PIX4570604: McNaught comet seen on 27 January 2007 - Comet McNaught (C/2006 P1) 27 Jan 2007 - View of McNaught comet obtained on 27 January 2007 at Wellington View of the Comet McNaught on 27 Jan 2007, over Wellington, New Zealand / Bridgeman Images

PIX4570612: The McNaught comet seen on January 23, 2007 - Comet McNaught (C/2006 P1) 23 Jan 2007 - View of the McNaught comet obtained on January 23, 2007 at 4:43 a.m. in Cromwell, New Zealand. View of the Comet McNaught on 23 Jan 2007 AM 4:43:24 in New Zealand / Bridgeman Images

PIX4598170: Apollo 17: E. Cernan on the Moon - Apollo 17: E. Cernan near the US flag - Gene Cernan, Commander Apollo 17, greets the American flag. 11/12/1972. Apollo 17: Gene Cernan saluting the US flag. Dec 11 1972 / Bridgeman Images

PIX4598316: Apollo 17: decolving the Lem from the lunar surface - Apollo 17: lunar module liftoff - The Challenger lunar module decolves from the Moon. View obtained by the television camera mounted on the lunar jeep, December 14, 1972. The Apollo 17 Lunar Module (LM) “” Challenger”” ascent stage leaves the Taurus - Littrow landing site as it makes its spectacular liftoff from the lunar surface, as seen in this reproduction taken from a color television transmission made by the color RCA TV camera mounted on the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV). The LRV - mounted TV camera, remotely controlled from the Mission Control Center (MCC) in Houston, made it possible for people on Earth to watch the fantastic event. The LM liftoff was at 188:01:36 ground elapsed time, 4:54:36 p.m. (CST), Thursday, Dec. 14, 1972. The LM ascent stage, with astronauts Eugene A. Cernan and Harrison H. Schmitt aboard, returned from the lunar surface to rejoin the Command and Service Modules (CSM) orbiting the moon. Astronaut Ronald E. Evans remained with the CSM in lunar orbit while Cernan and Schmitt explored the moon. The LM descent stage is used as a launching platform and remains behind on the moon. Here, the two stages have completely separated and the ascent stage is headed skyward / Bridgeman Images

PIX4598319: Apollo 17: E. Cernan and H. Schmitt - Apollo 17: E. Cernan and H. Schmitt - Eugene Cernan (a g.) and Harrison Schmitt (a d.) photographs by Ron Evans in the Apollo 17 module during the return trip. 17/12/1972. Portrait of Gene Cernan (left) and Harrison “” Jack””” Schmitt photographed by Ron Evans inside the command module Apollo 17 during the lunar return trip. Dec 17 1972 / Bridgeman Images

PIX4598381: Apollo 17: Lunar rock - Apollo 17: lunar rock - Sample of lunar rock collected at Station 2 and brought back by Apollo 17. Weight: about 32 grams. 12/1972. A close - up view of Apollo 17 lunar rock sample no. 72415,0 which was brought back from the lunar surface by the final team of Apollo astronauts. This sample is a brecciated dunite clast weighing a little over 32 grams (about 1.14 ounces). This sample was collected at Station 2 (South Massif) during the second Apollo 17 extravehicular activity (EVA - 2) / Bridgeman Images

