Greatest image taken from space?

[pluto]

So with the astounding image of Pluto that's just been released (http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/nh-apluto-wide-9-17-15-final_0.png) it got me thinking about what is the greatest/my favorite image taken from somewhere other than earth (I'm not including HST or other orbiting 'scopes here though as similar images are, almost, obtainable from ground based obs).

The top list for me would have to include:
- Earthrise (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earthrise) from Apollo 8
- Neil's footprint (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Apollo_11_bootprint.jpg) - EDIT: Buzz's footprint (thanks for the correction Matt)
- or the landing site ~40 years later (http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/LRO/news/apollo-11.html)
- That amazing image from Cassini of saturn and the Earth (http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/photos/imagedetails/index.cfm?imageId=2314)
- the Pale blue dot image (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pale_Blue_Dot)
- that amazing image of the Huygens landing site (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huygens_(spacecraft)#/media/File:Huygens_surface_color.jpg)
- one of the Venus surface images from one of the Venera spacecraft (http://mentallandscape.com/C_CatalogVenus.htm)
- something from the MERs or MSL (my favorite (http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/117989main_image_feature_347_ys_ful l.jpg))

I guess a big part of what makes these images great, for me, is the difficulty of acquiring them, so this list isn't necessarily going to be full of pretty pictures.


The absolute, most astounding thing I've seen captured away from Earth is the MSL MARDI decent movie (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyBffhiOuVU). Watching it and thinking about what it took to obtain, and what it's success enabled, is truly incredible - plus it just looks really cool!! :bowdown:


Of course there are so many others, what do you think?



EDIT: I forgot about the Blue Marble (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Blue_Marble)

[Suzy]

Isn't it just a jawdropping image!
I've been having fun earlier today zooming in and taking a tour. Just Wow!

I think my favourite image would be the famous Pale Blue Dot :).
There's so many gorgeous images from space, in particular many of Saturn from Cassini; it's a hard choice.

[Somnium]

don't forget the Hubble ultra deep field. probably my favourite

[Octane]

The one of Bruce McCandles II hanging in space.

http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/110788main_image_feature_286_ajhful l.jpg

H

[pluto]

It's pretty special isn't it.
I was hoping that New Horizons could take a new one in a few years but according to a question asked on an AMA recently: "Unfortunately, the LORRI camera is extremely sensitive, and looking back towards Earth would have the sun in the field of view and blow the instrument out. Voyager was able to do this because the instruments were on a platform that could move, and the engineers could orient it such that Voyager's dish acted as a sunshield"


I agree - that's one of my favorites too but, as I said, I'm leaving out HST and other orbiting observatories for this one because I think it's more about the place (or point of view) from which the image was taken and Earth based scopes can get close to what the space based observatories can achieve (though perhaps not that close when it comes to the Hubble deep field images) :)

[MichaelSW]

The Cassini images of Saturns rings and moon alignments do it for me. e.g.:

https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/images/index.html?id=362519

And I was so glad to see the In Saturns Shadow photo on your list, Hugh.

[pluto]

Oh good call H!

I've also always loved the images of the LEMs either leaving or approaching the CSMs like this one (ascent stage approaching Apollo 11 CSM): https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apollo_11#/media/File:Apollo_11_lunar_module.jpg

And there's something cool about the images of the descent stages left on the surface with live TV pictures still being streamed back even after the 'nauts have left: http://www.wired.com/images_blogs/wiredscience/2013/11/A17descentstage.png

[pluto]

Oh yes, me too :D
At least once a week for many years I have a peek at the latest raw images from Cassini, there are always gems in there.

[el_draco]

On the amateur level
Sidonio NGC5128 extreme deep field.

I still gape when I look at this. Bloody marvelous!
Its the only image that makes me say OMG!! :eyepop:

[N1]

Any close up images taken of the surface of comets would have to be near the top of my list.

Also those epic eruptions on Io. (http://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/styles/full_width/public/thumbnails/image/nh-5frame.gif?itok=jfnYMedc)

[pluto]

That is a stunning image, but I'm pretty sure he still lives on Earth ;)




Yes, like this: http://www.esa.int/var/esa/storage/images/esa_multimedia/images/2015/05/comet_closeup_19_october_2014_navca m/15410118-1-eng-GB/Comet_closeup_19_October_2014_NavCa m.jpg - amazing!
Same too with the jets on Enceladus https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journey_to_Enceladus_and_Titan#/media/File:Enceladus_geysers.jpg

[pluto]

