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NASA Gallery

Explore NASA's vast collection of space images, videos, and audio from missions past and present.

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NASA's Image and Video Library: A Visual Archive of Space Exploration

NASA's Image and Video Library is one of the most comprehensive public archives of space imagery in the world, containing over 140,000 images, videos, and audio recordings spanning more than six decades of space exploration. From the earliest Mercury and Gemini missions through the Apollo Moon landings, the Space Shuttle era, and today's cutting-edge observations from the James Webb Space Telescope, this collection documents humanity's journey into the cosmos.

The library includes imagery from diverse sources: telescopes like Hubble and Webb that capture deep-space nebulae, galaxies, and exoplanets; planetary missions like the Mars rovers ( browse Mars photos) and Cassini at Saturn; Earth observation satellites ( see EPIC imagery); astronaut photography from the ISS; and documentation of rocket launches, spacecraft assembly, and ground testing. Most NASA images are in the public domain and free to download at full resolution for educational, editorial, and personal use.

Use the search bar above to find specific subjects — try queries like "Apollo 11," "Hubble Deep Field," "Mars surface," or "astronaut EVA." You can also filter by media type (image, video, or audio). For a daily curated experience, visit the Astronomy Picture of the Day.

Showing results for "SOFIA Telescope"

99 results found - Page 2 of 5

NASA image: Through the Eyes of SOFIA
Image
Nov 12, 2008

Through the Eyes of SOFIA

SOFIA’s telescope mirror is seen as it appears during a science mission.

AFRC
NASA image: NASA's SOFIA 747SP shows evidence of modification to its aft fuselage contours to accommodate a 16-foot-tall cavity door for its 45,000-pound infrared telescope
Image
Apr 26, 2007

NASA's SOFIA 747SP shows evidence of modification to its aft fuselage contours to accommodate a 16-foot-tall cavity door for its 45,000-pound infrared telescope

NASA's SOFIA 747SP shows evidence of modification to its aft fuselage contours to accommodate a 16-foot-tall cavity...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA's SOFIA 747SP bearing a German-built 2.5-meter infrared telescope in its rear fuselage taxis up to NASA Dryden's ramp after a ferry flight from Waco, TX
Image
May 31, 2007

NASA's SOFIA 747SP bearing a German-built 2.5-meter infrared telescope in its rear fuselage taxis up to NASA Dryden's ramp after a ferry flight from Waco, TX

NASA's SOFIA 747SP bearing a German-built 2.5-meter infrared telescope in its rear fuselage taxis up to NASA...

AFRC
NASA image: Tiny two-inch string tufts blanket the telescope cavity door and related fairings to aid visual monitoring of airflow patterns during SOFIA 747SP flight tests
Image
Oct 11, 2007

Tiny two-inch string tufts blanket the telescope cavity door and related fairings to aid visual monitoring of airflow patterns during SOFIA 747SP flight tests

NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, arrived at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center...

AFRC
NASA image: Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Celebration
Image
Jul 18, 2019

Apollo 11 50th Anniversary Celebration

Visitors learn about the SOFIA telescope at the Apollo 11 50th Anniversary celebration on the National Mall,...

HQ
NASA image: This inflight photo was taken during the first flight of the NASA and German Aerospace Center SOFIA airborne infrared observatory 747SP on April 26, 2007
Image
Apr 26, 2007

This inflight photo was taken during the first flight of the NASA and German Aerospace Center SOFIA airborne infrared observatory 747SP on April 26, 2007

Christened "Clipper Lindbergh" when it flew for Pan American Airways in the 1970s, the SOFIA 747SP shows evidence of...

AFRC
NASA image: This inflight photo was taken during the first flight of the NASA and German Aerospace Center SOFIA airborne infrared observatory 747SP on April 26, 2007
Image
Apr 26, 2007

This inflight photo was taken during the first flight of the NASA and German Aerospace Center SOFIA airborne infrared observatory 747SP on April 26, 2007

Christened "Clipper Lindbergh" when it flew for Pan American Airways in the 1970s, the SOFIA 747SP shows evidence of...

AFRC
NASA image: SOFIA Science Imagery
Image
Sep 14, 2017

SOFIA Science Imagery

SCI2016_0006: Map of Cepheus E emphasizing the jets of material flowing to the upper left and lower right from the...

ARC
NASA image: NASA's newly painted Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy 747SP is pushed back from L-3 Communications' Integrated Systems hangar in Waco, Texas
Image
Sep 25, 2006

NASA's newly painted Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy 747SP is pushed back from L-3 Communications' Integrated Systems hangar in Waco, Texas

NASA's freshly painted Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) 747SP aircraft sits outside a hangar...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy 747SP shows off its new blue-and-white livery at L-3 Communications' Integrated Systems in Waco, Texas
Image
Sep 25, 2006

NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy 747SP shows off its new blue-and-white livery at L-3 Communications' Integrated Systems in Waco, Texas

NASA's freshly painted Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) 747SP is shown at L-3 Communications...

AFRC
NASA image: The flight crew of NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory includes (from left), Ulli Lampater Marty Trout, Bill Brockett Andres Reinacher and Frank Batteas.
Image
Jan 14, 2008

The flight crew of NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory includes (from left), Ulli Lampater Marty Trout, Bill Brockett Andres Reinacher and Frank Batteas.

