<p style="font-family: tahoma, arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Images of the “Pillars of Creation” are among the most recognizable of the thousands the Hubble Space Telescope has created. The butte-like features were captured in the Eagle Nebula, also known as M16.</p>

Pillars of Creation

Images of the “Pillars of Creation” are among the most recognizable of the thousands the Hubble Space Telescope has created. The butte-like features were captured in the Eagle Nebula, also known as M16.

Photograph by NASA, ESA, and the Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA). Colorized Composite/Mosaic

Hubble's Greatest Hits

Pictures from the space telescope have dazzled us for 25 years. Now, Hubble’s lead imaging scientist picks his favorite celestial views.

The Hubble Space Telescope is famous for producing ethereal, iconic images of the cosmos.

But Hubble's images don't come to us ready-made. That's Zoltan Levay's responsibility. As the telescope's imaging team leader at the Space Telescope Science Institute, he has been responsible for bringing us iconic views like the Pillars of Creation since 1993.

You can see Levay's top ten Hubble images in National Geographic magazine, but the pictures don't stop there. Here are 50 of the most amazing Hubble images of all time, selected by National Geographic photo editors.

We invite you to tell us which Hubble views are your favorites, and why, in the comments section. (Hubble captures the universe's oldest galaxies.)

DON'T MISS THE REST OF THIS STORY!
Create a free account to continue and get unlimited access to hundreds of Nat Geo articles, plus newsletters.

Create your free account to continue reading

No credit card required. Unlimited access to free content.
Or get a Premium Subscription to access the best of Nat Geo - just $19
SUBSCRIBE

Read This Next

Is banning fishing bad for fishermen? Not in this marine reserve
SeaWorld allegedly violated the Animal Welfare Act. Why is it still open?
'World’s worst shipwreck' was bloodier than we thought

Go Further

Subscriber Exclusive Content

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet

Why are people so dang obsessed with Mars?

How viruses shape our world

The era of greyhound racing in the U.S. is coming to an end

See how people have imagined life on Mars through history

See how NASA’s new Mars rover will explore the red planet