Top 10 spectacular space images in 2022 by ESA: James Webb’s first image, Jupiter’s auroras, more

The space beyond Earth has always been exciting and full of mysteries! Pictures shared by the space agencies are testimonies of the unravelling of these mysteries and achievements by humanity. Here are the top 10 spectacular images from space in 2022 by ESA.  (Unsplash)

James Webb Space Telescope's first deep field: NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has produced the deepest and sharpest infrared image of the distant Universe to date. Also, thousands of galaxies have appeared in Webb’s view for the first time ever. (ESA)

Cosmic Cliffs in Carina: It was the first image captured by NASA James Webb Space Telescope. The image reveals previously obscured areas and of star birth and more. (ESA)

Jupiter aurorae: James Webb Space Telescope has captured Jupiter with its faint rings, which are a million times fainter than the planet. With giant storms, powerful winds, aurorae, and extreme temperature and pressure conditions, Jupiter has a lot more going on. (ESA)

The multi-dimensional Milky Way Galaxy: This image shows four sky maps made with the new ESA Gaia data released on 13 June 2022. (ESA)

This image is of a stunning and unusual close-knit collection of five galaxies, called the Hickson Compact Group 40. Also, Hubble Space Telescope celebrated its 32nd birthday. (ESA)

Utopia Planitia on Mars: ESA’s Mars Express shows Utopia Planitia, a plain that fills one of three major basins in the northern hemisphere of Mars – Utopia – and has a diameter of 3300 km. (ESA)

Vega-C launch: Operating from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana, this rocket extends Europe’s autonomy in space by supporting new mission possibilities, including return-to-Earth operations with ESA's reusable Space Rider reentry vehicle. (ESA)

Astronauts Samantha Cristoforetti and Matthias Maurer inside the ISS. Samantha also became the first  European female commander of the International Space Station during her mission. (ESA)

NASA's Orion spacecraft: The image shows Orion and the European Service Module halfway through the Artemis I mission near its maximum distance from Earth, at 432210 km from our home planet and over 64 000 km from the Moon. (ESA)

MTG-I1 heads for orbit: The first Meteosat Third Generation Imager (MTG-I1) satellite lifted off on an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana on 13 December. It will provide state-of-the art observations of Earth’s atmosphere and real-time monitoring of lightning events. (ESA)