https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/index.html 2026-06-07T19:07:49.552Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/don_dixon_art_prints.html 2026-06-07T19:07:49.552Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/about_don_dixon.html 2026-06-07T19:07:49.552Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/index.html 2026-06-11T00:59:18.146Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/492-starship-departs-lunar-orbit-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/492-starship-departs-lunar-orbit-dixon.jpg Sarship Departing from Lunar Orbit An interstellar ship ignites its nuclear pulse rocket engine over the farside of the moon. The 10-kilometer-long vessel consists mostly of fuel and other consumables. After 10 years, it will have achieved 10 percent the speed of light, making possible a voyage to the nearest star, Alpha Centauri, in 50 years, when some of the original voyagers might still be alive. 2013-04-07T14:49:50.000Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/331-gas-giant-earthlike-moon-exoplanet-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/331-gas-giant-earthlike-moon-exoplanet-dixon.jpg 331-Earthlike moon of a gas giant planet [331] Gas Giant with Earthlike Moon — This illustration by Don Dixon depicts a large, banded gas giant planet partially eclipsed by a smaller, terrestrially active moon. The moon features a visible atmosphere with complex cyclonic cloud patterns and surface features suggestive of liquid oceans and continental masses. Both bodies are set against a dense starfield, with the gas giant exhibiting atmospheric turbulence and a distinct terminator line. 2026-04-11T22:47:48.994Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/368-u-andromedae-orbital-diagram-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/368-u-andromedae-orbital-diagram-dixon.jpg [368] Upsilon Andromedae Planetary System Comparison — This technical diagram, with illustration by Don Dixon, provides a comparative analysis between the Solar System and the extrasolar planetary system orbiting Upsilon Andromedae. The graphic utilizes three distinct perspectives—top-down, oblique wireframe, and high-contrast volumetric—to illustrate the orbital scales of planets b, c, and d relative to the orbits of Earth and Jupiter. The visualization highlights the compact nature of the inner Upsilon Andromedae system, where multiple high-mass planets reside within a distance comparable to Earth's orbital radius. ; painting by Don Dixon for Scientific American 2026-04-11T22:51:42.992Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/444-hot-jupiter-evaporating-atmosphere-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/444-hot-jupiter-evaporating-atmosphere-dixon.jpg 444-hot-jupiter [444] Evaporating Hot Jupiter — This illustration by Don Dixon depicts a "Hot Jupiter" exoplanet in extreme proximity to its host star. The planet’s atmosphere is shown undergoing hydrodynamic escape, forming a prominent cometary tail of ionized gas as it is buffeted by stellar radiation and solar winds. The gas giant exhibits intense atmospheric banding and heat-induced luminosity, while the primary star displays characteristic photospheric granulation and a vibrant corona. Digital painting © 2007 Don Dixon/cosmographica.com 2026-04-11T22:55:15.791Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/459-super-jovian-forming-protoplanet-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/459-super-jovian-forming-protoplanet-dixon.jpg 459-super-jovian-forming [459] Super-Jovian Protoplanet — This illustration by Don Dixon depicts a massive "Super-Jovian" planet in the late stages of formation within a circumplanetary disk. The central oblate body glows with internal heat from gravitational contraction, surrounded by a diffuse ring of accreting gas and dust. Swirling nebular structures suggest the conservation of angular momentum and the ongoing influx of material from the surrounding primordial environment. digital artwork for Scientific American 2007 2026-04-11T22:59:14.558Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/466-gliese-581c-exoplanet-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/466-gliese-581c-exoplanet-dixon.jpg 466-extrasolar-planet-Gliese581c-far-view [466] Gliese 581 c and Gliese 581 System — This illustration by Don Dixon depicts the extrasolar planet Gliese 581 c as a terrestrial world with visible surface liquid and complex cloud cover, suggesting potential habitability. In the background, the red dwarf host star Gliese 581 dominates the frame, with another inner planet shown in transit across the stellar disk. The composition emphasizes the compact nature of M-dwarf planetary systems and the proximity of the habitable zone to the parent star. 2026-04-11T23:02:19.151Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/467-extrasolar-planet-Gliese581c-subsolar.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/467-extrasolar-planet-Gliese581c-subsolar.jpg 467-extrasolar-planet-Gliese581c-subsolar If the planet is tidally locked, with the same face turned permanently toward its sun, any ocean near the subsolar point would likely simmer under a perpetual haze of steam. Weather patterns might tend to radiate from this equatorial teakettle. Digital artwork © 2007 Don Dixon / cosmographica.com 2026-04-11T23:04:27.782Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/080-view-from-80000-ly-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/080-view-from-80000-ly-dixon.jpg 080-View-From-80,000-Light-Years [080] View From 80,000 Light Years — This scene depicts a perspective from the surface of a frozen planetary body, looking out toward a prominent spiral galaxy. The foreground is dominated by jagged icy formations and a reflective liquid or frozen plain, while the sky features a tilted galactic disk with a brilliant central bulge and distinct spiral arms rich in star clusters and dark dust lanes. The composition illustrates a deep-space vista emphasizing the scale of galactic structures as viewed from an external, high-latitude vantage point. Illustration by Don Dixon. 2026-04-14T16:49:00.976Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/217-winds-of-centaurus-exoplanet-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/217-winds-of-centaurus-exoplanet-dixon.jpg 217-Winds-Of-Centaurus [217] The Winds of Centaurus - This illustration by Don Dixon depicts a surface view from a hypothetical world orbiting within the Alpha Centauri system. The landscape features rugged, mountainous terrain and a calm sea under a deep blue sky, dominated by massive, vertically developed cloud columns suggestive of intense atmospheric convection. A bright primary star (Alpha Centauri A or B) sits low on the horizon, while two prominent moons or nearby planetary bodies appear in a phase-aligned configuration in the upper right quadrant. 2026-04-14T16:56:26.514Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/210-starship-approaching-exoplanet-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/210-starship-approaching-exoplanet-dixon.jpg 210-Starship [210] Starship – This illustration by Don Dixon depicts an interstellar starship in transit through deep space. The spacecraft features a large, rotating ring structure designed to provide artificial gravity for the crew, trailing a series of spherical fuel containers and a primary propulsion nozzle. In the background, a bright G-type or F-type star illuminates a nearby blue-tinted planet, while the vessel is positioned against a dense field of stars and galactic nebulae, representing the technical concepts of long-duration interstellar flight. Acrylic and gouache, from "Colonies in Space" by T.A. Heppenheimer 2026-04-14T16:57:56.921Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/203-project-daedalus-staging-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/203-project-daedalus-staging-dixon.jpg 203-Daedalus-Staging [203] Daedalus Staging -This illustration by Don Dixon depicts the staging sequence of the Project Daedalus starship, a theoretical interstellar spacecraft designed by the British Interplanetary Society. The image shows the separation of the massive first-stage induction engine from the second-stage vehicle against a background of a glowing nebula and a distant binary star system. The design reflects the proposed use of electron beam-triggered inertial confinement fusion, with the spherical fuel pellet tanks visible on the second-stage structure. Acrylic, 1980. 2026-04-14T16:58:19.982Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/193-neptune-triton-orbital-view-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/193-neptune-triton-orbital-view-dixon.jpg 193-Neptune-Triton.jpg [193] Neptune and Triton - This illustration by Don Dixon depicts the gas giant Neptune and its largest moon, Triton, against a star-filled background. Neptune is shown with prominent atmospheric banding and complex, swirling white cloud formations, likely representing high-altitude methane ice clouds. Triton appears in the lower left as a rocky, cratered body with a mottled surface, reflecting the scientific understanding of its composition prior to the detailed close-ups provided by the Voyager 2 flyby. acrylic and gouache on illustration board. 2026-04-14T16:58:45.128Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/179-red-dwarf-rising-exoplanet-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/179-red-dwarf-rising-exoplanet-dixon.jpg 179-Red-Dwarf-Rising [179] Red Dwarf Rising - a red dwarf star rises behind alien towers, detail of cover of Paul J. McAuley novel 400 Billion Stars © Don Dixon 2026-04-14T16:59:06.557Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/178-sentinels-of-antares-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/178-sentinels-of-antares-dixon.jpg 178-Sentinels-Of-Antares [178] Sentinels Of Antares - pillars of salt encrust the bed of an ocean that boiled away when the planet's sun became a red giant. This illustration by Don Dixon depicts a surface view from a rocky planetary body within the Antares (Alpha Scorpii) system. The horizon is dominated by the primary star, a massive red supergiant showing significant surface granulation and atmospheric limb darkening, while its companion, a blue-white main-sequence star, is visible in the mid-ground. The foreground consists of sharp, dark obsidian-like rock formations and jagged "sentinels" under a dense field of background stars, illustrating the stark environment of a world orbiting a highly evolved stellar primary. acrylic and gouache on board, 1980. 