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Photographer Andrew McCarthy created this extraordinary picture of the February 12 waxing crescent moon by combining nearly 50,000 photographs. Details on the moon's unlit section are visible thanks to "earthshine"—light reflected onto the moon by Earth itself.

Photograpgh by Andrew McCarthy

February's best space pictures: Incredible moon and a spaceflight first

Also see our best look yet at the most distant place ever visited by spacecraft and stunning views of Mars's epic volcanic deserts.

ByMichael Greshko

Photo EditorJenna Fite

February 27, 2019

Feed your need for heavenly views of the universe with our picks of the most awe-inspiring space pictures from February 2019.

This month, the Hubble Space Telescope photographed a star's fiery birth and a galaxy's massive "tail," as the New Horizons probe sent back its best pictures yet of the most distant world ever visited by a spacecraft. Closer to terra firma, satellites and astronauts orbiting Earth captured nature in all its power and beauty, and an ambitious sky-watcher photographed the moon nearly 50,000 times—yielding a breathtaking view of our planet's perpetual partner.