Over the past ten years, advancements in space exploration and photography have given us a glimpse into the wonders of the universe like never before. From up-close images of our Sun to breathtaking views of distant planets, these photos not only inspire awe but also help advance our understanding of the cosmos. Here are 20 of the most jaw-dropping space photos captured in the last decade.
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| Futuras Fotos / Alamy Stock Photo |
1. The Latching End Effector and Orbital Dawn
Captured from the International Space Station (ISS), this photo shows the Latching End Effector, the tip of Canadarm2, against the stunning backdrop of an orbital dawn. As the ISS soared above the South Pacific Ocean, the robotic arm seemed to pose for the shot, marking a serene yet powerful moment in space exploration.
*Source: NASA*
2. **Closest Image of the Sun**
In a remarkable achievement, the Solar Orbiter spacecraft, operated by ESA and NASA, captured the closest image of the Sun from 77 million kilometers away. This historic photo gives scientists unprecedented insight into the Sun’s atmospheric layers, helping to understand how solar activity influences space weather near Earth.
*Source: ESA/NASA*
3. **Selfie from Mars: Curiosity’s Steepest Climb**
NASA's Curiosity rover snapped a stunning selfie just before it made history by climbing the steepest terrain it had ever attempted on Mars. Using the Mars Hand Lens Imager camera on its robotic arm, Curiosity took 86 separate photos to create a breathtaking panorama of its achievement on the red planet.
*Source: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS*
4. **Good Evening, Vancouver**
NASA astronaut Jessica Meir captured a breathtaking photo of Sochi from the ISS during her 205-day mission in space. Meir, who spent three years at the University of British Columbia, shared this stunning view as part of her cosmic journey, highlighting how the ISS orbits the Earth with its ever-changing views.
*Source: NASA*
5. **Asteroid Tag: OSIRIS-REx Mission Success**
On July 1, NASA’s OSIRIS-REx mission successfully recovered and stored a sample from the asteroid Bennu. The mission was aided by the Canadian OSIRIS-REx Laser Altimeter (OLA) sensor, which helped choose the perfect sample site. This image captured the spacecraft’s remarkable moment of contact with the asteroid’s surface.
*Source: NASA/Goddard/University of Arizona*
6. **Mars Landing: Perseverance’s Arrival**
As NASA’s Perseverance rover touched down on Mars in 2021, it carried with it the hopes of gathering and storing rock samples for a future return to Earth. The mission included Canadian contributions, such as instruments and sensors, further demonstrating the global cooperation in space exploration.
*Source: NASA/JPL-Caltech/MSSS*
7. **Nepalese Floods from Space**
After devastating floods and landslides in Nepal’s central and eastern districts, Canada’s RADARSAT Constellation Mission satellites provided critical images of the affected areas. The photos, enhanced with color to highlight the flooded regions, helped in disaster relief and showcased the power of satellite technology in addressing global crises.
*Source: International Charter "Space and Major Disasters"*
8. **Crew Dragon’s New Home**
This iconic photo captures NASA's Crew Dragon spacecraft as it arrived at the ISS, symbolizing the dawn of a new era of human spaceflight. As part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, this moment marked a significant milestone in space exploration, demonstrating the growing collaboration between public and private sectors.
*Source: NASA*
9. **Astronaut’s Ride with Canadarm2**
ESA astronaut Luca Parmitano is seen attached to the Canadarm2 during a 6-hour, 16-minute spacewalk. Parmitano’s spacewalk, supported by the robotic arm, was essential in completing maintenance tasks on the ISS, illustrating the importance of robotic systems in modern space missions.
*Source: NASA/ESA*
10. **Comet Neowise: A Celestial Visitor**
In July, skywatchers on Earth and in space were treated to the brilliant spectacle of Comet Neowise. The brightest comet visible in the northern hemisphere in years, it was captured in stunning images as it passed by our planet. This interplanetary object reminded us of the beauty and unpredictability of space.
*Source: NASA*
11. **Galactic Fireworks: Hubble Captures a Starburst**
The Hubble Space Telescope captured an extraordinary image of a starburst galaxy, showcasing a cosmic fireworks display of star formation. The bright pink and blue hues, caused by intense radiation and gas interactions, make this one of the most vibrant images of the past decade.
*Source: NASA/ESA/Hubble*
12. **Black Hole’s First Image**
In 2019, the Event Horizon Telescope team made history by capturing the first-ever image of a black hole in the Messier 87 galaxy. This groundbreaking image, a glowing ring surrounding a dark center, represented a monumental leap in our understanding of the universe’s most mysterious phenomena.
*Source: Event Horizon Telescope*
13. **Jupiter’s Stormy Skies**
NASA's Juno spacecraft captured this stunning close-up of Jupiter’s swirling clouds and violent storms. The image, taken from just 3,400 kilometers above the planet’s surface, shows the gas giant’s turbulent atmosphere in unprecedented detail.
*Source: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS*
14. **Saturn’s Hexagon: A Curious Storm**
This captivating image of Saturn's north pole showcases the strange hexagon-shaped storm that has puzzled scientists for years. Captured by the Cassini spacecraft, the photo reveals the swirling, atmospheric dynamics of this massive, geometric storm.
*Source: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute*
15. **Auroras from the ISS**
This stunning photo of Earth’s auroras was taken from the ISS, showing green and red light dancing over the planet. These auroras, caused by solar winds interacting with Earth’s magnetic field, remind us of the beautiful and dynamic relationship between the Earth and space.
*Source: NASA*
16. **Earthrise from the Moon**
During a lunar mission, this photograph of Earth rising over the Moon’s horizon was captured. This iconic image symbolizes humanity’s first steps into deep space exploration and remains a poignant reminder of our small place in the universe.
*Source: NASA*
17. **Pluto’s Heart-Shaped Plains**
The New Horizons mission revealed Pluto’s surface in detail, capturing this now-famous image of a heart-shaped plain, officially named “Tombaugh Regio.” The photo transformed our understanding of Pluto, showing it as a geologically active and complex world.
*Source: NASA/JHUAPL/SwRI*
18. **Solar Eclipse from Space**
Astronauts aboard the ISS captured a unique view of a solar eclipse as the Moon passed between the Earth and the Sun. This image of the Moon’s shadow moving across Earth’s surface is a reminder of the celestial choreography that shapes our skies.
*Source: NASA*
19. **The Pillars of Creation**
Hubble’s iconic image of the Pillars of Creation was revisited with newer, sharper technology, revealing even more details of this star-forming region in the Eagle Nebula. The majestic columns of gas and dust look even more awe-inspiring in the latest imagery.
*Source: NASA/ESA/Hubble*
20. **A Look Back at Earth: Voyager 1’s Pale Blue Dot**
More than 40 years after its launch, NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft captured one last image of Earth from the outer reaches of our solar system. The famous “Pale Blue Dot” image remains a humbling reminder of our planet’s fragile existence in the vastness of space.
*Source: NASA*
These 20 photos are just a glimpse into the incredible advances in space exploration over the past decade. Each image tells a story of scientific discovery, technological progress, and the awe-inspiring beauty of the universe.
