Beautiful Universe

In collaboration with the Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics at UC Santa Cruz, this exhibit bridges the gap that often exists in our minds between art and science.

The photos are artistic images that are filled with scientific information. All of the images are by Steve Mandel and Bob Fera, Deep Space Remote Observatories.

Looking at the images in the exhibit, you might be moved by their abstractness, their colors, their symmetry of design, or lack of symmetry. Art stimulates our emotions and can directly take us to asking important questions about the nature of what we are viewing.

In the photos, you will see galaxies, novae, supernovae, reflection and emission nebulae, and interstellar dust clouds that give birth to new stars and planets. It’s an incredibly active and dynamic Universe. The sizes are enormous and the distances, which we measure in light years, are unfathomable.

“We know so much more than we did 100 years ago, but the truth is, we still don’t understand most of the Universe. Fortunately, the intersection of art and science can move us forward in our quest to make sense of it all. If you feel awe, excitement, or a deep sense of wonder looking at the photos, we hope you will ask questions, seek more information, and try to bridge the gap between your appreciation of the beauty of the Universe and the science behind it.”
— Steve Mandel