Best Photos Of The Week: Firefly’s Moon Shot, Aurora From ISS, Light Pillars, And More [11-18 Feb]

Welcome to this week’s collection of the best photos of the week captured by astrophotographers worldwide! This past week, Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost mission delivered a breathtaking Moon shot while astronauts aboard the ISS captured a mesmerizing aurora from orbit. Back on Earth, light pillars over Canada illuminated the winter sky, and deep-sky observers turned their lenses toward nebulae and other celestial wonders.

Dive into this week’s best astrophotos and explore the universe’s beauty!

Thors Helmet Nebula

Wolfgang Promper’s latest image showcases NGC 2359, also known as Thor’s Helmet, a striking cosmic structure shaped by powerful stellar winds from a massive Wolf-Rayet star.

While commonly compared to a Viking helmet, Promper sees a more beast-like form, stating, “I know it is Thor’s Helmet, but to me, it looks more like some kind of beast.”

Witch Head Nebula

Excelsior’s latest image features IC 2118, the Witch Head Nebula, a hauntingly beautiful reflection nebula near Rigel in Orion.

Captured with a backyard telescope, the image reveals the nebula’s ghostly, wispy structure, shaped by interstellar dust scattering light from the bright blue supergiant.

Light Pillars Over Canada

Dar Tanner captured stunning light pillars over Central Alberta. This is a mesmerizing optical phenomenon caused by ice crystals reflecting city lights in the frigid air. With temperatures plummeting to -30°C and a brutal -40°C windchill, the extreme cold made photographing the scene challenging.

“I could only be out for 10 seconds at a time,” the photographer shared.

Mars In Clouds

Pietro De Gregorio captures a stunning view of Mars as the planet’s opposition approaches in about a month. Despite being ahead of the event, an unexpected evening of remarkable seeing revealed incredible details, as Pietro shared. Syrtis Major and Sinus Sabeus, two prominent Martian features, stand out against a cloud-covered disk, adding an atmospheric depth to the scene. The north polar cap appears to be starting to melt, offering a glimpse of Mars’ dynamic climate.

Aurora Over Gulf Of St. Lawrence From ISS

Canadian Space Agency (@csa_asc) shared an awe-inspiring moment from the International Space Station, where astronauts witnessed the aurora borealis dancing above Canada. Captured over the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the shimmering lights created a magical spectacle!

Starry Night From Orbital Palette

Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) shared a poetic moment from space, capturing the night sky from orbit with the words, “Starry starry night from an orbital palette.”

Blue Ghost Moon Shot

Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander has successfully entered lunar orbit ahead of its planned landing on 2 March 2025. Blue Ghost captured a series of stunning photos to mark this milestone. The company shared the achievement with a playful message: “I love you to the moon, but not back — I’m staying there.”

Thank you to all the photographers who shared their amazing images! We greatly appreciate your dedication and passion for astrophotography and wish you clear skies for your future captures!

If you want to share your striking captures of the night sky for our collections of the best photos of the week, please send them via our social media: Facebook or X page. Also, you can use our contact form on the website.