uses Earth as Laboratory to Study Distant Worlds