CosmosObservatory
Explore
Solar System
Live
Learn
Tools
About
Cosmos Observatory
ToolsAbout
Cosmos Observatory

Explore the universe through NASA data, real-time ISS tracking, Mars rover imagery, asteroid monitoring, and comprehensive space encyclopedia. Your gateway to the cosmos.

Explore

  • APOD
  • Mars Rovers
  • Earth Imagery
  • NASA Gallery
  • ISS Tracker

Data

  • Asteroids
  • Solar System
  • Exoplanets
  • Space Weather
  • Launches

Tools

  • Glossary
  • News
  • Calculators

Legal

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Space Tools
  • Contact

Stay updated with the cosmos

Get weekly digests of APOD highlights, upcoming launches, and space events.

© 2026 Cosmos Observatory. All rights reserved. Built with for space enthusiasts.

This website is not affiliated with, maintained, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with NASA or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. All NASA imagery is in the public domain unless otherwise noted. Data sourced from NASA Open APIs, Launch Library 2, and other open data services.

NASA Gallery

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

  1. Home
  2. /
  3. NASA Gallery

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 "VORTICES"

80 results found - Page 3 of 4

NASA image: Earth observations of the von Karmen effect by Socorro Is. during STS-99
Image
Feb 12, 2000

Earth observations of the von Karmen effect by Socorro Is. during STS-99

STS099-703-007 (11-22 February 2000) ---A distinct cumulus cloud pattern marks the island wake within a weak...

JSC
NASA image: Earth Observations taken by Expedition 30 crewmember
Image
Apr 22, 2012

Earth Observations taken by Expedition 30 crewmember

ISS030-E-254259 (22 April 2012) --- Cloud vortices off the Pacific coast of Mexico's Baja California were captured...

JSC
NASA image: Earth observations taken from Space Shuttle Columbia during STS-80 mission
Image
Dec 2, 1996

Earth observations taken from Space Shuttle Columbia during STS-80 mission

STS080-752-011 (19 Nov.-7 Dec. 1996) --- This view, photographed by one the crewmembers aboard the Earth-orbiting...

JSC
NASA image: Jupiter's Polar Vortices Over Five Years
Image
Oct 28, 2021

Jupiter's Polar Vortices Over Five Years

This annotated composite image depicts the movement of the polar and circumpolar cyclones of Jupiter's south pole...

JPL
NASA image: Swirl of Clouds over the Pacific
Image
Dec 8, 2017

Swirl of Clouds over the Pacific

Theodore von Kármán, a Hungarian-American physicist, was the first to describe the physical processes that create...

GSFC
NASA image: Curiosity's Hazcam Catches a Dusty Wind Gust
Image
Apr 6, 2022

Curiosity's Hazcam Catches a Dusty Wind Gust

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover used one of its Hazard-Avoidance Cameras (Hazcams) to catch this dusty wind gust blowing...

JPL
NASA image: Earth Observations taken by Expedition 41 crewmember
Image
Sep 18, 2014

Earth Observations taken by Expedition 41 crewmember

ISS041-E-016962 (18 Sept. 2014) --- Although land and waters of Mexico's Pacific area pictured here are influenced...

JSC
NASA image: The Changing Dunes of Wirtz Crater
Image
Jan 19, 2017

The Changing Dunes of Wirtz Crater

The large dark feature is a classic Martian sand dune. Most sand on Earth is made from the mineral quartz, which is...

JPL
NASA image: Earth Observations - Hurricane Igor
Image
Sep 14, 2010

Earth Observations - Hurricane Igor

ISS024-E-014559 (14 Sept. 2010) --- Hurricane Igor is featured in this Sept. 14 image photographed by an Expedition...

JSC
NASA image: Dark and Stormy Jupiter
Image
Jun 14, 2018

Dark and Stormy Jupiter

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

JPL
NASA image: View of atmospheric wave patterns by effect of island on wind currents
Image
Dec 14, 1973

View of atmospheric wave patterns by effect of island on wind currents

SL4-137-3632 (February 1974) --- A photograph taken from the Skylab space station in Earth orbit illustrating an...

JSC
NASA image: EC95-43057-8
Image
Mar 24, 1995

EC95-43057-8

Outlined with gold stripes are the hinged nose strakes, modifications made to NASA's F-18 HARV (High Alpha Research...

AFRC
NASA image: Scars of Erosion
Image
Feb 16, 2017

Scars of Erosion

This large crescent dune in Kaiser Crater shows the scars of many types of seasonal erosional activities. Along its...

JPL
NASA image: Microgravity
Image
Apr 15, 2004

Microgravity

Comparison of ground-based (left) and Skylab (right) electron beam welds in pure tantalum (Ta) (10X magnification)....

MSFC
NASA image: STS-54 Endeavour, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 105, lands on runway 33 at KSC's SLF
Image
Jan 19, 1993

STS-54 Endeavour, Orbiter Vehicle (OV) 105, lands on runway 33 at KSC's SLF

STS054-S-098 (19 Jan 1993) --- This ground-level side view shows the Space Shuttle Endeavour during main landing...

JSC
NASA image: Chaotic Clouds of Jupiter
Image
Jun 21, 2018

Chaotic Clouds of Jupiter

This image captures swirling cloud belts and tumultuous vortices within Jupiter's northern hemisphere. NASA's Juno...

JPL
NASA image: ARC-2012-ACD12-0020-005
Image
Feb 10, 2012

ARC-2012-ACD12-0020-005

Then and Now: These images illustrate the dramatic improvement in NASA computing power over the last 23 years, and...

ARC
NASA image: STS-89 landing views
Image
Mar 30, 1998

STS-89 landing views

STS089-S-013 (31 Jan. 1998) --- Interesting vortices at the wingtips of the space shuttle Endeavour tell-tale the...

JSC
NASA image: MISR Captures Hurricane Michael's Eye in 3D
Image
Oct 10, 2018

MISR Captures Hurricane Michael's Eye in 3D

MISR's stereo anaglyph shows a three-dimensional view of Michael and combines two of MISR's nine camera angles....

JPL
NASA image: Swirling Jovian Storm (Natural Color)
Image
Jul 15, 2018

Swirling Jovian Storm (Natural Color)

A swirling storm somersaults through Jupiter's South Equatorial Belt in this view taken by NASA's Juno spacecraft....

JPL
NASA image: Jupiter's Great Red Spot: Both Deep and Wide
Image
Dec 7, 2021

Jupiter's Great Red Spot: Both Deep and Wide

NASA's Juno spacecraft captured this detailed look at Jupiter's most recognizable feature, the Great Red Spot. Data...

JPL
NASA image: EC79-11314
Image
Jul 24, 1979

EC79-11314

During the 1970s, the focus at Dryden shifted from high-speed and high-altitude flight to incremental improvements...

AFRC
NASA image: Fluid Fantasy
Image
Oct 24, 2016

Fluid Fantasy

Saturn's clouds are full of raw beauty, but they also represent a playground for a branch of physics called fluid...

JPL
NASA image: NASA's Juno Mission Reveals Jupiter's Complex Colors
Image
Aug 30, 2022

NASA's Juno Mission Reveals Jupiter's Complex Colors

NASA's Juno spacecraft observed the complex colors and structure of Jupiter's clouds as it completed its 43rd close...

JPL
PreviousPage 3 of 4Next

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

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Daily curated space image

Mars Rover Photos

Curiosity & Perseverance images

Earth from Space

DSCOVR EPIC daily images

Launch Schedule

Upcoming rocket launches

Space News

Mission updates & discoveries