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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 3 of 5

NASA image: ARC-1994-AC94-0199-18
Image
May 4, 1994

ARC-1994-AC94-0199-18

SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy) with telescope postition to the rear model prepares for...

ARC
NASA image: ARC-1994-AC94-0199-5
Image
May 4, 1994

ARC-1994-AC94-0199-5

SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy) with telescope postition to the rear model prepares for...

ARC
NASA image: ARC-1994-AC94-0199-6
Image
May 4, 1994

ARC-1994-AC94-0199-6

SOFIA (Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy) with telescope postition to the rear model prepares for...

ARC
NASA image: SOFIA Reveals How the Swan Nebula Hatched
Image
Jan 7, 2020

SOFIA Reveals How the Swan Nebula Hatched

In this composite image of the Omega Nebula, SOFIA detected the blue areas (20 microns) near the center, revealing...

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

SOFIA Science Imagery

SCI2012_0003: SOFIA mid-infrared image of the planetary nebula Minkowski 2-9 (M2-9), also known as the Butterfly...

ARC
NASA image: SOFIA Helium Hydride Media Resource Reel
Video
Apr 17, 2019

SOFIA Helium Hydride Media Resource Reel

Provided as a media resource, this reel includes the following without narration: * SOFIA aircraft operations,...

ARC
NASA image: The Cigar Galaxy's Magnetic Field
Image
Mar 5, 2019

The Cigar Galaxy's Magnetic Field

A composite image of the Cigar Galaxy (also called M82), a starburst galaxy about 12 million light-years away in the...

JPL
NASA image: SOFIA Discovers Water on a Sunlit Surface of the Moon (Video Resource Reel)
Video
Oct 26, 2020

SOFIA Discovers Water on a Sunlit Surface of the Moon (Video Resource Reel)

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

ARC
NASA image: Slow and Steady
Image
Oct 8, 2008

Slow and Steady

SOFIA’s 9-foot mirror is lowered into the cavity and attached to a structure sitting on a thin layer of oil for...

AFRC
NASA image: SOFIA's primary mirror assembly rests in its transportation cradle prior to reinstallation in NASA's airborne laboratory on Oct. 8, 2008
Image
Oct 8, 2008

SOFIA's primary mirror assembly rests in its transportation cradle prior to reinstallation in NASA's airborne laboratory on Oct. 8, 2008

SOFIA's primary mirror assembly rests in its transportation cradle prior to reinstallation in NASA's airborne...

AFRC
NASA image: Engineers and technicians prepare SOFIA's German-built primary mirror assembly for reinstallation into NASA's 747SP airborne observatory
Image
Oct 8, 2008

Engineers and technicians prepare SOFIA's German-built primary mirror assembly for reinstallation into NASA's 747SP airborne observatory

Engineers and technicians prepare SOFIA's German-built primary mirror assembly for reinstallation into NASA's 747SP...

AFRC
NASA image: Dimming of FU Orionis (Artist Concept)
Image
Jun 14, 2016

Dimming of FU Orionis (Artist Concept)

This artist's concept illustrates how the brightness of outbursting star FU Orionis has been slowly fading since its...

JPL
NASA image: Hubble Monitors Supernova In Nearby Galaxy M82
Image
Dec 8, 2017

Hubble Monitors Supernova In Nearby Galaxy M82

This is a Hubble Space Telescope composite image of a supernova explosion designated SN 2014J in the galaxy M82. At...

GSFC
NASA image: NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory is shadowed by a NASA F/A-18 safety chase aircraft during its second checkout flight near Waco, Texas on May 10, 2007
Image
May 10, 2007

NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory is shadowed by a NASA F/A-18 safety chase aircraft during its second checkout flight near Waco, Texas on May 10, 2007

NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory is shadowed by a NASA F/A-18 safety chase aircraft during its second checkout...

