There's always something happening in space, and humanity is documenting it more quickly and clearly than ever before. Orbiting telescopes, astronauts and spacecraft are sending back a stream of photos that show off the diversity and wonder of the universe. Here are some of the best space photos of the year, so far.
Los Angeles wildfires
Enlarge Image ESA's Sentinel-2 satellite spotted smoke from the Palisades Fire shortly after it started on Jan. 7. NASA Earth Observatory/Wanmei Liang/ESA/Copernicus Sentinel
It wasn't just imagery of objects beyond Earth that caught our eye over the first half of the year. The European Space Agency's Sentinel-2 Earth-observing satellite documented the devastating Palisades Fire in California in January.
The Jan. 7 view showed a large smoke plume stretching out over the Pacific Ocean. That was just the beginning of a series of wildfires that destroyed residences and buildings in Los Angeles County.
Earth from space
Enlarge Image NASA astronaut Don Pettit captured a gorgeous sunrise from the International Space Station in February. Don Pettit/NASA
NASA astronaut and astrophotographer extraordinaire Don Pettit shared a knockout view of Earth from the International Space Station in late February. "Cosmic colors at sunrise; never get tired of seeing what the new day brings," he said.
This photo has it all: our planet, swirling aurora lights and a sweeping vista of stars.
Sunrise from the moon
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