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35 Stunning Hi-Res “Public Domain” Astronomy Images

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In the wake of Shepard Fairey’s debacle with the AP over the rights to the image he used as reference/inspiration for his wildy popular Obama poster, I wanted to share a list of Public Domain Licensed images, in this case, astronomy. Fairey’s situation should hit home with all pixel junkies out there and remind us that we have to pay close attention to the licenses associated with the images we use in our design work. I’ve compiled a list of beautiful, inspiring astronomy images that all have a Public Domain License.

Astronomy intrigues me. I’m a regular APOD surfer. I love reading about space, and the images of the universe, I find inspiring. Here’s a list of “Public Domain” astronomy images that I put together, all of which I found on Wikimedia. If you aren’t familiar with Wikimedia, it doesn’t have a stellar (pun intended) selection, but it’s a very good source of Public Domain and GNU licensed images. So here we go, let’s start off the list with none other than our very own blue marble.

Earth

Full resolution: 3,000 × 3,075 pixels

Full resolution: 2,048 × 2,048 pixels

Full resolution: 2,048 × 2,048 pixels

Full resolution: 3,000 × 3,002 pixels

Full resolution: 1,696 × 2,074 pixels

.

Full resolution: 2,458 × 2,458 pixels

Full resolution: 2,400 × 2,400 pixels

Full resolution: 3,097 × 3,000 pixels

The Moon

Full resolution: 1,280 × 978 pixels

Full resolution: 2,560 × 1,920 pixels

Full resolution: 1,986 × 1,986 pixels

Mars

Full resolution: 2,000 × 2,000 pixels

Full resolution: 1,552 × 1,552 pixels

Mars’ moon Phobos

Full resolution: 3,374 × 3,300 pixels

Saturn

Full resolution: 2,766 × 1,364 pixels

Full resolution: 4,000 × 2,527 pixels

Full resolution: 8,888 × 4,544 pixels

Saturn’s moon Rhea

Full resolution: 4,920 × 4,820 pixels

Venus

Full resolution: 4,096 × 4,096 pixels

Jupiter

Full resolution: 2,260 × 3,207 pixels

Galaxies

Full resolution: 6,200 × 6,200 pixels

Full resolution: 1,730 × 1,428 pixels

Full resolution: 5,302 × 3,805 pixels

Full resolution: 4,014 × 3,865 pixels

Full resolution: 3,000 × 2,016 pixels

Full resolution: 6,637 × 3,787 pixels

Full resolution: 6,000 × 4,690 pixels

Full resolution: 3,915 × 3,885 pixels

Full resolution: 11,472 × 6,429 pixels

Full resolution: 8,952 × 6,213 pixels

Nebulae

Full resolution: 6,000 × 2,906 pixels

Full resolution: 3,601 × 4,004 pixels

Full resolution: 4,806 × 3,364 pixels

Full resolution: 3,182 × 1,282 pixels

Full resolution: 18,000 × 18,000 pixels