Space art

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Space art, also known as astronomical art, is a genre that visually represents the universe through various artistic styles or sends artworks into space. The development of space art was closely linked to advancements in technology, which enabled more precise observations of the night sky. Space art may communicate ideas about space, often including an artistic interpretation of cosmological phenomena and scientific discoveries. Some space artists work directly with scientists to explore new ways to expand the arts, humanities, and cultural expression relative to space.

For many decades, visual artists have explored the topic of space using traditional painting media, followed recently by the use of digital media for the same purpose. Science fiction magazines and picture-essay magazines were one of the first major outlets for space art, often featuring planets, spaceships, and dramatic alien landscapes. Chesley Bonestell, R. A. Smith, Lucien Rudaux, David A. Hardy, and Ludek Pesek were some of the prominent artists in the early days of the genre, actively involved in visualizing topics such as space exploration. Astronomers and experts in rocketry played roles in inspiring and informing artists in this genre.

NASA’s second administrator, James E. Webb, created the space agency's Space Art program in 1962, four years after its founding.^[1] Bonestell's work in this program often depicted various celestial bodies and landscapes, highlighting both the destinations and the imagined technologies used to reach them.