Mesmerizing Pics Taken by Hubble Telescope Dazzle in New Book

Expanding Universe. Photographs from the Hubble Space Telescope Owen Edwards, Zoltan Levay,Charles F. Bolden, Jr., John Mace Grunsfeld. TASCHEN, (2015)

In its 25 years of orbiting the earth, the Hubble Telescope has captured everything from black holes to exoplanets to the imagination of the American people. In celebration of a quarter-century of solar investigations, publisher TASCHEN recently released Expanding Universe. Photographs from the Hubble Space Telescope, a stunning 260-page compendium of visually and scientifically significant iconic images.

Left: ?A star-forming Nebula. Distance from earth: 6,500 ly, (2014). NASA, ESA, and Hubble Heritage (STScI/AURA) ?Right: M16 Eagle Nebula
classification: Star-forming Nebula, (2014)

Taken at NASA-strength resolution, with only the blackness of the infinite universe as a backdrop, the pictures illuminate natural phenomena ranging from the “dark energy” of the solar system’s expansion, to the soft glow of the Milky Way. The results are hypnotic—a collection of patterns and shapes, planets and star systems—each more fascinating than the next, able to awe even the most jaded reader.

A star is, er, exploded.

The collection is punctuated by an insightful essay by photography critic Owen Edwards, of American Photographer, New York Times Magazine, and Smithsonian (among others), on the techniques and importance of the Hubble images, as well as an interview with Zoltan Levay, Imaging Lead at the Space Telescope Science Institute. The tome also includes space insights from veteran Hubble astronauts Charles F. Bolden, Jr. and John Mace Grunsfeld. Below, take a look at some of the gorgeous shots captured by the drifting scope.

Jupiter & Ganymede. Variable distance from earth: 443,000,000 miles. (2007). NASA, ESA, and E. Karkoschka (U. Arizona)

Star-forming Nebula. Distance from earth: 2,500 ly, (2002). NASA, H. Ford (JHU), G. Illingworth (UCSC/LO), M. CLampin and G. Hartiq (STScI), the ACS Science Team.

Star-forming Nebula (Carina). Distance from earth: 7,200 ly (2006)

Available in stores, and online at TASCHEN.