I'd also have to include the panoramas from Spirit's summit of Husband Hill: http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap050907.html
And Opportunity's view over Endeavour - after 11 years on Mars!!: http://mars.nasa.gov/mer/gallery/press/opportunity/20150122a.html
Or one of Curiosity's selfies: http://www.nasa.gov/jpl/msl/pia19808/looking-up-at-mars-rover-curiosity-in-buckskin-selfie

Also, at Mars, one of ESA's Mars Express full orbit movies: http://www.esa.int/Our_Activities/Operations/Astronaut_s_eye_view_Mars_Express_o rbiting_the_Red_Planet


Oh and a Lunar eclipse imaged from Mercury orbit: http://messenger.jhuapl.edu/gallery/sciencePhotos/pics/LunarEclipse_20141008_x2.png


* ok, that's enough, I'll stop now... ;)

[julianh72]

The latest Pluto images are simply amazing. Pluto may "only" be a Minor Planet, but it is certainly driving some major interest!

[el_draco]

I doubt it ....:rofl:

[Kunama]

Earthrise by Bill Anders
and Bruce McCandless on his lonesome get my vote ....

(the bootprint is actually Buzz Aldrin's boot)

[pluto]

Good catch Matt, absolutely right! up there with my favourite Dr Aldrin moments including the great vision of him half way down the LM ladder pausing to urinate, or my personal favourite, when he punched Bart Sibrel ;)



That's my favourite HST image, as was the original WFPC2 Pillars of Creation image before it, and my favourite astro image period.
For this thread though I was looking for images taken from a different point of view in our Solar system :)

[pluto]

Oh I almost forgot about that incredible image of Hayabusa's shadow on Itokawa: http://www.isas.jaxa.jp/e/snews/2005/image/1124/fig3a.jpg
Ok it's more asteroid than comet, but close enough! ;)

[N1]

Phobos transits as seen from Mars and associated shadows on the surface. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Transit_of_Phobos_from_Mars)
Because they look so familiar yet so incredibly alien. Technically these events are still annular solar eclipses, so I think the shadow in the Global Surveyor photos should be called antumbral rather than "penumbral" as stated in the photo captions.

The "Lunar Eclipse from Mercury" one is definitely up there too.:thumbsup:
Oh, and while we are talkin eclipses, let's not forget this recent beauty. (http://spaceweathergallery.com/indiv_upload.php?upload_id=117504)

[Pradeep]

"Europa rising"
http://1.usa.gov/1gz8KJs
"Valles Marineris" - Viking 1
http://bit.ly/1KWSEHO
"Blue Marble"
[New]
http://bit.ly/1NBNhfZ

[Suzy]

Thank you Hugh for the information on New Horizons not being able to take a pic of Earth. I was hoping for one :(.

Wow, hi Pradeep, I'm a fellow Sri-Lankan too :hi:, I recognised the name as Sri-Lankan in a blink! Awesome, I don't recall any other Sri-Lankans on here.

[Pradeep]

Thanks Susy! Proud to be a Sri Lankan

[colinmlegg]

A tad late to the party.. my vote would go to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/C/2011_W3_(Lovejoy)#/media/File:Iss030e015472_Edit.jpg .. one of the first night shots I ever saw from ISS.. totally blew me away :)

And can't forget this one... :)

[mjfitzhenry]

Definitely the Saturn/Cassini image AKA "The Day the Earth Smiled"

[tonybarry]

My all time best image is the New Horizons pass by Jupiter and Io.

The image has it all - volcano on Io, eruption, cloud, Jupiter's great red spot ... the kind of thing you cannot believe is out there, but is.

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap080108.html

Regards,
Tony Barry

[N1]

Speaking of eclipses, how could I forget this one:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvoALRXK0aI

Best lunar eclipse vid of all time IMHO!

[pluto]

Wow I hadn't seen that one!!

[uwahl]

Early in the Cassini mission when The Lord of the Rings was all the rage in movie theatres NASA release a very large (many megabytes) mosaic of the full face of Saturn and rings with the title "The REAL Lord of the Rings"

[pluto]

My Google-fu is failing me and I can't seem to find the image you're talking about, if you have a link I'd love to see it :)

Also reminded me of this great image of a slice of Saturn's rings:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Saturn%27s_rings_dark_side_mos aic.jpg

[Paul Haese]

There are many really interesting images taken from space. Some very spectacular ones indeed. Ranging from those already mentioned to images of the Sun, exploration of planets and probing the depths of the cosmos; but for me the images taken by the Apollo astronauts on the surface of another body are the most special. We as a species explored a place in space and came home to tell the story. We as a species have been there and I wonder when we as a species will go back. Those images are the most special because humans have a direct connection with those images. All the rest in my opinion are just images taken of objects in space as lovely as they are.