PIX4598411: Apollo - Soyuz: decolving the Saturn 1B rocket - Apollo - Soyuz: Saturn 1B lift off - Decolving the American rocket with the Apollo module on board and astronauts Thomas Stafford, Vance Brand, and Donald Slayton. 15/07/1975. Liftoff of the Saturn IB launch vehicle (SA-210), for the Apollo/Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) mission, from the Launch Complex 39B, Kennedy Space Center. The Apollo - Soyuz Test Project (ASTP) was the first international docking of the U.S. ' s Apollo spacecraft and the U.S.S.R. ' s Soyuz spacecraft in space. The objective of the ASTP mission was to provide the basis for a standardized international system for docking of manned spacecraft. The Soyuz spacecraft, with Cosmonauts Alexei Leonov and Valeri Kubasov aboard, was launched from the Baikonur Cosmodrome near Tyuratam in the Kazakh, Soviet Socialist Republic, at 8:20 a.m. (EDT) on July 15, 1975. The Apollo spacecraft, with Astronauts Thomas Stafford, Vance Brand, and Donald Slayton aboard, was launched from Launch Complex 39B, Kennedy Space Center, Florida, at 3:50 p.m. (EDT) on July 15, 1975. The Primary objectives of the ASTP were achieved. They performed spacecraft rendezvous, docking and undocking, conducted intervehicular crew transfer, and demonstrated the interaction of U.S. and U.S.S.R. control centers and spacecraft crews. The mission marked the last use of a Saturn launch vehicle / Bridgeman Images

PIX4598458: Mission Perseus - Return of J.P. Haignere - Jean - Pierre Haignere - Perseus mission - Jean - Pierre Haignere seen at the time of his return to Kazakhstan, after a six-month stay spent in space. The Perseus mission took place from 20 February to 28 August 1999 aboard the Mir station. ESA astronaut Jean-Pierre Haignere shortly after completion of the record - breaking “” Perseus”” mission to the Mir space station, on August 28 1999. With 6 Months in space, Jean-Pierre Haignere set a new duration record for a non - Russian astronaut. The “” Perseus”” mission occured from February 20 1999 till August 28 1999 / Bridgeman Images

PIX4598495: Andromede Mission - Return to Earth - Andromede Mission - Soyuz recovery - Return to Earth of the Soyuz capsule on Wednesday 31 October at 6:00 am. The Andromede mission took place from 21 to 31 October 2001 on board the ISS (the International Space Station). Claudie Haignere was the first European woman to work on the ISS. Claudie Haignere is part of the European Astronaut Corps of ESA (European Space Agency). Recovery of the Soyuz capsule on October 31, 2001. The “” Andromede”” Mission occured from 21 to 31 October 2001, onboard the International Space Station / Bridgeman Images

PIX4598539: Astronaut Leopold Eyharts - Astronaut Leopold Eyharts - Leopold Eyharts poses in front of the model of the space shuttle at the Lyndon Johnson Space Center in Houston, USA. June 2006. Leopold Eyharts, from France, stands in front of a mock Space Shuttle used for training at Nasa's Johnson Space Center in Houston, Texas / Bridgeman Images

PIX4598558: Astronaut Leopold Eyharts - Astronaut Leopold Eyharts - Portrait of Spationaut Leopold Eyharts / Bridgeman Images

PIX4598567: The European Space Agency (ESA) in Paris - The European Space Agency (ESA), Paris - General quarters of the European Space Agency in Paris. Headquarters main entrance of the European Space Agency (ESA), Paris / Bridgeman Images

PIX4598577: Creation of the European Space Agency (ESA), Paris - Birth of the European Space Agency (ESA), Paris - Signature of the ESA Convention in Paris on 30 May 1975. The ESA convention was approved by the Conference of Plenipotentiaries, Paris 30 May 1975. ESA functioned de facto from 31 May 1975 - the ESA Convention entered into force 30 October 198 / Bridgeman Images

PIX4598602: The European Astronaut Center (EAC) - The European Astronaut Center (EAC) - The European Astronaut Centre (EAC), with astronaut Frank De Winne in front of modules of the International Space Station, used for the training of astronauts. Cologne, Germany. The European Astronaut Center (EAC) in Cologne, Germany. Astronaut Frank De Winne is standing in front of models of the international space station modules used for the training of astronauts / Bridgeman Images

