The Butterfly Nebula, part of an exibition of astronomical images at the National Maritime Museum (© Nasa ESA and the Hubble SM4 ERO Team)
This self-described “collection of some of the best astronomical photographs ever made” brings together so many science history firsts that it can be hard to form an adequate response. The exhibition starts with the origins of astronomical imaging, with hand drawings Galileo made as he looked through his telescope. It goes on to explain the significance of other landmark images, such as photographs Edwin Hubble took in 1923, which proved that galaxies beyond ours exist. The beauty of these images is not overlooked. The winning entries from the Astronomy Photographer of the Year competition are on display too, with images capturing the skies in often personal ways.
The most exhilarating exhibit is the “Mars Window.” A curved screen 13m wide, it shows images transmitted live to Earth from the Mars Curiosity Rover, launched in 2011. In April, Mars was obscured from the Earth by the Sun, and communication with spacecraft paused. Transmission will resume just in time for the opening of this exhibition.
National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, from 7th June