2026-04-14T16:59:22.276Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/177-thraxisp-exoplanet-view-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/177-thraxisp-exoplanet-view-dixon.jpg 177-Thraxisp [177] Thraxisp - a hypothetical habitable satellite of an extrasolar gas giant, developed with Larry Niven, William Hartmann, Joel Hagen, Rick Sternbach, Paul Preuss, and Pat Ortega as part of a world-building project in 1980. It is likely the first depiction of the hot spot "eye" of a tidally locked exoplanet. Acrylic on illustration board. © Don Dixon 2026-04-14T16:59:45.080Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/176-ice-world-binary-star-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/176-ice-world-binary-star-dixon.jpg 176-Ice-World-2 [176] Ice World 2 – A planet far from its red dwarf sun is eternally frozen. This illustration by Don Dixon depicts a nocturnal vista from the surface of a glaciated exoplanet or moon. The foreground consists of jagged, crystalline ice formations overlooking a dark, reflective sea, while the deep blue sky features a prominent binary star system consisting of a red giant and a bright, compact companion. A small, blue-tinted moon is positioned below the primary stars, and a faint, double-arched light phenomenon on the horizon suggests complex atmospheric refraction; acrylic and gouache on board, 1983 2026-04-14T17:02:01.197Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/175-ice-world-exoplanet-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/175-ice-world-exoplanet-dixon.jpg 175-Ice-World-1 [175] Ice World 1 - a frozen planet of a red dwarf star glistens in its deceptively warm glow. This illustration by Don Dixon depicts the cryosphere of a hypothetical exoplanet situated at a significant distance from its host star. The foreground features an icy cavern with detailed stalactites and stalagmites, opening onto a vast, glaciated landscape of rolling ice hills and frozen terrain. A distant, pale sun hangs in a clear dark blue sky, providing weak illumination that reflects off the crystalline surfaces, illustrating the low-insolation conditions of an outer-system "ice world." acrylic and gouache on board, 1982 2026-04-14T17:02:25.069Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/174-marching-forest-exoplanet-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/174-marching-forest-exoplanet-dixon.jpg 174-Marching-Forest [174] Marching Forest - on the imaginary tidally-locked planet Thraxisp, a forest grows in waves toward the source of its energy, the gas giant primary that is perched eternally on the horizon. © Don Dixon 2026-04-14T17:03:00.124Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/171-barnards-star-planet-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/171-barnards-star-planet-dixon.jpg 171-Barnards-Star [171] Barnard's Star - 6 light years away, might serve as a dim orange sun for a family of planets. This illustration by Don Dixon presents a surface view from a hypothetical planet orbiting Barnard's Star, a low-mass red dwarf. The composition features a rugged, rocky terrain in the foreground overlooking a calm body of water, while the sky is dominated by dense, turbulent orange-red clouds illuminated by the star's low-energy output. The scene reflects the scientific speculation of the era regarding the "wobble" of Barnard's Star and the potential for a planetary system within the habitable zone of an M-class main-sequence star. © Don Dixon, featured in Omni Magazine 2026-04-14T17:03:17.957Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/114-ruins-of-antares-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/114-ruins-of-antares-dixon.jpg [114] Ruins Of Antares - a distant world briefly becomes habitable as its star swells into a red giant, then is abandoned This astronomical illustration by Don Dixon depicts a hypothetical exoplanetary landscape looking toward the horizon during sunrise. The scene features a crimson atmosphere with a prominent primary star low on the horizon and a secondary blue-white star higher in the sky, accompanied by a large crescent moon and a transit of a smaller planetary body. The foreground contains the weathered remains of an ancient civilization; acrylic, 1980 2026-04-14T17:03:31.003Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/083-colliding-galaxies-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/083-colliding-galaxies-dixon.jpg 083-Colliding-Galaxies [083] This illustration by Don Dixon depicts a pair of interacting spiral galaxies, reminiscent of the "Mice" (NGC 4676) or "Antennae" (NGC 4038/4039), viewed from a terrestrial planetary surface in the distant future. The gravitational interaction between the two galactic disks has initiated tidal stripping, creating a stellar bridge and elongated tidal tails that dominate the night sky. The foreground contains weathered, fluted monolithic structures on a desert landscape, illuminated by a setting sun, symbolizing the vast timescales of galactic evolution compared to planetary history; acrylic and gouache on illustration board, 1985 © Don Dixon 2026-04-14T17:03:47.079Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/082-interacting-galaxies-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/082-interacting-galaxies-dixon.jpg 082-Interacting-Galaxies [082] This illustration by Don Dixon depicts a pair of interacting spiral galaxies, similar to the Mice Galaxies (NGC 4676), viewed from the surface of a desolate planet. The gravitational interaction between the two galactic cores has triggered tidal stripping, resulting in long tidal tails of stars and gas that bridge the intergalactic gap. The foreground planetary surface features massive, decaying monolithic structures and a small campfire, suggesting a post-civilization or deep-time setting where the galactic collision dominates the night sky.; acrylic and gouache on illustration board, 1976, featured in Universe: A Pictorial Atlas (1981) by Don Dixon, appearing on page 200. 2026-04-14T17:04:02.111Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/081-binary-sun-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/081-binary-sun-dixon.jpg 081-Binary-Sun [081] Binary Sun — Description This artwork presents a vista from a circumbinary planet, featuring two closely paired sun-like stars suspended in a pale, hazy sky. The arid landscape consists of weathered, rocky outcroppings in the foreground, rolling sand dunes in the mid-ground, and distant sedimentary plateaus. The lighting conditions suggest a high-noon phase where the combined luminosity of the binary pair flattens the topography of the desert environment. Illustration by Don Dixon. gouache on illustration board, 1976 © Don Dixon 2026-04-14T17:06:58.232Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/077-interstellar-probe-tau-ceti-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/077-interstellar-probe-tau-ceti-dixon.jpg 077-Interstellar-Probe [077] Interstellar Probe –This illustration by Don Dixon depicts an unmanned interstellar probe arriving at the Tau Ceti system, approximately 12 light-years from Earth. The spacecraft features a modular design with large parabolic high-gain antennas for long-range communication and spherical fuel or instrument tanks, set against the backdrop of a terrestrial-type exoplanet and a cratered moon. The scene visualizes the concept of a deep-space reconnaissance mission, highlighting the structural engineering required for multi-decade transit between stellar systems. ; acylic and gouache on illustration board, 1976 originally published in Universe: A Pictorial Atlas (1981) by Don Dixon, appearing on page 207 2026-04-14T17:08:25.169Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/057-mira-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/057-mira-dixon.jpg 057-Mira [057] Mira –This illustration by Don Dixon presents a view of the Mira (Omicron Ceti) binary system from the interior of a cavern on a nearby airless world. The primary red giant, Mira A, fills a significant portion of the sky with a diffused orange-red glow, illustrating the immense physical scale of an asymptotic giant branch star. Its white dwarf companion, Mira B, appears as a brilliant, multi-pointed light source, its high surface temperature creating a stark visual contrast against the cooler, distended primary and the rugged, silhouetted foreground terrain. ; gouache on illustration board, 1976 © Don Dixon 2026-04-14T17:08:57.662Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/056-pleione-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/056-pleione-dixon.jpg 056-Pleione [056] Pleione – This illustration by Don Dixon depicts the Be star Pleione (28 Tauri), a prominent member of the Pleiades open cluster (M45). The star is shown rotating at near-critical velocity, causing it to become highly oblate and shed material into a circumstellar decretion disk of ionized hydrogen. The scene, viewed from a hypothetical nearby planet, highlights the "shell star" phenomenon where the equatorial disk produces distinct absorption lines in the stellar spectrum. ; acrylic and gouache on illustration board ; 1975 2026-04-14T17:09:29.215Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/055-zeta-aurigae-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/055-zeta-aurigae-dixon.jpg 055-Zeta-Aurigae [055] Zeta Aurigae –This illustration by Don Dixon depicts the Zeta Aurigae (Almaaz) binary system from a hypothetical planetary surface. The scene features a massive, orange-red K-type supergiant primary undergoing atmospheric expansion, while its smaller, hotter B-type main-sequence companion appears as a brilliant blue-white point source. The landscape below shows the dual-illumination effect typical of binary systems, with deep shadows cast by the intense point-source light of the companion contrasting with the broad, diffused glow of the supergiant primary. ; gouache on illustration board ; © Don Dixon, 1975 2026-04-14T17:10:05.660Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/054-beta-lyrae-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/054-beta-lyrae-dixon.jpg 054-Beta-Lyrae [054] Beta Lyrae – This illustration by Don Dixon depicts the Beta Lyrae (Sheliak) binary system from the perspective of a nearby planetary surface. The scene visualizes a contact or semi-detached binary pair where the donor star is distorted into a teardrop shape by tidal forces, funneling a stream of gas toward its more massive companion. This mass transfer creates a prominent, glowing spiral of ionized material that expands into a circum-system disk, reflecting the intense ultraviolet radiation of the primary stars.acrylic and gouache on illustration board ; 1976 © Don Dixon 2026-04-14T17:11:29.667Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/028-beta-lyrae-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/028-beta-lyrae-dixon.jpg 028-Beta-Lyrae [028] Beta Lyrae – This illustration by Don Dixon depicts the Beta Lyrae (Sheliak) system, a semidetached binary star system undergoing intense mass transfer. The donor star, an evolved giant, is distorted into an ellipsoidal shape by the gravity of its more massive companion, shedding material into a prominent, glowing accretion disk. This disk, seen here at a high inclination from a hypothetical nearby moon, obscures the secondary star and produces a distinct toroidal structure of ionized gas that spirally dissipates into the surrounding interstellar medium.Oil on masonite, 1974. artwork © Don Dixon/cosmographica.com 2026-04-14T17:12:12.594Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/027-mira-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/027-mira-dixon.jpg 027-Mira Variable Star [027] Mira (or Omicron Ceti) is a giant variable star that swells and shrinks like a fiery heart, taking 332 days per "beat." Oil on masonite, 1974. artwork © Don Dixon/cosmographica.com 2026-04-14T17:12:42.502Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/021-antares-rising-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/021-antares-rising-dixon.jpg 021-Antares-Rising [021] Antares Rising –As the red giant star Antares swells to engulf its inner planets, once frozen outer worlds thaw, perhaps to serve as temporary havens for life. Oil on Masonite panel, 1973. © Don Dixon 2026-04-14T17:13:17.482Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/008-antares-five-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/008-antares-five-dixon.jpg 