PIX4598624: Astronaut Training at the European Astronaut Center (EAC) - Astronauts training at the European Astronaut Center (EAC) - Astronauts training at the European Astronaut Center (EAC) - Astronauts training at the European Astronaut Center (EAC) - Astronauts training at the European Astronaut Center (EAC) - Astronaut Kuipers and Frank De Winne (left) get acquainted with one of one of one of one of one of one of one of the experiences (Microgravity Science Glovebox) Frank De Winne is expected to stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS) from May to November 2009, Andre Kuipers is his underwear. Centre for European Astronauts (EAC), Cologne, Germany. ESA astronauts Andre Kuipers (right) and Frank De Winne (left) use the Microgravity Science Glovebox training model at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany. Kuipers and De Winne visited EAC as part of their astronaut training ahead of De Winne's long - duration mission to the International Space Station scheduled for May to November 2009. Kuipers is assigned as back - up for the mission / Bridgeman Images

PIX4598630: Astronaut Training at The European Astronaut Center (EAC) - Astronaut training at The European Astronaut Center (EAC) - Astronaut Andre Kuipers is familiar with the sleeping bag that astronauts use aboard the International Space Station. Frank De Winne is expected to stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS) from May to November 2009, Andre Kuipers is his double. Centre for European Astronauts (EAC), Cologne, Germany. ESA astronaut Andre Kuipers tries out the sleeping bag inside the Space Station Node - 2 bedroom mock - up at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany. Kuipers is assigned as back - up to ESA astronaut Frank De Winne who is scheduled to visit the ISS between May and November 2009. Kuipers and De Winne visited EAC as part of their training for the mission / Bridgeman Images

PIX4598638: Astronaut Training at The European Astronaut Center (EAC) - Astronaut training at The European Astronaut Center (EAC) - Astronaut Andre Kuipers is familiar with the sleeping bag that astronauts use aboard the International Space Station. Frank De Winne is expected to stay aboard the International Space Station (ISS) from May to November 2009, Andre Kuipers is his double. Centre for European Astronauts (EAC), Cologne, Germany. ESA astronaut Andre Kuipers tries out the sleeping bag inside the Space Station Node - 2 bedroom mock - up at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany. Kuipers is assigned as back - up to ESA astronaut Frank De Winne who is scheduled to visit the ISS between May and November 2009. Kuipers and De Winne visited EAC as part of their training for the mission / Bridgeman Images

PIX4598654: New European Astronauts - New European Astronauts - The selection of new European astronauts poses in an International Space Station (ISS) training module at the European Astronaut Centre (EAC) in Cologne, Germany. From top to bottom in a clockwise direction, Timothy Peake, Andreas Mogensen, Alexander Gerst, Luca Parmitano, Thomas Pesquet and Samantha Cristoforetti. The new recruits join the European Astronaut Corps and start their training to prepare for future missions to the International Space Station, and beyond. From clockwise from top left: Timothy Peake, Andreas Mogensen, Alexander Gerst, Luca Parmitano, Thomas Pesquet and Samantha Cristoforetti / Bridgeman Images

PIX4598695: Shooting star rain -Leonides 11/2001 - Leonid meteor storm Nov 19 200 / Bridgeman Images

PIX4598719: Shooting Stars - Meteor / Bridgeman Images

PIX4598737: Shooting star rain -Leonides 11/1999 - Leonid meteor shower Nov 1999 - Shooting star rain seen above the caravan of Deh Namak, Iran. Leonid meteor shower of Nov. 1999, Deh-Namak caravansary, Semnan, Iran / Bridgeman Images

PIX4598847: Etoile filante -Perseide - Perseid meteor - Perseide seen on 12/08/2008. A bright Perseid meteor flares as it burns up in the upper atmosphere at the beginning of morning twilight on August 12, 2008 during the Perseid Meteor Shower / Bridgeman Images

PIX4598852: Sky Star and Perseides - Starry sky with perseids - Perseides et voie lactee, 13 August 2007. August 13, 2007. Brittany Franc / Bridgeman Images

JLJ4598951: Dog relay of imperial venerie, 1868 (oil on canvas), Parquet, Charles Gustave (b.1826) / Bridgeman Images

