NASA Launches Cosmic Photos Into Instagram (Web)space

 This image taken July 20, 1969 from NASA's Apollo 11 lunar landing mission shows the Earth rising over the limb of the moon. The image was among NASA's first posts on the social photo-sharing service Instagram.
This image taken July 20, 1969 from NASA's Apollo 11 lunar landing mission shows the Earth rising over the limb of the moon. The image was among NASA's first posts on the social photo-sharing service Instagram. (Image credit: NASA)

Space fans, rejoice! NASA is extending its social media reach by launching a new Instagram account, giving people the chance to share out-of-this-world photos on the go, according to agency officials.

"We're constantly looking to expand our social media portfolio to include tools that will best tell NASA's story of exploration and discovery," NASA spokesperson Lauren Worley said in a statement.

Instagram, the popular photo- and video-sharing social network service will provide more opportunities for NASA to connect with its fans.

"Instagram has a passionate following of users who are hungry for new and exciting photos," Worley said. "We believe we have some of the most engaging images on and off the planet — and we can't wait to engage with instagrammers."

The new NASA account will feature space photos and videos to promote aeronautics, astrophysics, Earth science, human spaceflight and more, agency officials said.

The space agency's first posts shared glimpses of the launch preparations for the Lunar Atmosphere and Dust Environment Explorer (LADEE) probe, which streaked into space in a dazzling night launch on Friday (Sept. 6) from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Va.

To highlight the lunar mission, NASA officials will post historic moon images and real-time photos from the Wallops Island launch complex before and during LADEE's liftoff. Visit NASA's Instagram account to follow along: http://instagram.com/nasa.

The robotic LADEE satellite is designed to orbit the moon, collecting detailed information about the structure and composition of the lunar atmosphere.

Follow Denise Chow on Twitter @denisechow. Follow us @SpacedotcomFacebook or Google+. Originally published on SPACE.com.

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.

Denise Chow
NBC News science writer

Denise Chow is a former Space.com staff writer who then worked as assistant managing editor at Live Science before moving to NBC News as a science reporter, where she focuses on general science and climate change. She spent two years with Space.com, writing about rocket launches and covering NASA's final three space shuttle missions, before joining the Live Science team in 2013. A Canadian transplant, Denise has a bachelor's degree from the University of Toronto, and a master's degree in journalism from New York University. At NBC News, Denise covers general science and climate change.