008-Antares-Five [008] Antares 5–This illustration by Don Dixon depicts a hypothetical planetary landscape within the Antares (Alpha Scorpii) binary system. A massive red supergiant, Antares A, dominates the horizon, its low-temperature photosphere casting a deep crimson light over a rugged, mountainous terrain and a reflective body of liquid. High in the darkened sky, the companion star Antares B appears as a brilliant blue-white point source, providing a stark color temperature contrast and indicating its status as a hot, B-type main-sequence star. Oil on masonite, 1973. © Don Dixon 2026-04-14T17:14:00.222Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/007-starship-at-09c-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/007-starship-at-09c-dixon.jpg 007-Starship-At-09C [007] Starship at .9 C– This illustration by Don Dixon depicts a starship traveling at a relativistic velocity of approximately 0.9c. The scene visualizes the effects of relativistic aberration and Doppler shifting, where the starfield ahead appears concentrated and blue-shifted toward the direction of travel. Oil on masonite, 1973. artwork © Don Dixon/cosmographica.com 2026-04-14T17:14:46.116Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/480-orbital-view-super-earth-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/480-orbital-view-super-earth-dixon.jpg [480] Orbital View Of Super Earth — This orbital perspective features a "Super-Earth" exoplanet with a complex, cloud-filled atmosphere shown in high relief against the blackness of space. A distant star is partially eclipsed by the planetary limb, creating a vivid atmospheric ring through refraction and scattering, while a secondary, smaller planetary body is seen in transit across the stellar disk. The star exhibits significant activity, including a visible corona and surrounding nebulosity or ionization, emphasizing the high-energy environment of the system. Illustration by Don Dixon for Sky and Telescope Copyright 2011 Don Dixon cosmographica.com 2026-04-14T17:19:04.059Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/482-daedalus-interstellar-flight.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/482-daedalus-interstellar-flight.jpg 482 Deadalus Starship in flight [482] Daedalus Starship Flight — This technical rendering depicts the Project Daedalus starship, a theoretical interstellar spacecraft designed for high-velocity travel via nuclear pulse propulsion. The illustration highlights the massive primary engine bell emitting a brilliant fusion exhaust, followed by the distinctive multi-stage propellant tanks arranged in a clustered configuration. The vessel is shown in deep space, oriented for an interstellar cruise phase, with its secondary communication arrays and science instrument booms extended. Illustration by Don Dixon.. The engine, capable of producing 0.01 gravity acceleration, boosts the ship to 10 percent the speed of light after ten years of thrust. © Don Dixon 2026-04-14T18:54:15.281Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/493-interstellar-ship-diagram-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/493-interstellar-ship-diagram-dixon.jpg starship plan [493] Interstellar Ship Diagram –A starship 10 miles long, capable of reaching the nearest star, Alpha Centauri, is depicted in this illustration created for the July, 2012 issue of Astronomy Magazine. To eliminate the structural stress and high-velocity ablation of interstellar gas and dust during tthe deceleration phase, the ship is designed so no turnaroung maneuver is necessary. The central torus is the "seed" of this vessel, rotating at 1 revolution per minute to create centrifugal gravity for the travelers. 2026-04-14T18:57:52.298Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/502-high-definition-space-telescope-starshade-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/502-high-definition-space-telescope-starshade-dixon.jpg 502-high-definition-space-telescope-starshade [502] High Definition Space Telescope Starshade — This orbital view depicts a segmented-mirror space telescope utilizing a flower-shaped external occulter (starshade) to perform direct imaging of a distant planetary system. The starshade is positioned to suppress the glare of the primary star, revealing multiple orbiting exoplanets, including a terrestrial-type world and a ringed gas giant. The composition highlights the structural detail of the telescope's secondary mirror assembly and sunshield, set against a rich background of the Milky Way's galactic plane. Illustration by Don Dixon.; digital, copyright Don Dixon 2016 2026-04-14T19:09:34.857Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/489-starship-alpha-centauri-arrival.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/489-starship-alpha-centauri-arrival.jpg 489-starship-arrives-alpha-centauri-1b [489] Starship Arrives Alpha Centauri 1b — This orbital composition presents a variation of the Project Daedalus arrival sequence, featuring the second-stage probe close to a terrestrial exoplanet and its large, cratered natural satellite. The spacecraft is depicted with its hexagonal payload modules and high-gain mesh antennas deployed for data transmission as it executes a flyby of the habitable-zone world. The presence of multiple moons and a richly detailed planetary atmosphere emphasizes the complex celestial mechanics of this extrasolar system. . Interior illustration for Astronomy Magazine, July 2012. © Don Dixon 2026-04-14T19:17:58.903Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/490-starship-arrives-alpha-centauri-2.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/490-starship-arrives-alpha-centauri-2.jpg 490-starship-arrives-alpha-centauri-2 A habitat two miles across arrives to orbit a hypothetical earthlike planet orbiting the star Alpha Centauri after a 50-year voyage. The discarded braking stage of the giant starship drifts in the far background. The bright star below the planet is our sun, 4.3 light years away. Variation of a cover illustration for Astronomy Magazine, July 2012. © Don Dixon 2026-04-14T19:21:48.201Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/479-red-dwarf-desert-super-earth-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/479-red-dwarf-desert-super-earth-dixon.jpg 479-Red-Dwarf-Seen-From-Desert-Super-Earth [479] Red Dwarf Seen From Desert Super Earth — A red dwarf star hovers eternally on the horizon of a nearby-orbiting earthlike world. The planet, tidally locked toward its sun, is much older than Earth and its surface has been eroded by fierce winds that howl across the border between eternal day and eternal night. digital, for Sky and Telescope, 2007 2026-04-14T19:24:03.109Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/468-gliese-581c-surface-landscape-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/468-gliese-581c-surface-landscape-dixon.jpg 468-extrasolar-planet-Gliese581c-surface [468] Gliese 581c Surface —The extrasolar planet Gliese 581c is slightly larger than earth and orbits in the habitable zone of its star. The "Twilight Zone" near the boundary between day and night might afford a temperate climate. The sun would be fixed in place near the horizon, however, and plants might tend to grow in waves, struggling for sunlight, with fallow regions in the shadowlands between crests of forest vegetation. Digital artwork © 2007 Don Dixon / cosmographica.com 2026-04-14T19:25:32.603Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/182-sunset-on-nuala-exoplanet-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/182-sunset-on-nuala-exoplanet-dixon.jpg [182] Sunset On Nuala This artwork illustrates a sunset on an extrasolar planetary surface, featuring a distant sun-like star descending toward a vast liquid horizon. The foreground depicts a textured, rocky coastline with evidence of wave action or sedimentation, while the atmosphere exhibits a smooth vertical gradient from deep indigo to warm orange, suggesting Rayleigh scattering within a thick atmosphere. The star's reflection creates a distinct glitter path across the surface of the planetary ocean. Illustration by Don Dixon. detail from cover art for "Fire Sanctuary" 2026-04-24T17:57:35.219Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/491-starship-alpha-centauri-arrival-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/491-starship-alpha-centauri-arrival-dixon.jpg 489-starship-arrives-alpha-centauri-1 [491] Starship Arrives at Alpha Centauri v.1 – A habitat two miles across arrives to orbit a hypothetical earthlike planet orbiting the star Alpha Centauri after a 50-year voyage. The discarded braking stage of the giant starship drifts in the far background. The bright star below the planet is our sun, 4.3 light years away. Interior illustration for Astronomy Magazine, July 2012. 2026-04-24T18:33:17.010Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/501-exoplanet-finder-telescope-starshade-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Exoplanets%20and%20Star%20Travel/slides/501-exoplanet-finder-telescope-starshade-dixon.jpg 501-starshade-exoplanet-telescope-dixon [501] Exoplanet Finder Telescope Starshade — This illustration demonstrates the operation of an external occulter, or starshade, used in conjunction with a space-based observatory to image exoplanets. The flower-shaped starshade is positioned at a significant distance from the telescope, precisely aligned to block the intense light of a target star while allowing the much dimmer light of orbiting planets to reach the observatory's sensors. The scene captures the high-contrast environment of deep space, showing the eclipsed central star surrounded by several revealed planetary bodies. Illustration by Don Dixon. 2026-04-24T18:45:07.941Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/index.html 2026-06-10T18:04:27.860Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/235-son-of-man-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/235-son-of-man-dixon.jpg Son of Man 235-son-of-man-dixon - A surreal science fiction landscape featuring a semi-transparent, translucent humanoid figure looking toward a powerful, vertical beam of light that strikes a circular pad on a rocky desert terrain. In the background, a massive orange star or planet dominates the horizon, overlaid with a swirling, energetic spiral galaxy or nebular vortex. The environment is characterized by craggy rock formations, flowing liquid patterns on the ground, and a deep blue upper atmosphere. cover for Robert Silverberg novel, acrylic and gouache, 1988 2026-06-06T22:12:20.191Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/225-charons-ark-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/225-charons-ark-dixon.jpg 225-charons-ark-dixon - A dramatic, illustrative scene depicting a prehistoric landscape populated by a large sauropod dinosaur amidst lush, dense foliage. In the foreground, two human figures armed with firearms navigate the overgrown terrain. The background features a space elevator that connects to an artificial sun on the planet's moon. cover for novel by Rick Gauger depicts a dinosaur sanctuary on Pluto. Published by Ballantine Books in 1987. acrylic and gouache. 