Image of the Day Archives

Image of the Day archives
For older Image of the Day pictures, please visit the Image of the Day archives. Pictured: NGC 2467. (Image credit: NASA, ESA and Orsola De Marco (Macquarie University))

Each day we highlight a spectacular picture from space. See space exploration photos, astronaut pictures and more in our Image of the Day galleries.

Related Topics: Black Holes, Aurora Borealis, Stargazer Photos, International Space Station, Meteors, Shooting Stars and Fireballs

Latest about image of the day archives

a close-up of a metal wheel with deep cracks and caved-in sections as it rests on a reddish-orange rocky surface

Curiosity Mars rover inspects cracked wheel | Space photo of the day for July 27, 2026

By Brett Tingley Published

NASA's Curiosity Mars rover has experienced some serious wear and tear during its nearly 14 years on the Red Planet, as seen in new images of its wheels.

4 Comments
Mars Rovers
The protostars of the star system FS Tau as seen bt the JWST

Infant stars celebrate their independence with cosmic fireworks| Space photo of the day for July 3, 2026

By Robert Lea Published

Infant stars celebrate their independence with cosmic fireworks in a stunning new image from the James Webb Space Telescope.

Galaxies
a colorized map of europe showing france and spain in bright red

Europe's deadly heat wave seen from space | Space photo of the day for June 30, 2026

By Brett Tingley Published

Europe's Sentinel-3 satellite captured data that helps visualize June's deadly heat wave, allowing researchers to further understand the extent of soaring temperatures.

Satellites
A view out of the window of the ISS sees the SpaceX Dragon capsule with Earth in the background.

SpaceX Dragon says goodbye to the ISS | Space photo of the day for June 23, 2026

By Chelsea Gohd Published

The cargo spacecraft catches the sunlight as it departs its visit to the space station.

International Space Station
a long white rocket sits horizontal inside a hanger with its nose cone open, exposing a satellite with many components and actuators folded up into a dense rectangular shape

Satellite-boosting spacecraft inside air-launched rocket | Space photo of the day for June 12, 2026

By Brett Tingley Published

A spacecraft was recently prepped for encapsulation inside of its rocket at one of NASA's launch facilities ahead of its launch to save another satellite.

2 Comments
Launches & Spacecraft
Bright green and red auroras are seen over Earth from space.

Astronaut captures snake-like auroras from a SpaceX Dragon | Space photo of the day for June 9, 2026

By Chelsea Gohd Published

NASA astronaut Jessica Meir captured a breathtaking view of auroras on Earth from orbit while sheltering with her fellow astronauts in a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.

Human Spaceflight
four bright yellow beams of light project from bottom left to top right on a starry background

Laser beams blast through the cosmos | Space photo of the day for May 27, 2026

By Chelsea Gohd Published

Fear not, these lasers are just doing science.

Astronomy
The small Orion capsule faces away on the left and two nearly-identical rocket boosters are on the right.

Seeing double with the Artemis 2 rocket boosters | Space photo of the day for May 26, 2026

By Chelsea Gohd Published

The two boosters hang out mid-air after separation.

Human Spaceflight
the top portion of the image is black followed by a bright red and orange band of color which blends into an ombre of blue into black at the bottom of the image.

Nothing beats a beautiful sunset (from space) | Space photo of the day for May 25, 2026

By Chelsea Gohd Published

Earth
a large stone is cracked in such a way as to appear like three stones stacked on one another

Strange stacked stones spotted on Mars | Space photo of the day for May 21, 2026

By Chelsea Gohd Published

NASA's Perseverance Mars rover has stumbled across an unusual sight: a stack of rocks on the Martian surface.

15 Comments
Mars
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