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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.

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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"

281 results found - Page 1 of 12

NASA image: SOFIA Discovers Universe’s First Molecule
Video
Apr 17, 2019

SOFIA Discovers Universe’s First Molecule

Researchers discovered what is thought to be the first kind of molecule to form after the Big Bang. While theory...

ARC
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 Science Imagery
Image
Sep 14, 2017

SOFIA Science Imagery

SCI2016_0001: SOFIA/GREAT [O I] spectrum at 4.7 THz (63 μm) superimposed on a picture of Mars. Absorption line depth...

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: SOFIA at Nighttime
Image
Jul 18, 2013

SOFIA at Nighttime

SOFIA at nighttime in New Zealand.

AFRC
NASA image: SOFIA at Nighttime
Image
Jul 17, 2013

SOFIA at Nighttime

SOFIA at nighttime in New Zealand.

AFRC
NASA image: SOFIA at Nighttime
Image
Jul 18, 2013

SOFIA at Nighttime

SOFIA at nighttime in New Zealand.

AFRC
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: 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: 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: The Universe’s First Molecule Is Found at Last
Video
Apr 17, 2019

The Universe’s First Molecule Is Found at Last

Scientists on the airborne observatory SOFIA detected the first type of molecule that ever formed in the universe....

ARC
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: ACD08-0005-117
Image
Jan 14, 2008

ACD08-0005-117

Air to air view of the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy or SOFIA aircraft fly-by on a visit to Ames...

ARC
NASA image: NASA SOFIA Captures Images of the Planetary Nebula M2-9
Image
Mar 29, 2012

NASA SOFIA Captures Images of the Planetary Nebula M2-9

Researchers using NASA Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy SOFIA have captured infrared images of the...

JPL
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: 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: 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: 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: NASA's ER-2 and SOFIA
Image
May 11, 2022

NASA's ER-2 and SOFIA

NASA's ER-2 and SOFIA at Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703 in Palmdale, California.

AFRC
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: 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: SOFIA Studies Pluto’s Atmosphere
Image
Jun 30, 2015

SOFIA Studies Pluto’s Atmosphere

Scientists onboard SOFIA watch data come in from Pluto’s atmosphere as SOFIA flies into the shadow the dwarf planet...

AFRC
NASA image: SOFIA Sunset Lift Off
Image
Jul 14, 2011

SOFIA Sunset Lift Off

SOFIA lifts off from Air Force Plant 42 in Palmdale, Calif., at sunset.

AFRC
NASA image: SOFIA Returns to NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703
Image
Mar 16, 2021

SOFIA Returns to NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703

SOFIA Returns to NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center Building 703 Caption: SOFIA returns to NASA's Armstrong...

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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