Travel To Otherworlds: Stunning Space Photography

Otherworlds: Visions of our Solar System, Natural History Museum ★★★★☆

Tabish Khan
By Tabish Khan Last edited 98 months ago
Travel To Otherworlds: Stunning Space Photography Otherworlds: Visions of our Solar System, Natural History Museum 4
Moonlight mingles with city lights across Southern Europe. Credit: NASA JSC/Michael Benson, Kinetikon Pictures, courtesy of Flowers Gallery.

We are massive fans of the annual Astronomy Photographer of the Year, and Visions of the Universe is still one of our all time favourite exhibitions. It's fair to say we love space photography.

Now the Natural History Museum brings us Otherworlds — Michael Benson's 77 breathtaking composite images from NASA and European Space Agency photographs, in an exhibition that spans both science and art.

There should be an accompanying soundtrack; this wasn't on during the press view but to be honest we didn't need music to marvel at these wonderful large scale photographs. Solar flares, the moon transiting across the sun and a beautifully composed image of a crescent moon and crescent Earth in one shot. These are some of the highlights in an inspiring show.

Unlike most other museum exhibitions, the science is kept to a minimum, and this gives each image the room to shine. OK, it's not quite Visions of the Universe, but this will still leave you reeling.

The rings of Saturn cast a shadow over the planet's surface. NASA/JPL/Michael Benson, Kinetikon Pictures, courtesy of Flowers Gallery
Pluto is lit from behind by the sun. NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute/Michael Benson, Kinetikon Pictures, courtesy of Flowers Gallery
The giant storm that is Jupiter's 'great red spot' is clearly visible in this shot. NASA/JPL/Michael Benson, Kinetikon Pictures, courtesy of Flowers Gallery

Otherworlds: Visions of our Solar System is on at Natural History Museum until 15 May. Tickets are £9.90 for adults, concessions available.

Last Updated 22 January 2016

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