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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 1 of 5

NASA image: Cooling Off SOFIA’S Telescope
Image
Jul 15, 2013

Cooling Off SOFIA’S Telescope

Technicians introduce liquid nitrogen to an instrument linked to SOFIA’s telescope. Detection of infrared...

AFRC
NASA image: Piecing Together SOFIA’s Telescope
Image
Apr 4, 2008

Piecing Together SOFIA’s Telescope

Technicians installing the tertiary mirror onto the SOFIA telescope.

AFRC
NASA image: SOFIA's primary mirror is placed in the telescope cavity for reinstallation prior to telescope adjustments preparing SOFIA for first science
Image
Oct 8, 2008

SOFIA's primary mirror is placed in the telescope cavity for reinstallation prior to telescope adjustments preparing SOFIA for first science

SOFIA's primary mirror is placed in the telescope cavity for reinstallation prior to telescope adjustments preparing...

AFRC
NASA image: A technician guides SOFIA's primary mirror assembly into the aircraft's telescope cavity completing the mirror reinstallation following its initial coating
Image
Oct 8, 2008

A technician guides SOFIA's primary mirror assembly into the aircraft's telescope cavity completing the mirror reinstallation following its initial coating

A technician guides SOFIA's primary mirror assembly into the aircraft's telescope cavity completing the mirror...

AFRC
NASA image: The SOFIA airborne observatory's 2.5-meter infrared telescope peers out from its cavity in the SOFIA rear fuselage during nighttime line operations testing
Image
Nov 12, 2008

The SOFIA airborne observatory's 2.5-meter infrared telescope peers out from its cavity in the SOFIA rear fuselage during nighttime line operations testing

The SOFIA airborne observatory's 2.5-meter infrared telescope peers out from its cavity in the SOFIA rear fuselage...

AFRC
NASA image: echnicians lift SOFIA's primary mirror assembly above NASA's 747SP airborne astronomy aircraft just prior to installation in the telescope cavity
Image
Oct 8, 2008

echnicians lift SOFIA's primary mirror assembly above NASA's 747SP airborne astronomy aircraft just prior to installation in the telescope cavity

echnicians lift SOFIA's primary mirror assembly above NASA's 747SP airborne astronomy aircraft just prior to...

AFRC
NASA image: SOFIA's primary mirror assembly is lifted above wing level prior to its reinstallation in the telescope cavity of NASA's 747 airborne observatory Oct. 8, 2008
Image
Oct 8, 2008

SOFIA's primary mirror assembly is lifted above wing level prior to its reinstallation in the telescope cavity of NASA's 747 airborne observatory Oct. 8, 2008

SOFIA's primary mirror assembly is lifted above wing level prior to its reinstallation in the telescope cavity of...

AFRC
NASA image: he SOFIA airborne observatory's 2.5-meter infrared telescope peers out from its cavity in the SOFIA rear fuselage during nighttime line operations testing
Image
Nov 12, 2008

he SOFIA airborne observatory's 2.5-meter infrared telescope peers out from its cavity in the SOFIA rear fuselage during nighttime line operations testing

he SOFIA airborne observatory's 2.5-meter infrared telescope peers out from its cavity in the SOFIA rear fuselage...

AFRC
NASA image: This backlit photo of SOFIA's infrared telescope during characterization testing shows the cell-like construction of the telescope's 2.5-meter primary mirror
Image
Mar 10, 2008

This backlit photo of SOFIA's infrared telescope during characterization testing shows the cell-like construction of the telescope's 2.5-meter primary mirror

The SOFIA telescope team collected baseline operational measurements during several nights of characterization...

AFRC
NASA image: As SOFIA's large telescope assembly slowly rotates, scientists and telescope operators review data readouts and imagery on their monitors during tracking tests
Image
Mar 10, 2008

As SOFIA's large telescope assembly slowly rotates, scientists and telescope operators review data readouts and imagery on their monitors during tracking tests

The SOFIA telescope team collected baseline operational measurements during several nights of characterization...

AFRC
NASA image: Scientists and telescope operators focus on data readouts set up inside NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory during telescope characterization tracking tests
Image
Mar 10, 2008

Scientists and telescope operators focus on data readouts set up inside NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory during telescope characterization tracking tests

The SOFIA telescope team collected baseline operational measurements during several nights of characterization...

AFRC
NASA image: A technician examines the instrument mounting structure and bulkhead of the German-built infrared telescope installed in NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory
Image
Apr 25, 2007

A technician examines the instrument mounting structure and bulkhead of the German-built infrared telescope installed in NASA's SOFIA airborne observatory

A technician examines the instrument mounting structure and bulkhead of the German-built infrared telescope...