2026-06-06T22:07:11.105Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/227-universe-between-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/227-universe-between-dixon.jpg 227-universe-between-dixon - This surreal, symbolic science fiction illustration features a transparent, levitating three-dimensional cube floating above a churning blue ocean. Each visible facet of the cube reveals a different cosmic or planetary reality: the top face shows a detailed spiral galaxy swirling in deep space, the rear-facing panel depicts a desolate, canyon-carved desert world under an orange sky, and the bottom face glows with a brilliant, molten golden energy from which a single human hand emerges, reaching upward into the center of the geometric volume. In the background, a lush terrestrial coastline with dramatic forested cliffs and misty waterfalls sits beneath a bright blue sky filled with scattered white clouds. cover for novel by Alan E. Nourse, acrylic and gouache, 1986 2026-06-06T21:38:22.421Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/224-antares-dawn-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/224-antares-dawn-dixon.jpg 224-antares-dawn-dixon - This complex astronomical illustration features a busy orbital sector populated by advanced space exploration hardware. In the center foreground, a massive interstellar vessel equipped with a large, spoke-supported centrifugal habitat ring and clusters of spherical fuel tanks or cargo modules angles sharply away from the viewer, revealing a trio of powerful main engine thrusters. In the lower left, two astronauts on a spacewalk maneuver near the surface of a detailed orbital shipyard or larger space station structure. The background is dominated by a heavily cratered brown moon, a distant green gas giant, and the violent, fiery corona of a massive exploding star in deep space. Cover for novel by Michael McCollum, acrylic and gouache, 1986. 2026-06-06T21:23:51.963Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/219-i-robot-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/219-i-robot-dixon.jpg 219-i-robot-dixon - This tender and narrative science fiction illustration depicts an intimate moment between a young child and a benevolent machine. In the lower-left foreground, a sleek, reflective chrome-plated robot sits cross-legged on a patch of dark earth, looking up toward a young, curly-haired girl in a pink dress with white lace trim who stands with her hands clasped in delight. The background features a rustic playground with wooden logs and an earthen sandbox, transitioning into a sweeping green pasture and distant rolling hills beneath a vast, dynamic blue sky filled with towering, bright cumulus clouds. cover for classic Asimov anthology featuring a babysitter guided by the Three Laws of Robotics. acrylic and gouache, 1985 2026-06-06T21:08:29.673Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/223-final-circuit-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/223-final-circuit-dixon.jpg 223-final-circuit-dixon – This dramatic science fiction illustration depicts a massive wheel-shaped space station undergoing a catastrophic structural failure in deep space. One side of the station's large habitat ring is violently exploding into a jagged mass of tearing metal, illuminated by a brilliant orange and red blast radius. A small, wedge-shaped scout ship or escape pod is seen fleeing the disaster near the station's central command spire, while a peaceful blue planet and a turbulent, colorful background nebula provide a stark cosmic backdrop to the destruction. cover for novel by Melinda Snodgrass, acrylic and gouache, 1987. 2026-06-06T21:01:44.948Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/222-into-the-maelstrom-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/222-into-the-maelstrom-dixon.jpg 222-into-the-maelstrom – a ship plunges toward a black hole in this cover for a computer game. This dynamic astronomical illustration depicts a highly detailed scientific exploration vehicle maneuvering through a dense and chaotic asteroid field. In the foreground, the complex spacecraft accelerates forward, its powerful twin engine thrusters projecting a brilliant white and blue exhaust trail into deep space. The background is dominated by a violent celestial maelstrom—a swirling, turbulent accretion disk of vibrant orange and red gas where intense bolts of blue cosmic lightning crackle between drifting fragments of space debris and rocky planetary matter. 2026-06-06T20:15:27.363Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/221-winds-of-change-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/221-winds-of-change-dixon.jpg 221-winds-of-change-dixon - cover for Asimov anthology depicts a bald eagle witnessing the departure of the last humans from earth. This symbolic science fiction illustration features a prominent bald eagle perched on a gnarled, weathered tree branch in the foreground, looking out over a coastal landscape at sunset. In the background, a massive, vertically oriented colonial transport vessel or interstellar spacecraft hovers on a brilliant cushion of white light above a sprawling, futuristic architectural facility situated on the water's edge. The dramatic sky transitions from deep blue at the zenith to vibrant orange near the horizon, where a distant sun sets behind soft, scattered cloud layers beneath a pale crescent moon. Acrylic and Gouache on illustration board, 1985. 2026-06-06T19:53:04.256Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/220-orbiting-callisto-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/220-orbiting-callisto-dixon.jpg 220-orbiting-callisto-dixon - This detailed astronomical illustration depicts a complex, nuclear-thermal or ion-propelled exploration spacecraft traveling in a close parking orbit above the heavily cratered surface of Jupiter's moon Callisto. The spacecraft's intricate engineering features a large main engine nozzle, structural trusses, reaction control thrusters, and a prominent parabolic communications dish directed outward. In the deep space background, the massive banded gas giant Jupiter looms large against a dense field of stars, flanked by another small, distant Galilean moon. cover for "The Early Asimov: Book Two" acrylic and gouache, 1985 2026-06-06T19:43:55.221Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/218-fires-of-nuala-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/218-fires-of-nuala-dixon.jpg 218-fires-of-nuala-dixon – This narrative science fiction illustration depicts a grand, futuristic celebration on an extraterrestrial world. On the left, a massive, brutalist stone structure features arched openings that reveal a crowded ballroom shimmering under cascading golden light installations. In the foreground, a blonde woman in an elegant white gown stands on a terrace holding a glass, overlooking a reflecting pool and a blazing fire pit, while a dramatic pink-to-blue twilight sky is filled with three large, detailed crescent moons rising over distant mountains. cover for novel by Katharine Eliska Kimbriel, acrylic and gouache, 1988 2026-06-06T19:34:09.821Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/216-tides-of-time-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/216-tides-of-time-dixon.jpg 216-Tides-Of-Time 216-tides-of-time-dixon – This narrative science fiction illustration features a high-tech amphibious craft or hydrofoil vessel navigating a rocky, sea-carved inlet. In the lower right foreground, a man and a woman stand on the rocky shore looking out at the vessel, which projects a brilliant orange searchlight beam with a sharp horizontal lens flare. The rugged coastline is marked by tall, heavily weathered ancient columns and distant stone ruins, all situated under a turbulent, swirling cloud deck illuminated by a full moon. cover for John Brunner time travel novel; acrylic and gouache, 1984 2026-06-06T17:46:32.165Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/215-fire-sanctuary-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/215-fire-sanctuary-dixon.jpg 215-fire-sanctuary-dixon –This atmospheric astronomical landscape shows a distant sun setting over an expansive alien ocean, casting a brilliant golden shimmer across the water. On the rugged, rocky coastline in the foreground, a dark robed figure walks along a path split by a glowing blue energy fissure, heading toward a massive natural stone archway built into the craggy cliffs. Topped by a burning beacon and ancient stone pillars, the sanctuary overlooks a sky containing three pale, cratered moons hanging within a soft orange-to-teal gradient twilight. cover for "Fire Sanctuary" by Katharine Kimbriel depicts a radioactive world whose inhabitants' castes are based on genetic integrity, acrylic and gouache, 1986 2026-06-06T17:40:44.705Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/214-tower-of-glass-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/214-tower-of-glass-dixon.jpg 214-tower-of-glass-dixon – cover for Robert Silverberg novel; This symbolic science fiction illustration features an arched, golden-bordered viewport looking out onto a futuristic megastructure and starscape. Dominating the frame are two human hands extended toward each other in a composition echoing Michelangelo's The Creation of Adam, positioned directly in front of a brilliant star radiating six large diffraction spikes. Below, an immense, segmented vertical tower ascends from a sprawling futuristic city of domes, glass spires, and technical facilities built along a coastline under a glowing planetary horizon. acrylic on illustration board, 1989 2026-06-06T17:36:19.392Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/202-Tintagel.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/202-Tintagel.jpg 202-tintagel-dixon- fanciful visualization of the legendary birthplace of King Arthur. This stylized fantasy illustration features a fortified stone castle perched precariously on a rugged, dark cliff overlooking a calm sea. In the sky, an enormous, textured gold moon dominates the center of the composition, hanging low against a striking, uniform red gradient twilight. On a distant headland across the water, two tiny silhouettes of mounted figures on horseback add a sense of Arthurian mythos and scale to the dramatic, starkly lit coastal landscape. Gouache on paper, 1974. 