The flight crew of NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory and DLR telescope engineers who operated the system during its...

AFRC
NASA image: Studying on SOFIA
Image
Jun 21, 2013

Studying on SOFIA

James De Buizer, Senior Scientist at SOFIA Science Center, conducting observations onboard SOFIA facing the...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA's SOFIA infrared observatory and F/A-18 safety chase during the first series of test flights to verify the flight performance of the modified Boeing 747SP
Image
Oct 11, 2007

NASA's SOFIA infrared observatory and F/A-18 safety chase during the first series of test flights to verify the flight performance of the modified Boeing 747SP

NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, arrived at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA's SOFIA infrared observatory in flight for the first of a series of test flights to verify the flight performance of the highly modified Boeing 747SP
Image
Oct 11, 2007

NASA's SOFIA infrared observatory in flight for the first of a series of test flights to verify the flight performance of the highly modified Boeing 747SP

NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, arrived at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA's SOFIA infrared observatory lifts off on the first of a series of test flights to verify the flight performance of the highly modified Boeing 747SP
Image
Oct 11, 2007

NASA's SOFIA infrared observatory lifts off on the first of a series of test flights to verify the flight performance of the highly modified Boeing 747SP

NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, or SOFIA, arrived at NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center...

AFRC
NASA image: SOFIA Discovers Water on a Sunlit Surface of the Moon
Video
Oct 26, 2020

SOFIA Discovers Water on a Sunlit Surface of the Moon

Scientists using NASA’s telescope on an airplane, the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy, discovered...

ARC
NASA image: SOFIA Reveals New View of Milky Way’s Center
Video
Jan 3, 2020

SOFIA Reveals New View of Milky Way’s Center

NASA’s flying telescope SOFIA captured a crisp infrared image of the center of our Milky Way galaxy. Spanning more...

ARC
NASA image: ARC-1992-AC92-0151
Image
Mar 20, 1992

ARC-1992-AC92-0151

SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory For Infrared Astronomy) with Telescope Configuration Changes Artwork

ARC
NASA image: NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) Boeing 747SP flies over NASA DFRC after a ferry flight from Waco, Texas
Image
May 31, 2007

NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) Boeing 747SP flies over NASA DFRC after a ferry flight from Waco, Texas

NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) Boeing 747SP flies over NASA's Dryden Flight...

AFRC
NASA image: The SOFIA flight crew descends the stairs after ferrying the 747SP airborne observatory from Waco, TX, to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in California
Image
May 31, 2007

The SOFIA flight crew descends the stairs after ferrying the 747SP airborne observatory from Waco, TX, to NASA's Dryden Flight Research Center in California

The SOFIA flight crew, consisting of Co-pilot Gordon Fullerton; DFRC, Pilot Bill Brocket; DFRC, Test Conductor Marty...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) Boeing 747SP flares for landing at Edwards AFB after a ferry flight from Waco, Texas
Image
May 31, 2007

NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) Boeing 747SP flares for landing at Edwards AFB after a ferry flight from Waco, Texas

NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) Boeing 747SP flares for landing at Edwards AFB after...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory lands at Edwards AFB after being flown from Waco, Texas to NASA Dryden for systems installation, integration and flight test
Image
May 31, 2007

NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory lands at Edwards AFB after being flown from Waco, Texas to NASA Dryden for systems installation, integration and flight test

NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory lands at Edwards AFB after being flown from Waco, Texas to NASA Dryden for systems...

AFRC
NASA image: ARC-1969-AC96-0365-22
Image
Oct 10, 1996

ARC-1969-AC96-0365-22

Slot Baffle III test (SOFIA) program 14ft w.t. Test-227-2-14 Telescope cover

ARC
NASA image: NASA's Super Guppy in the hangar with SOFIA
Image
Aug 24, 2021

NASA's Super Guppy in the hangar with SOFIA

NASA's Super Guppy Turbine cargo aircraft in the hangar with SOFIA at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center on...

AFRC
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Frequently Asked Questions About NASA Images

Are NASA images free to use?+
Yes, most NASA images are in the public domain and are free to use for educational, informational, and personal purposes. NASA's media usage guidelines state that NASA material is not copyrighted unless otherwise noted. However, the NASA logo and certain insignia are protected. Some images may include identifiable individuals or third-party content that requires additional permissions. Always check the specific image's usage rights and credit NASA as the source.
How many images does NASA have?+
NASA's Image and Video Library contains over 140,000 publicly accessible images, videos, and audio files spanning the agency's entire history, from the Mercury program of the 1960s to the latest James Webb Space Telescope discoveries. The collection grows daily as new missions capture imagery and archival materials are digitized. Individual mission archives, such as Mars rover photos, contain hundreds of thousands of additional images.
Can I download NASA images?+
Yes, you can download NASA images in multiple resolutions directly from this gallery. Each image detail page provides download links for original (full resolution), large (1920px), medium (960px), small (480px), and thumbnail sizes. NASA encourages the public to use these images for education, media, and personal projects. High-resolution originals are ideal for printing and professional use.

Explore More NASA Content

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