PIX4599047: Shooting star and measurement of sky quality - August 2016 - Sky quality measurement: A Perseide passes through the star sky of Crete. An amateur astronomer measures the quality of the sky. August 2016 - Milky Way, Meteor and SQM -measurement (21.52 mag) from Omalos, Crete. August 2016 / Bridgeman Images

PIX4599134: Rain of shooting stars of the Geminides - Geminid meteors - Photographer - During the rain of shooting stars of the Geminides on 14 December 2009, in just over half an hour, dozens of meteores scratch the sky. Several meteors cross the sky on monday Dec 14 2009 during the Gemini Meteor Shower / Bridgeman Images

JLJ4599170: cathedral of Orleans, c.1913 (oil on parquet plywood), Utrillo, Maurice (1883-1955) / Bridgeman Images

PIX4599176: Geminid Rain - Geminid meteors - Two shooting stars cross the sky in the constellations of Taurus and Coach. Image obtained December 14, 2009, Mojave desert, California. Geminid meteors seen above Mojave desert on December 14, 2009 / Bridgeman Images

PIX4599233: Rain des Geminides 2012 - Geminid Meteors - Composite image of 7 different clicks taken during the rain of shooting stars of the Geminides, December 14, 2012. Yosemite Valley, California. Composite image of seven different frames taken during the peak of Geminid meteor shower on december 14 2012. Yosemite valley, California / Bridgeman Images

PIX4592239: Lynx Constellation and Herschel Telescope - Constellation of Lynx - The Herschel Telescope (Telescopium Herschelii) is an extinct constellation. Plate extracted from the Mirror of Urania by Jehoshaphat Aspin - 1825 Telescopium Herschelii is a former constellation. Urania's Mirror, by Jehoshaphat Aspin, 1825 / Bridgeman Images

PIX4592336: Constellations of Capricorn, Southern Fish, Microscope, Crane and Indian, Constellations of Capricorn, Piscis Austrinus, Microscopium, Grus, India / Bridgeman Images

PIX4592342: Constellation Ophiuchus - Constellation of Ophiuchus - The constellation Ophiuchus separates the constellation of the Snake into two parts. The constellation of Ophiuchus is located between Serpens Caput and Serpens Cauda, two parts of the constellation of Serpens. The southern part of Ophiuchus contains one of the darkest and most visually distinctive dark clouds of the Miky Way. It is popularly known as the Dark Horse nebula - - the body of the horse runs north - south and its legs point towards the bright star Antares. The hind quarters of the horse make up the (smoker's) Pipe nebula, with the stem pointing to Antares. The dust of forelegs reaches a long way in the direction of Antares, where it is illuminated by stars associated with Rho Ophiuchi to make a distinctive reflection nebula. The dusty clouds of the Dark Horse nebula hide the northern part of the Milky Way's central bulge. The southern part (in Sagittarius) is relatively unobscured. Without this dust the extent of the Milky Way's bulge would be much more apparent to the unaided eye and without it our understanding of the nature of our galaxy as a flattened disk might have come sooner / Bridgeman Images

PIX4592381: Constellation of Ophiuchus - Constellation of Ophiuchus - Map of the constellation of Ophiuchus with its main Celestial objects. The Great Bear is indicated for the scale. Map showing the constellation of Ophiuchus with its main celestial objects. Constellation of Big Dipper is shown at scale / Bridgeman Images

PIX4592405: Constellation Orion - Constellation of Orion - The constellation of Orion rises over the Mullica River in the Pine Barrens forest of New Jersey / Bridgeman Images

PIX4592412: Constellation Orion - Constellation of Orion - The constellation of Orion rises over the Mullica River in the Pine Barrens forest of New Jersey / Bridgeman Images

PIX4592414: Constellation Orion - Constellation of Orion - Orion, a constellation often referred to as The Hunter, is a prominent constellation, perhaps the best - known in the sky. Its brilliant stars are found on the celestial equator and are visible throughout the world, making this constellation universally recognized / Bridgeman Images