2026-06-06T05:16:03.428Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/108-rhiannon-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/108-rhiannon-dixon.jpg 108-Rhiannon 108-rhiannon-dixon – twin moons approach a doomed alien world ; This evocative science fiction illustration depicts a lone blonde woman in a white gown standing amidst the crumbling stone ruins of a classical, colonnaded structure on a cliffside overlooking a churning ocean. Crashing waves spray against the weathered terrace, framed by massive columns and fractured stone archways. In the pale blue sky above, two cratered moons hang , suggesting an alien world with powerful tidal dynamics. acrylic on board, 1978 2026-06-06T05:10:24.888Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/201-nemesis-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/201-nemesis-dixon.jpg 201-nemesis-dixon- a starship orbits a world of Barnard's star, This high-fidelity astronomical illustration showcases a complex orbital view of an Earth-like planet with a sweeping, detailed atmosphere of swirling cloud layers caught in low-angle sunlight. In the foreground, a highly detailed modular spacecraft with a spherical command hull, trusses, and radiator panels travels in a low parking orbit. On the horizon, a massive, turbulent red dwarf star eclipses a dark companion world, casting an intense orange glow across the limb of the primary planet's atmospheric boundary and highlighting dense background nebulae in deep space. cover for the Isaac Asimov novel, acrylic and gouache, 1989 2026-06-06T03:18:28.388Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/173-quasar-xmas-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/173-quasar-xmas-dixon.jpg 173-Quasar-Xmas 173-quasar-xmas-dixon - This whimsical astronomical illustration depicts a festive Christmas scene enclosed within a transparent life-support dome on a frozen extraterrestrial world. Inside the dome, a decorated Christmas tree with glowing lights stands among evergreen conifers on a patch of illuminated grass, contrasted against the snow-covered, rocky terrain outside. The dark alien sky features two cratered moons and is dominated by a spectacular, active spiral galaxy with a brilliant, energetic quasar radiating prominent diffraction spikes at its core. acrylic and gouache, 1992 2026-06-06T00:44:29.173Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/105b-et-horse-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/105b-et-horse-dixon.jpg 105b-et-horse-dixon – fanciful view of an imaginary world in which giant moons crowd the sky ; This speculative illustration presents a variant of an alien world landscape under a dramatic celestial alignment. In the foreground, a white, horse-like quadruped grazes on a grassy hill, framed by overhanging tree branches and broad leaves. The midground features a winding river spanned by a small futuristic bridge, leading back to a stepped stone fortress on a rocky cliffside and a distant waterfall. The horizon is dominated by massive, cratered planetary bodies rising into a deep blue-to-tan twilight sky. acrylic on board, 1979 2026-06-05T19:56:30.562Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/085-data-mountain-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/085-data-mountain-dixon.jpg 085-data-mountain-dixon – allegory on civilization's efforts to store information , from clay tablets to futuristic crystals ; This conceptual illustration depicts an archaeological cross-section of human data storage, structured like a stratigraphical mountain. The foundational base features ancient clay cuneiform tablets and stone inscriptions buried in desert earth, which transitions upward into layers of papyrus scrolls, bound hardcover books, and magnetic open-reel tapes. The summit transitions into modern digital media—including a colorful compact disc, 3.5-inch floppy disks, and hard drive platters—all crowned by a glowing vintage computer monitor set against a digital cityscape under a deep blue sky. acrylic on board, 1981 2026-06-05T19:25:41.969Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/226-nine-princes-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/226-nine-princes-dixon.jpg 226-nine-princes-dixon – Nine Princes in Amber - cover for classic Roger Zelazny novel ; A grand medieval castle with prominent stone towers stands elevated above a dense green forest, positioned beneath a low layer of red-tinted clouds. A massive, heavily cratered orange moon dominates the background sky, casting a warm glow across the scene. In the foreground, a detailed silver sword with an ornate basket hilt floats horizontally, its blade gleaming with a brilliant starburst reflection, while a small figure on a white horse can be seen on a path near the bottom edge. acrylic and gouache, 1987 2026-06-04T18:00:36.359Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/228-foundation-trilogy-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/228-foundation-trilogy-dixon.jpg 228-foundation-trilogy-dixon - cover for classic Asimov novels about a galactic empire, starships battling over planet Terminus ; acrylic and gouache, 1985 2026-06-04T17:55:20.713Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/229-crucible-of-time-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/229-crucible-of-time-dixon.jpg 229-crucible-of-time-dixon - cover for John Brunner novel about an alien civilization's struggle to survive cosmic catastrophes ; The curved hull of a massive alien generation ship dominates the foreground, revealing multi-level interior ecosystems, structural support beams, and green bio-zones through its large observation windows. In the deep space beyond, two highly detailed planetary bodies float before a violent, expanding supernova. At the heart of the energetic blue and magenta gas tendrils, a brilliant stellar remnant emits a powerful, four-pointed flare. acrylic and gouache, 1983 2026-06-04T17:49:51.370Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/231-rocket-to-limbo-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/231-rocket-to-limbo-dixon.jpg 231-rocket-to-limbo-dixon - A sleek, copper-toned rocket plane banks sharply over a jagged, snow-dusted mountain range, its engines emitting a bright orange glow. Nestled within a deep, blue-shadowed canyon below is a floating alien city comprised of intricate spires, domes, and interconnected towers. The horizon is bathed in a warm orange sunset, where a red dwarf sun rises through scattered cloud banks alongside two smaller crescent moons. cover for Alan E. Nourse novel, 1986, acrylic and gouache. 2026-06-04T00:37:41.440Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/232-antares-passage-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/232-antares-passage-dixon.jpg 232-antares-passage-dixon - cover for novel by Michael McCollum, starships assemble in earth orbit while supernova Antares glares in distance. A large, wheel-shaped space station dominates the foreground in low orbit . The station features a detailed central hub, structural spokes, and a prominent gold communications dish, with a smaller cylindrical spacecraft maneuvering nearby. In the background, a brilliant red giant star with prominent diffraction spikes shines intensely against a dark starfield rich with deep blue and magenta interstellar nebulae, while a cratered moon hangs to the right. acrylic and gouache, 1987 2026-06-03T23:10:36.661Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/233-saphire-road-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/233-saphire-road-dixon.jpg 233-saphire-road-dixon -A complex, multi-tiered futuristic rocket ship launches from a lush green landscape, kicking up vast plumes of smoke and fire as it ascends on landing legs turned thrust deflectors. In the foreground, a straight blue road reflects a brilliant star from the sky, cutting through verdant vegetation toward a distant, sprawling cityscape nestled against low hills. The vibrant blue sky features multiple planetary bodies, including a massive crescent planet with detailed surface features partially obscured by low-altitude clouds, a secondary ringed or cratered moon, and a distant third satellite. cover art for Whynne Whiteford novel, acrylic and gouache, 1986 2026-06-03T21:56:24.033Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/234-space-race-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/234-space-race-dixon.jpg 234-space-race-dixon - two spaceships launch from an asteroid in this video game cover, circa 1984, acrylic and gouache 2026-06-03T21:47:57.296Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/236-assassins-gambit-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/236-assassins-gambit-dixon.jpg 236-assassins-gambit-dixon - A warrior clad in traditional samurai-inspired armor stands in the foreground on a textured, metallic platform, gripping a drawn katana with a gleaming edge. Behind him, an open bay door reveals a lit interior walkway where two figures stand, set against a vast landscape of craggy mountains and low-lying clouds. The sky is dominated by a massive, pale orange star flanked closely by two large crescent moons, with a towering, slender space elevator structure rising from a high-tech facility directly into the upper atmosphere. Cover for novel by Robert Forstchen, Samurai heroes are brought into the future to battle in an alien war, 1988, acrylic and gouache 2026-06-03T21:40:41.820Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/237-400-billion-stars-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/237-400-billion-stars-dixon.jpg 237-400-billion-stars-dixon – An explorer in cold-weather attire stands amidst a rugged, alien shoreline, looking toward a colossal, active star that dominates the horizon. The turbulent surface of the celestial body glows with intense solar flares and convective cells, casting a brilliant orange and golden light across swirling clouds, a liquid channel, and a distant, multi-towered citadel rising from an island. cover for Paul McAuley novel, 1987, acrylic and gouache 2026-06-03T21:36:28.355Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/238-the-alexandrian-ring-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/238-the-alexandrian-ring-dixon.jpg 238-the-alexandrian-ring-dixon – cover for William Forstchen novel, Alexander the Great is snatched into the future to battle on a ringworld ; acrylic and gouache, 1988 2026-06-03T21:31:58.320Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/239-number-of-beast-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/239-number-of-beast-dixon.jpg 239-number-of-beast-dixon – A sweeping speculative landscape shows a yellow brick road winding through a lush green countryside toward a distant, futuristic emerald city shrouded in low mist. Above the valley, a mechanical pterodactyl glides through a bright blue sky, while a small white starship maneuvers in the lower right foreground with firing thrusters. Cover for The Number Of The Beast by Robert A. Heinlein, featuring the Lowellian Mars, Oz, and fast and dangerous machines ; acrylic and gouache, 1988 2026-06-03T19:49:52.118Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/241-starship-port-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/241-starship-port-dixon.jpg 241-starship-port-dixon - Three large, spherical mechanical starships with intricate greebled hulls hover above a deep canyon hangar built into a craggy, cratered asteroid surface. In the lower left, a small utility vehicle maneuvering with a bright exhaust plume approaches the lit entrance of the subterranean port facility. The background features a turbulent, multi-colored nebula shifting from deep blue to bright orange, crackling with energetic white lightning discharges across the starfield. cover for "Procyon's Promise" by Michael McCollum, 1985, acrylic and gouache 2026-06-03T19:43:43.270Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/242-lifeburst-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/242-lifeburst-dixon.jpg 242-lifeburst-dixon - cover for Jack Williamson novel in which a ring of satellites encircles the earth in the far future, acrylic and gouache, 1984 2026-06-03T19:37:01.986Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/243-joust-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/243-joust-dixon.jpg 243-joust-dixon - cover for interactive novel, jousting space ships, acrylic and gouache, 1988 2026-06-03T19:33:29.925Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/244-still-river-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/244-still-river-dixon.jpg 244-still-river-dixon - A surreal science fiction scene depicts a large, translucent planetary sphere resting on a rocky coastline where water flows out from its base into an ocean. Inside the glowing sphere, an astronaut in a spacesuit floats alongside a cylindrical space capsule or probe within a narrow, craggy canyon wall environment. Above