AFRC
NASA image: NASA's SOFIA flying observatory was captured in striking relief during nighttime telescope characterization tests in Palmdale, Calif., in March 2008
Image
Mar 10, 2008

NASA's SOFIA flying observatory was captured in striking relief during nighttime telescope characterization tests in Palmdale, Calif., in March 2008

The SOFIA telescope team collected baseline operational measurements during several nights of characterization...

AFRC
NASA image: Technicians check out the mounting structure of the infrared telescope installed in NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA)
Image
Apr 25, 2007

Technicians check out the mounting structure of the infrared telescope installed in NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA)

Technicians check out the mounting structure of the 20-metric-ton infrared telescope installed in NASA's...

AFRC
NASA image: Technicians carefully disassemble portions of the aperture mounting assembly from NASA's SOFIA aircraft in preparation for removal of the telescope
Image
Feb 12, 2008

Technicians carefully disassemble portions of the aperture mounting assembly from NASA's SOFIA aircraft in preparation for removal of the telescope

Technicians carefully disassemble portions of the aperture mounting assembly from NASA's SOFIA aircraft in...

AFRC
NASA image: Scientists carefully examine data being received during nighttime line operations testing of the SOFIA airborne observatory's 2.5-meter infrared telescope
Image
Nov 12, 2008

Scientists carefully examine data being received during nighttime line operations testing of the SOFIA airborne observatory's 2.5-meter infrared telescope

Scientists carefully examine data being received during nighttime line operations testing of the SOFIA airborne...

AFRC
NASA image: The 2.5-meter infrared telescope peers out from its cavity in the SOFIA airborne observatory during nighttime line operations testing at Palmdale, Calif.
Image
Nov 12, 2008

The 2.5-meter infrared telescope peers out from its cavity in the SOFIA airborne observatory during nighttime line operations testing at Palmdale, Calif.

The 2.5-meter infrared telescope peers out from its cavity in the SOFIA airborne observatory during nighttime line...

AFRC
NASA image: Wispy clouds are illuminated by a bright quarter moon behind the tail of NASA's SOFIA flying observatory during telescope characterization testing in 2008
Image
Mar 10, 2008

Wispy clouds are illuminated by a bright quarter moon behind the tail of NASA's SOFIA flying observatory during telescope characterization testing in 2008

The SOFIA telescope team collected baseline operational measurements during several nights of characterization...

AFRC
NASA image: The 2.5-meter infrared telescope in the rear fuselage of NASA's SOFIA flying observatory tracked the star Polaris during characterization tests in March 2008
Image
Mar 10, 2008

The 2.5-meter infrared telescope in the rear fuselage of NASA's SOFIA flying observatory tracked the star Polaris during characterization tests in March 2008

The SOFIA telescope team collected baseline operational measurements during several nights of characterization...

AFRC
NASA image: A rotating external door (white) was installed over the telescope cavity in the rear fuselage of NASA's SOFIA Boeing 747SP during modifications in Waco, Texas
Image
Feb 2, 2006

A rotating external door (white) was installed over the telescope cavity in the rear fuselage of NASA's SOFIA Boeing 747SP during modifications in Waco, Texas

A rotating external door (white) was installed over the telescope cavity in the rear fuselage of NASA's SOFIA Boeing...

AFRC
NASA image: The German-built 100-inch telescope that is the heart of NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy is nestled in the SOFIA 747's rear fuselage
Image
Feb 2, 2006

The German-built 100-inch telescope that is the heart of NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy is nestled in the SOFIA 747's rear fuselage

The German-built 100-inch telescope that is the heart of NASA's Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy is...

AFRC
NASA image: Astronomers Smile at SOFIA’s Data
Image
Jun 11, 2013

Astronomers Smile at SOFIA’s Data

Astronomers smile while looking at data from SOFIA’s telescope.

AFRC
NASA image: Technicians guide removal of the upper rigid door assembly that covers the telescope cavity on NASA's SOFIA 747SP in preparation for primary mirror removal
Image
Feb 20, 2008

Technicians guide removal of the upper rigid door assembly that covers the telescope cavity on NASA's SOFIA 747SP in preparation for primary mirror removal

Technicians guide removal of the upper rigid door assembly that covers the telescope cavity on NASA's SOFIA 747SP in...

AFRC
NASA image: Technicians carefully maneuver a spreader bar into place before removing the telescope aperture assembly from NASA's SOFIA infrared observatory Boeing 747SP
Image
Feb 12, 2008

Technicians carefully maneuver a spreader bar into place before removing the telescope aperture assembly from NASA's SOFIA infrared observatory Boeing 747SP

Technicians carefully maneuver a spreader bar into place before removing the telescope aperture assembly from NASA's...

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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