When the crew of Apollo 8 turned a camera toward Earth almost 40 years ago many people were surprised to discover that our world was such a pretty planet, but scenes such as the famous "earthrise" had been available for decades in the form of paintings by space artists whose imaginations were informed by science. Astronomical illustrators play much the same role as medical illustrators, in that they attempt to realistically portray an aspect of nature that is beyond ordinary experience, in this case a realm that is too far or too hostile to explore directly. The astronomical artist can take us to the dawn of creation to witness the cataclysmic collision that formed our Moon, or transport us billions of years into the future to see the ultimate fate of Earth..
We are a fortunate generation. In the last four decades the planets have been transformed from mysterious orbs of light shimmering in our telescopes to worlds that our children may someday call home. We are the first to explore the solar system. Our grandchildren may climb the slopes of Mars' Mt. Olympus -- a volcanic mountain nearly five times the height of Everest -- but we had the thrill of discovering it.
Part of the fun in this profession is trying to stay one jump ahead of the scientists. I've often guessed wrong (Mars' sky is brown, not blue, for instance) and gotten lucky once or twice (Europa is not billiard-ball smooth, as was predicted), but nature, when finally revealed, always surprises. As you explore the images on this site please bear in mind that they represent informed guesswork. The reality will not only be stranger, but much more beautiful.
Thanks for dropping by. (There is also a version of this introduction for art critics.)
Don Dixon
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