the sphere, a brilliant star emits a powerful horizontal and vertical lens flare against a turbulent, deep purple and blue cosmic nebula filled with distant stars. cover for Hal Clement novel about a mission to the core of a giant comet, acrylic and gouache, 1988 2026-06-03T19:31:12.853Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/245-trouble-on-titan-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/245-trouble-on-titan-dixon.jpg 245-trouble-on-titan-dixon - A spaceship transits the Saturnian moon Titan as the sun flares through its dense atmosphere. The entire scene is set against a vibrant, dense starfield and blue nebula background. cover for Alan E. Nourse novel, acrylic and gouache, 1987 2026-06-03T19:27:10.835Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/246-proteus-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/246-proteus-dixon.jpg 246-proteus-dixon - An intricate, realistic space probe flys near an artificial moon and a massive, banded gas giant planet, encircled by a sweeping, golden-brown ring system. A bright sun peeks out from behind the edge of the gas giant, casting a strong flare across the rings and illuminating the detailed structural hardware, solar panels, and long instrument booms of the spacecraft. cover for novel "Site of Proteus", features alien ship in Saturn's rings, acrylic and gouache 1988 2026-06-03T19:21:44.490Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/249-retiefs-war-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/249-retiefs-war-dixon.jpg 249-retiefs-war-dixon - A dramatic science fiction scene centers on a man in a flight suit looking upward from a circular command dais or viewing portal. Through the large circular window structure, an explosive celestial battle unfolds against a fiery red nebular backdrop, contrasted sharply by a massive, swirly blue gas giant planet and its small mechanical moon hovering directly above. The foreground features a detailed spacecraft interior with illuminated console displays, geometric metal decking, and mechanical controls surrounding the observer. cover for "Combat Command" role-playing game based on Keith Laumer novel, acrylic and gouache, 1988 2026-06-03T19:15:07.213Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/250-janisaries-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/250-janisaries-dixon.jpg 250-janisaries-dixon – A classic science fiction scene blends historical and extraterrestrial motifs, featuring a bearded soldier in ornate ancient Roman armor, helmet, and a red cape standing on a rocky path with a spear and short sword. Behind him two disc-shaped flying saucers hover, projecting down vertical beams of bright white light over a dense green forest and an ancient stone wall structure. acrylic and gouache for role-playing "Combat Command" game based on Jerry Pournelle novel. acrylic and gouache, 1988 2026-06-03T19:11:14.329Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/254-battle-cruiser-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/254-battle-cruiser-dixon.jpg 254-battle-cruiser-dixon.– A dramatic science fiction space battle unfolds above a heavily cratered, molten volcanic landscape. In the foreground, the complex mechanical hull and engine structures of a large starship dominate the lower right perspective. In the middle ground, smaller spacecraft engage in combat, marked by bright, energetic explosions bursting along the ridge of the cratered surface, all set against the massive backdrop of an immense, glowing orange star. cover for role playing novel, for Berkley Books, acrylic and gouache, 1987 2026-06-03T19:03:05.905Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/252-lucid-dreaming-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/252-lucid-dreaming-dixon.jpg 252-lucid-dreaming-dixon – A surreal, minimalist composition features a stark rectangular opening set into a vast, deep blue architectural plane. Looking through this portal reveals a dark starfield dense with varying sizes of distant stars. In the upper right corner of the window, a highly detailed, luminous human eye gazes outward from the darkness. book cover. - acrylic and gouache painting by Don Dixon for Jeremy Tarcher. 1985 2026-06-03T18:59:44.216Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/247-awakeners-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/247-awakeners-dixon.jpg 247-awakeners-dixon – The Awakeners - cover for Sheri S. Tepper novel about intelligent avian aliens. An alien landscape depicts a winged, avian-humanoid creature perched atop a rugged, purple-hued rock spire high above a sea of low-lying clouds. acrylic and gouache, 1988 2026-06-03T18:49:33.930Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/562_return-to-mars.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/562_return-to-mars.jpg 2026-06-02T23:59:22.859Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/470-shaman-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/470-shaman-dixon.jpg 470-shaman-dixon – Alien shaman attempts to drive away human colonists in this cover for Paul McAuley's novel "Of the Fall". An alien landscape unfolds under a vibrant blue sky featuring a large, heavily cratered moon and a smaller companion satellite in close conjunction. On a hillside covered in red, grass-like vegetation, an indigenous extraterrestrial figure sits beside an gnarled tree, holding a stylized staff near a small skull resting on the ground. In the distance, a coastal shoreline curves toward a dense city featuring prominent observatory domes, while a plume of smoke rises from a wildfire on the forested slopes nearby. acrylic on illustration board, 1989. © 2007 Don Dixon/cosmographica.com 2026-05-31T18:49:25.649Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/251-Star-Colony.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/251-Star-Colony.jpg starship launches amidst fire and sparks - painting by Don Dixon 2026-05-30T19:43:43.398Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/265-saturnian-city-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/265-saturnian-city-dixon.jpg 265-saturnian-city-dixon – This vertical astronomical illustration depicts futuristic, bubble-enclosed floating cities suspended high within the multi-layered atmosphere of Saturn. The primary habitat in the foreground rests atop a slender, vertical structural shaft, its transparent double-dome shield enclosing a gleaming metropolis illuminated by an internal central spire. Far above the swirling, colorful atmospheric bands of cream, violet, and deep blue clouds, the majestic white rings of the gas giant cut diagonally across a crisp, azure sky where two small, pinpoint moons are visible. cover for Michael McCollum novel about a city floating amidst the clouds of Saturn, acrylic and gouache, 1994 2026-05-30T03:55:26.034Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/266-transition-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/266-transition-dixon.jpg 266-transition-dixon – This surreal science fiction illustration features a large exploratory spacecraft with twin cylindrical fuel tanks and dish antennae firing its thrusters near a blue, cloudy planet. In the deep space background above the planet, a massive, multicolored cosmic rift resembles a psychedelic, flame-like Mandelbrot fractal pattern. The intricate anomaly glows with vibrant shades of orange, yellow, magenta, and electric blue, distorting the surrounding starfield. cover for Vonda McIntyre novel, fractal-like intelligent nebula hovers behind starship and earthlike world, acrylic and gouache, 1990 2026-05-30T03:44:26.437Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/267-shivering-world-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/267-shivering-world-dixon.jpg 267-shivering-world-dixon – Shivering World, cover for Kathy Tyers novel about colonists' efforts to terraform a planet. This dramatic science fiction illustration portrays a highly specialized exploratory aircraft maneuvering low over a frozen, geologically volatile planet. The terrain below is a high-contrast expanse of icy, deep blue craters and fractured glaciers, while active volcanoes on the horizon erupt with massive plumes of dark ash and smoke. A pale, distant sun hangs low in the golden atmosphere, ringed by a faint halo as heavy storm clouds close in from above. Acrylic on illustration board, 1993. 2026-05-29T23:17:36.107Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/268-brain-world-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/268-brain-world-dixon.jpg 268-brain-world-dixon – This surreal astronomical illustration features a giant, organic planet or celestial entity shaped like a human brain, complete with detailed gyri, sulci, and branching red blood vessels across its surface. A brilliant, blue-white star bursts from behind the planetary limb, casting a intense flare and illuminating a thin atmospheric edge. The left half of the composition opens into a vast, dark field of interstellar space populated by faint nebulae and distant star clusters. acrylic and gouache, 1984 2026-05-29T23:08:26.879Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/269-the-gods-themselves-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/269-the-gods-themselves-dixon.jpg 269-the-gods-themselves-dixon – This detailed astronomical illustration depicts a bustling lunar base situated within a rugged, cratered valley on the Moon. To the left, a large, ringed experimental machine or energy collector glows with an intense, starburst center, casting a warm light across the gray lunar regolith. On the right, a multi-level facility with solar panels and a hangar door is built directly into a steep crater wall, where two astronauts stand on a nearby ridge observing a half-illuminated Earth hanging in the deep, star-filled black sky. Cover painting for Asimov novel "The Gods Themselves" about a parallel universe. Acrylic, 1993. © Don Dixon 2026-05-29T22:52:05.123Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/271-flare-star-detail-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/271-flare-star-detail-dixon.jpg 271-flare-star-detail-dixon – This horizontal astronomical illustration provides a detailed view through a sleek, curvilinear spaceship window frame, focusing closely on an extreme stellar environment. A heavily cratered planet hangs in tight orbit against a background dominated by the turbulent surface of a massive flare star. Wispy, iridescent tendrils of solar plasma and energy fields swirl across the canvas, shifting from cool indigo tones on the left to intense, roiling salmon and cream hues on the right. acrylic and gouache, 1992 2026-05-29T22:43:14.336Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/272-flare-star-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/272-flare-star-dixon.jpg 272-flare-star-dixon – This dramatic science fiction illustration portrays a blonde woman in a blue flight jumpsuit gripping a small dagger inside a spacecraft interior. She looks back with an anxious expression as a large, circular observation window reveals a violent stellar event outside. A massive flare star or red dwarf erupts with roiling plasma filaments, casting a fierce orange glow onto a purple, cratered planet orbiting close to the volatile stellar surface. Unused cover of novel Flare Star, girl caught in mutinous uprising is poised to defend herself, flare star in background. acrylic and gouache on Lintex panel, 1992. 