# Free space images: planets, galaxies and Earth

> Free space and science images from NASA and open archives: planets, nebulae, galaxies, Earth from orbit, rockets and astronauts, with NASA's credit rules shown.

NASA is the largest free source of space pictures: Hubble and Webb views of galaxies and nebulae, the planets from passing probes, Earth from the International Space Station, rockets on the pad and astronauts at work. These collections group them by subject, with Wikimedia Commons adding images from other agencies and observatories. Every card shows the image's size and the credit NASA asks for.

Updated 2026-11-03.

## Collections

- [Earth from space: free photos from orbit](https://image.shep.bot/collections/earth-from-space-photos.md): 15 images from 2 sources. Free photos of Earth taken from orbit by the ISS, satellites and Apollo: city lights at night, storms, coastlines and sunrise over the horizon, from NASA.
- [Free Mars photos from rovers and orbiters](https://image.shep.bot/collections/mars-photos.md): 28 images from 2 sources. Free photos of Mars from NASA's rovers and orbiters: Perseverance and Curiosity panoramas, craters, dunes and the planet from orbit, with NASA's credits.
- [Hubble and Webb space images: galaxies, nebulae](https://image.shep.bot/collections/hubble-space-images.md): 36 images from 3 sources. Free Hubble and Webb telescope images of galaxies, nebulae and star clusters from NASA, at full resolution, with NASA's credit and usage rules shown.

## NASA's rules, briefly

NASA images are generally not copyrighted in the US and may be used commercially with credit. Don't use the NASA insignia or logotype as part of your branding, don't suggest NASA endorses you, and ask before identifiable astronauts or staff appear in an ad. That is why NASA images carry an editorial flag here. Images credited to partners such as ESA or a university may belong to them: those say 'check the terms'.

## Photos, composites and illustrations

Many space pictures are composites of several exposures, colourised from invisible wavelengths, or artist's concepts of things no camera has seen. They are labelled as illustrations where the source says so. For a science article, say which it is in the caption.

## Questions

**Can I use NASA images on a product?**

Usually yes, with credit, as long as the NASA logo isn't on it and nothing suggests NASA endorses the product. Check images credited to other organisations, which may be copyrighted by them.

**Why do some galaxy images look different from others?**

Telescopes see different wavelengths: Hubble mostly visible light, Webb infrared, Chandra X-rays. The colours are mapped to what the eye can see, so the same object can look very different.

## Guides

- [Free images for commercial use: what you can actually use](https://image.shep.bot/guides/free-images-commercial-use.md): Which free image licences allow commercial use (CC0, public domain, CC BY, free stock licences), which don't, and what still needs a release.
- [Using NASA images: credit, logos and astronauts](https://image.shep.bot/guides/nasa-image-rules.md): NASA images are free to use with credit, but the NASA logo, endorsements and astronauts in ads have rules. What's allowed, what isn't, and partner images.

## Other kinds

- [Free nature photos: landscapes and wildlife](https://image.shep.bot/collections/nature.md)
- [Free public-domain art: paintings and prints](https://image.shep.bot/collections/art.md)
- [Free historical images: old photos and maps](https://image.shep.bot/collections/history.md)
- [Free icons, vectors and textures for design](https://image.shep.bot/collections/design.md)

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Source: https://image.shep.bot/collections/space