AFRC
NASA image: With landing gear extended, the NASA/DLR Stratospheric Observatory for Infared Astronomy (SOFIA) 747SP cruises over central Texas on its first checkout flight
Image
Apr 26, 2007

With landing gear extended, the NASA/DLR Stratospheric Observatory for Infared Astronomy (SOFIA) 747SP cruises over central Texas on its first checkout flight

With landing gear extended, the NASA/DLR Stratospheric Observatory for Infared Astronomy (SOFIA) 747SP cruises over...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA's SOFIA flying observatory makes a low pass over NASA Ames Research Center prior to landing at Moffett Field for a brief visit on Jan. 14, 2008
Image
Jan 14, 2008

NASA's SOFIA flying observatory makes a low pass over NASA Ames Research Center prior to landing at Moffett Field for a brief visit on Jan. 14, 2008

NASA's SOFIA flying observatory makes a low pass over NASA Ames Research Center prior to landing at Moffett Field...

AFRC
NASA image: Erik Lindbergh, grandson of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh, yanks the bunting to reveal the Clipper Lindbergh name on NASA's SOFIA 747SP on June 27, 2007
Image
Jun 27, 2007

Erik Lindbergh, grandson of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh, yanks the bunting to reveal the Clipper Lindbergh name on NASA's SOFIA 747SP on June 27, 2007

Erik Lindbergh, grandson of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh, yanks the bunting to reveal the Clipper Lindbergh name...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy touches down at Moffett Field, Calif., for its first visit to NASA Ames Research Center, Jan. 14, 2008
Image
Jan 14, 2008

NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy touches down at Moffett Field, Calif., for its first visit to NASA Ames Research Center, Jan. 14, 2008

NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy touches down at Moffett Field, Calif., for its first visit...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA's new SOFIA observatory shared the ramp with its predecessor, the now-retired Kuiper Airborne Observatory, during open house at NASA Ames Research Center
Image
Jan 14, 2008

NASA's new SOFIA observatory shared the ramp with its predecessor, the now-retired Kuiper Airborne Observatory, during open house at NASA Ames Research Center

NASA's new SOFIA observatory shared the ramp with its predecessor, the now-retired Kuiper Airborne Observatory,...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA's highly modified Boeing 747SP SOFIA observatory banks low over the Texas countryside as it heads for landing at Waco to conclude its second check flight
Image
May 10, 2007

NASA's highly modified Boeing 747SP SOFIA observatory banks low over the Texas countryside as it heads for landing at Waco to conclude its second check flight

NASA's highly modified Boeing 747SP SOFIA observatory banks low over the Texas countryside as it heads for landing...

AFRC
NASA image: Erik Lindbergh, grandson of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh, rededicated the SOFIA Boeing 747SP as the Clipper Lindbergh at NASA Dryden on June 27, 2007
Image
Jun 27, 2007

Erik Lindbergh, grandson of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh, rededicated the SOFIA Boeing 747SP as the Clipper Lindbergh at NASA Dryden on June 27, 2007

Erik Lindbergh, grandson of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh, rededicated the SOFIA Boeing 747SP as the Clipper...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA's SOFIA infrared observatory 747SP is shadowed by a NASA F-18 during a flyby at its new home, the Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif
Image
Jan 15, 2008

NASA's SOFIA infrared observatory 747SP is shadowed by a NASA F-18 during a flyby at its new home, the Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif

NASA's SOFIA infrared observatory 747SP is shadowed by a NASA F/A-18 during a flyby at its new home, the Dryden...

AFRC
NASA image: Erik Lindbergh unveils a plaque commemorating his grandfather to dedicate the 747 Clipper Lindbergh, a NASA airborne infrared observatory known as SOFIA
Image
May 21, 2007

Erik Lindbergh unveils a plaque commemorating his grandfather to dedicate the 747 Clipper Lindbergh, a NASA airborne infrared observatory known as SOFIA

Erik Lindbergh, grandson of aviator Charles Lindbergh, unveiled a plaque commemorating his grandfather on the 80th...

AFRC
NASA image: Two large science aircraft, a DC-8 flying laboratory and the SOFIA 747SP, are based at NASA's Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif.
Image
Jan 17, 2008

Two large science aircraft, a DC-8 flying laboratory and the SOFIA 747SP, are based at NASA's Dryden Aircraft Operations Facility in Palmdale, Calif.

Two large science aircraft, a DC-8 flying laboratory and the SOFIA 747SP, are based at NASA's Dryden Aircraft...

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.

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