2026-05-29T22:01:25.741Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/275-parallel-universe-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/275-parallel-universe-dixon.jpg 275-parallel-universe-dixon – This striking science fiction illustration presents a bisected cosmic view representing two contrasting alternate realities divided down the center by a jagged energy tear. On the left side, a healthy, blue-and-white Earth-like planet orbits under a brilliant yellow sun nestled within a vibrant, star-filled nebula. The right side mirrors the same planetary position, but depicts a hostile parallel universe featuring a scorched, crimson planet with geometric, technology-scarred ruins beneath a dying red giant star and a dark, blood-red void. Unused sketch for cover of Asimov novel "The Gods Themselves", acrylic and gouache, 1990 2026-05-29T21:28:18.554Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/277-moon-ride-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/277-moon-ride-dixon.jpg 277-moon-ride-dixon – concept art for theme park attraction, visitors swoop over lunar landscape in IMAX projection. This science fiction illustration depicts a train of interconnected, spherical transit modules cruising close to the heavily cratered surface of the Moon. The modular transport pods feature transparent viewports showcasing passengers inside as they look out at the ancient, pitted celestial body. In the deep black background, a vibrant blue Earth hangs suspended amid a dense field of distant stars. acrylic and gouache, 1992 2026-05-29T21:10:34.249Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/278-nightfall-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/278-nightfall-dixon.jpg 278-nightfall-dixon – This dramatic astronomical illustration captures a total solar eclipse occurring over an alien planet with a multiple star system. A stone observatory tower stands perched on a rocky, forested ridge to the left, overlooking a vast wilderness landscape under a deepening twilight sky. The eclipsing body is ringed by a brilliant diamond ring effect and a dense, glittering swarm of nearby stars, revealing the stars that are normally hidden by daylight. Cover painting for Asimov novel "Nightfall" about a world with multiple suns on which darkness falls only once every thousand years. Acrylic on illustration board, 1993. 2026-05-29T20:58:27.356Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/280-terraformed-moon-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/280-terraformed-moon-dixon.jpg 280-Terraformed-Moon 280-terraformed-moon-dixon – earth shines above a Moon that advanced technology has rendered habitable, This astronomical illustration presents a view from the surface of a terraformed Moon, looking across a vast, brilliantly lit metropolis built into a lush, green landscape. A prominent central canal cuts through the urban grid, leading toward a brilliant tower or energy beam that shoots vertically into the twilight sky. High above the atmosphere, a detailed, cloud-swirled Earth hangs in the starry sky. acrylic and gouache, 1994; © Don Dixon 2026-05-29T20:48:32.969Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/285-mars-camel-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/285-mars-camel-dixon.jpg 285-mars-camel-dixon – genetically engineered camel adapted for life on a Mars that has been given a barely breathable atmosphere. This evocative science fiction illustration depicts a rider on a camel traversing a rugged, rocky red Martian landscape under a salmon-pink sky. In the midground, a massive transparent geodesic biodome encloses a lush, green oasis city featuring ornate, golden-domed architecture reminiscent of traditional Middle Eastern design. Two crescent moons, representing Phobos and Deimos, hang in the upper atmosphere above the protected colony structure. Cover painting for "Crescent in the Sky" by Donald Moffitt, acrylic and gouache, 1989. 2026-05-29T20:43:15.393Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/286-crashlander-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/286-crashlander-dixon.jpg 286-crashlander-dixon – This dramatic science fiction illustration centers on a pilot inside the transparent bubble canopy of a spacecraft cockpit, observing a cataclysmic cosmic event. In the background, a massive, swirling accretion disk of a supermassive black hole or active galactic nucleus glows intensely with golden, orange, and magenta hues. A powerful relativistic jet of high-energy particles erupts vertically from the core of the spiral structure, illuminating the surrounding interstellar gas clouds and starfields. Cover painting for Larry Niven novel about a journey to the galactic core. acrylic and gouache on Lintex board, 1994. 2026-05-29T19:52:39.396Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/289-green-mars-revised-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/289-green-mars-revised-dixon.jpg 289-green-mars-revised-dixon – This panoramic science fiction illustration showcases a partially terraformed Mars, focusing on a deep canyon system filled with liquid water and burgeoning plant life. A massive natural mesa stands at the center of a wide river bend, its red rock face excavated into a glowing, multi-tiered habitat city. In the distance, a bright sun or meteor streaks across a hazy orange-and-blue atmospheric horizon, while the foreground reveals a misty, conifer-forested ridge under a deep blue sky. Cover art for Kim Stanley Robinson novel Green Mars about effort to terraform Mars. Acrylic and gouache, 1997. 2026-05-29T19:35:15.158Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/288-slowyear-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/288-slowyear-dixon.jpg 288-slowyear-dixon –Stopping at Slowyear. cover for Frederick Pohl novel about colony planet whose environment proves fatal to visitors. This vertical science fiction illustration contrasts high technology with pastoral life on an alien world. In the upper portion of the frame, a sleek, white spacecraft with swept-forward wings cruises through the upper atmosphere of a blue planet, framed by a brilliant, multi-pointed star rising or setting over the planetary limb. Below, a pillar of golden light descends through a break in the clouds, illuminating a verdant mountain valley where a lone shepherd tends to a flock of animals along a winding river. acrylic and gouache, 1992 2026-05-29T19:23:18.583Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/290-greenhouse-ny-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/290-greenhouse-ny-dixon.jpg 290-greenhouse-ny-dixon – A whimsical look at the good side of global warming, as New Yorkers enjoy sun and surf. This speculative illustration depicts a future New York City deeply altered by the greenhouse effect, resulting in a tropical climate and significant sea level rise. Modernized, sleek skyscrapers and automated transit tubes dominate the background, while classic Manhattan architecture, such as the Chrysler Building, is nestled among the newer mega-structures. In the foreground, a sandy beach lines the edge of the elevated ocean water, populated by city residents relaxing under palm trees as small sailboats cruise nearby on the deep blue water. 1981, acrylic and gouache on masonite. 2026-05-29T19:08:33.180Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/565-cyborg-cover-art-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/565-cyborg-cover-art-dixon.jpg 565-cyborg-cover-art-dixon – A stylized, Vitruvian-inspired male figure stands inside a circular portal, split down the center to reveal a human side and an intricate bionic side filled with mechanical circuitry, robotic limbs, and exposed wiring. The circular frame features an iridescent, metallic rainbow sheen, overlooking a view of green treetops at its base. Inside the portal, three distant planets float against a deep space background filled with a swirling pink and purple gas nebula. packaging art for video game, 1981, acrylic and gouache. Collaboration with Chris Dellorco. 2026-05-29T18:50:50.369Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/293-sails-of-tau-ceti-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/293-sails-of-tau-ceti-dixon.jpg 293-sails-of-tau-ceti-dixon – a gigantic light sail casts its shadow on the distant earth in this cover for the Michael McCollum novel. A cylindrical interstellar spacecraft travels through deep space, propelled by a massive, circular light sail constructed of concentric metallic rings. A powerful beam of light from a distant star or laser array strikes the center of the sail, creating a brilliant golden glare and throwing off long, reddish diffraction spikes across the cosmos. Below the transport vessel, the blue, cloud-veined Earth hangs suspended against a dark, dusty nebular background studded with stars. ; acrylic and gouache, 1992 2026-05-28T05:35:03.948Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/295-victorian-mars-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/295-victorian-mars-dixon.jpg 295-victorian-mars-dixon – A soldier in a colonial-style blue uniform and pith helmet fires a ray gun from the mouth of a rocky cavern to fend off predatory, Martian creatures. In the background, a large, metal steampunk-style vessel floats nestled among desert rocks under a vibrant blue-to-purple twilight sky. Two heavily cratered moons hang closely together above the horizon, over a Martian canal, completing the retro-futuristic planetary landscape. The illustration served as the cover art for the role-playing game Space: 1889, released in 1990 by MicroProse and Paragon Software. ; acrylic and gouache on paper 2026-05-28T05:25:10.749Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/296-lunar-cave-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/296-lunar-cave-dixon.jpg 296-lunar-cave-dixon – An astronaut in a bulky spacesuit stands at the entrance of a rocky lunar cavern, stepping onto a rough, debris-strewn surface. The jagged edges of the cave mouth frame a striking vista of deep space, where a large, beautifully detailed Earth hangs suspended against a field of stars. A bright beacon glows intensely at the top of the astronaut's helmet visor, casting a faint light on the immediate surroundings. Cover painting for Mission Asteroid computer game, 1981, acrylic and gouache, © Don Dixon 2026-05-28T05:03:34.489Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/299-space-elevator-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/299-space-elevator-dixon.jpg 299-space-elevator-dixon – Space Elevator made of unimaginably strong materials rises 22,000 miles above the equator, providing easy access to space. A trio of massive, interconnected space elevator conduits extends from a lower orbital vantage point directly down toward the surface of the Earth. A sleek, delta-winged shuttle or climber craft with long aerodynamic extensions ascends along the central track, illuminated by a bright, golden lens flare at a structural junction. In the background, the vibrant blue planet reveals North and South America beneath swirling white cloud formations against a dense starfield. Featured on the cover of "The Fountains of Paradise" by Arthur C. Clarke. © 2007 Don Dixon / cosmographica.com 2026-05-28T01:03:19.113Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/312-eternity-supernova-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/312-eternity-supernova-dixon.jpg a supernova blazes behind a doomed earthlike planet in this cover sketch for Asimov's "The End of Eternity." A heavily