If you've ever looked through a telescope - even a budget-friendly, accessible telescope that might as well be a toy - then you know how thrilling it can be to see aspects of our vast universe up close.
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Oct 18, 2025
If you've ever looked through a telescope - even a budget-friendly, accessible telescope that might as well be a toy - then you know how thrilling it can be to see aspects of our vast universe up close. While starter telescopes can be a little underwhelming, those developed by scientists (especially those looking deep into space) are nothing short of awe-inspiring. They capture incredible clarity and depth images of star systems, planets, and terrestrial bodies. And luckily, you don't have to be an actual scientist to see these images. Most are available online, for free.
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Oct 18, 2025
If you've ever looked through a telescope - even a budget-friendly, accessible telescope that might as well be a toy - then you know how thrilling it can be to see aspects of our vast universe up close. While starter telescopes can be a little underwhelming, those developed by scientists (especially those looking deep into space) are nothing short of awe-inspiring. They capture incredible clarity and depth images of star systems, planets, and terrestrial bodies. And luckily, you don't have to be an actual scientist to see these images. Most are available online, for free.
But First, a Quick Preface to Telescope History
Galileo did not invent the telescope, but he improved its design. His iteration of the device, constructed in 1609, allowed us to see Jupiter's satellites, Venus's phases, and even the hills on the Moon.Fast forward almost 400 years, and the Hubble Space Telescope goes on its first mission. Now positioned just above Earth's atmosphere, Hubble uses mirror-based optics to collect and focus light from the vast universe, allowing us to view faraway galaxies and capture images of nebulae.
Just two years ago (in 2023), the Euclid Space Telescope was launched aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9. Euclid's mission is to map some of the billions of galaxies in deep space and study dark matter and energy.
Scientific Images of Space
It's all online! Public data archives allow anyone to look at deep space imagery. The average student, space enthusiast, or curious individual doesn't need to invest in fancy, expensive equipment to appreciate detailed images of faraway celestial bodies.
NASA
About: NASA is the United States agency responsible for exploring space and advancing our understanding of the universe. NASA has built rockets, trained astronauts, and launched various telescopes and robots to gather data about our solar system (and others). Photos from the James Webb and Hubble Telescopes have their own dedicated pages on the NASA website.James Webb mission:https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/
Hubble:https://science.nasa.gov/mission/hubble/
Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD):https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/
European Space Agency
About: The European Space Agency (ESA) is a group of 22 European countries working together to explore space and develop new technology. Its mission is to learn more about Earth, our solar system, and the wider universe. ESA builds and launches satellites that study everything from climate and weather patterns to the formation of stars and galaxies. It also collaborates with other major space organizations, including NASA, to share data and coordinate missions.Image gallery:https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Images
European Southern Observatory
About: The European Southern Observatory (ESO) builds and operates some of the world's most advanced telescopes. Unlike space telescopes that orbit above Earth, ESO's observatories are based on the ground (mostly in Chile, where the skies are extremely dark and clear).Image portal:https://www.eso.org/public/images/
Top 100 image collection:https://www.eso.org/public/images/archive/top100/
Amateur Photographers Capturing Space
It isn't strictly necessary to work for a space agency to take photos of space. Advances in technology make it possible for amateur photographers to capture images that are comparable to those created by professional observatories just a few decades ago. With the right equipment and an extreme amount of patience, you could theoretically get photos of the Moon's craters. Amateur space photographers are usually keen to share their work and learn from one another through online communities and forums.
r/Astrophotography
About: Good ol' Reddit! On the Astrophotography subreddit, members post their images and exchange technical information about camera settings, lenses, and ideal photo-editing methods. You can find everything from simple photos of the Moon taken with the latest iPhone to impressive deep-space images captured using telescopes and specialized filters.Thread:https://www.reddit.com/r/astrophotography/
Astrobin
About: AstroBin is a platform built specifically for astrophotographers. It serves as a gallery, a data archive, and a community all in one. Each image is accompanied by detailed technical information so others can learn from the process. Users can filter by type of celestial object, discuss techniques, and connect with other photographers.Astrobin home:https://app.astrobin.com/
Staying Safe
Browsing scientific archives sounds harmless, but there are practical things to watch for, especially if you're using public networks, downloading large files, or accessing databases from locations with censored access.
Use a VPN
Using a VPN is beneficial on several fronts. Firstly, if you're trying to access images from geo-restricted locations, a VPN is your best bet. What is a VPN is used for beyond IP location changing? It also creates encryption for your browsing, so if you're using public Wi-Fi (such as in a Starbucks or public library), threat actors can't steal your information or data.
Double Check Sources
Browsing and downloading images of space through official sites (NASA, ESA, ESO, etc.) is your safest option. Protect yourself from mirror sites by verifying the authenticity of a site, even if it looks like the official version. You don't want to end up accidentally downloading a ton of malware from "NASAA."
Understand Usage Rights
Most scientific images are in the public domain or under liberal usage (for non-commercial, educational, etc.). If you plan to use it for commercial or public display, be sure to double-check copyright/licensing. Information about image use should be available in the collection information.Related Links
Webb Telescope
Stellar Chemistry, The Universe And All Within It