cratered lunar surface occupies the foreground under a scene of catastrophic cosmic destruction. Just above the horizon hangs a blue, cloud-covered world resembling Earth, directly positioned in front of a cataclysmic stellar explosion. A massive supernova erupts behind the blue planet, blasting turbulent clouds of brilliant orange, red, and golden gas outward into a dense field of distant stars. acrylic and gouache 1992 2026-05-28T00:23:30.536Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/315-moon-ride-2-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/315-moon-ride-2-dixon.jpg 315-moon-ride-2-dixon – conceptual art for theme park ride into galactic black hole. A modular, multi-segmented transport vehicle cruises past a massive, highly detailed accretion disk swirling into a central black hole or active galactic nucleus. The sprawling cosmic disk transitions from deep crimson on its outer fringes to brilliant orange, white, and electric blue nearer the center. A powerful relativistic jet erupts perpendicularly from the core, blasting bright beams of energetic material and star-like clusters into deep space. acrylic and gouache, 1993 2026-05-28T00:10:11.342Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/317-samsung-storyboard-montage-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/317-samsung-storyboard-montage-dixon.jpg 317-samsung-storyboard-montage-dixon – storyboard for ride through the universe theme park ride in Korea. This image is a twelve-panel storyboard grid arranging dynamic scenes of cosmic phenomena, space exploration, and futuristic environments. Individual panels depict diverse astronomical subjects including a public plaza orrery at dusk, deep space galaxy clusters, a sleek crimson spaceship interior, asteroid belts near a bright star, icy cratered worlds, proto-planetary disks, active galactic nuclei with relativistic jets, colliding spiral galaxies, and dramatic stellar explosions. The collection forms a comprehensive visual narrative of astrophysical events and space science concepts. acrylic and gouache on illustration board, 1993, Don Dixon 2026-05-27T23:59:40.467Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/318-samsung-planetarium-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/318-samsung-planetarium-dixon.jpg 318-samsung-planetarium-dixon – concept art for simulated night sky in theme park attraction. A couple walks down a stone path into a clearing surrounded by dense trees during twilight, where a group of people has gathered around an outdoor architectural feature. At the center of the plaza sits an elaborate, illuminated orrery mechanism depicting the Sun and various ringed planets. Above the tree line, a slender crescent moon hangs gracefully in a soft purple and blue evening sky. acrylic and gouache, 1992 2026-05-27T23:47:17.991Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/319-seti-at-home-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/319-seti-at-home-dixon.jpg 319-seti-at-home-dixon – A single-story suburban house with illuminated windows sits quietly on a green lawn beneath an overwhelmingly detailed night sky dominated by a massive, tilted spiral galaxy showing a brilliant galactic core, intricate dust lanes, and sprawling star-forming regions. Near the upper edge of the galaxy's disk, a satellite galaxy peeks out from behind the Milky Way. This lonely house on the cosmic prairie is allegorical for the search for extraterrestrial intelligence. - digital painting by Don Dixon for Planetary Report. © 2007 Don Dixon / cosmographica.com 2026-05-27T23:38:16.508Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/320-ruins-of-nascosto-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/320-ruins-of-nascosto-dixon.jpg 320-ruins-of-nascosto-dixon – alien ruins on the moon of an earthlike world near the Orion Nebula - painting by Don Dixon for Roger Corman's "Battle Beyond the Stars". Acrylic on illustration board, 1980. 2026-05-27T23:22:28.056Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/294-high-aspen-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/294-high-aspen-dixon.jpg 294-high-aspen-dixon –Skiers wearing protective suits and respiratory gear descend a snow-covered mountain slope on an alien world. In the background, a high-altitude outpost sits nestled into the craggy, snow-dusted peaks under a deep blue sky. A large, banded gas giant planet with a prominent ring system dominates the upper right horizon, accompanied by two small, faint moons. Commission for Powder Magazine. acrylic on board, 1979 2026-05-27T23:19:14.866Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/361-alien-antenna-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/361-alien-antenna-dixon.jpg 361-alien-antenna-dixon – A massive, bio-inspired parabolic communications dish stands atop a craggy mountain ridge above a layer of low-lying fog. The antenna structure features illuminated perimeter lights and organic, flowing support pylons integrated into the dark rock formations, which are flanked by an adjacent glowing dome structure. Overhead, a dramatic, turbulent atmosphere of deep magenta and fiery orange clouds suggests a sunset or sunrise on an alien world. acrylic and gouache painting by Don Dixon, around 1996 2026-05-27T01:29:16.305Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/373-atlantis-race-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/373-atlantis-race-dixon.jpg 373-atlantis-race-dixon _ pre-production rendering for Race for Atlantis, a Las Vegas theme attraction. A driver in classical, mythological attire guides a low-profile chariot boat pulled by a team of four finned, serpentine sea creatures through an urban waterway. The surrounding architecture features monumental stone arches, aqueducts, and ornate towers accented with glowing turquoise windows under a dim, purplish sky. A brilliant, horizontal beam of light cuts through the upper half of the composition, illuminating the classical stonework and splashing water. © 1997 Rhythm and Hues Studios 2026-05-26T23:23:06.079Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/426-ocean-of-night-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/426-ocean-of-night-dixon.jpg 426-ocean-of-night-dixon – A spacecraft approaches a comet that is on a collision course for earth in this cover painting for Gregory Benford's novel "In the Ocean of Night." A detailed view of Earth, centered on the Australian continent, shows a bright comet or asteroid trailing a massive, luminous blue and violet ion tail across the orbital plane. In the foreground, a multi-stage spacecraft fires its main engine, leaving a glowing blue exhaust plume as it appears to track or intercept the celestial interloper. A small, gray moon hangs in the upper left quadrant, completing the cosmic tableau against a dense starfield. Digital painting for Warner Books, 2004. © 2005 by Don Dixon. 2026-05-26T23:03:39.024Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/427-sea-of-suns-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/427-sea-of-suns-dixon.jpg 427-sea-of-suns-dixon – An interstellar ramjet leaves orbit above an earthlike planet of Barnard's star in this digital cover painting for the Greg Benford novel "Across the Sea of Suns." A long, slender spacecraft utilizing a Bussard ramjet skims high above the atmosphere of a vast, red-hued planet. The ship's forward intake glows with collected ambient particles, while its hollow, flared engine scoop structure projects a subtle blue beam outward to ionize the stellar medium. In the background, a turbulent red swarf star rises over the planetary horizon, casting an intense crimson light across the clouds and continents below. Digital painting for Warner Books, 2003. © 2005 by Don Dixon. 2026-05-26T22:54:20.792Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/429-furious-gulf-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/429-furious-gulf-dixon.jpg 429-furious-gulf-dixon – A starship approaches perilously close to the black hole at the Milky Way's core in this digital cover painting for "Furious Gulf" by Greg Benford. An active galactic nucleus features a supermassive black hole surrounded by a highly energetic accretion disk spinning with concentric rings of blue, white, and orange matter. A powerful, luminous relativistic jet erupts vertically from the central singularity, piercing through the surrounding galactic plane. In the mid-ground, a small spacecraft with a bright engine trail maneuvers dangerously close to the swirling vortex of the central disk. 2004 for Warner Books. © 2005 by Don Dixon. 2026-05-26T22:40:45.794Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/428-great-sky-river-mantis-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/428-great-sky-river-mantis-dixon.jpg 428-great-sky-river-mantis-dixon – The Mantis is a mechanical "anthology intelligence" who pursues the last survivors of the human race in Greg Benford's Galactic Center series of novels. A large, biomechanical entity with bulbous, segmented eyes and a blue metallic chassis dominates the foreground of a dark, rocky environment. On a jagged, deep purple crag in the mid-ground, two small human silhouettes stand observing the machine. The background reveals a brilliant, turbulent galactic core rich with golden dust clouds and clusters of bright blue stars.This was an unused cover sketch for Great Sky River. Digital, © 2005 by Don Dixon. 2026-05-26T22:34:57.953Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/429-tides-of-light-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/429-tides-of-light-dixon.jpg 429-tides-of-light-dixon – An astronaut plunges along the local gravity field generated by a cosmic string that an alien race is using to mine a planet's core. Digital cover painting for "Tides of Light" by Greg Benford. 2004 for Warner Books. © 2005 by Don Dixon. 2026-05-26T22:26:36.182Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/430-sunborn-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/430-sunborn-dixon.jpg 430-sunborn-dixon – Pluto's moon Charon and the distant sun shine in the sky above the outermost planet in this cover painting for "The Sunborn" by Gregory Benford. © 2005 by Don Dixon. 2026-05-26T22:19:46.845Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/471-space-elevator-02-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/471-space-elevator-02-dixon.jpg 471-space-elevator-02-dixon – Powerful electromagnetic motors loft cargo carriers from the Island of Sumatra, on the equator, to geosynchronous orbit 22,000 miles up. A massive space elevator terminal base sits nestled within a lush, tropical coastline, extending multiple vertical tether lines high into a soft, cloud-filled sky. In the surrounding turquoise harbor, a large container vessel named "ANNA" is moored near an industrial dock equipped with a gantry crane and cargo modules, while a modern city skyline and a dome-topped coastal palace are visible across the water. The foreground is dominated by vibrant green fern trees and palm foliage, contrasting with the precise engineering of the elevator base and adjacent satellite tracking dishes. Acrylic and gouache, 1983. 2026-05-26T17:35:44.348Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/209-nasa-sutra-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/209-nasa-sutra-dixon.jpg 209-nasa-sutra-dixon – lovers explore the possibilities of zero gravity. Inside a dimly lit spacecraft interior cast in deep blue shadow, two unclothed figures, locked in an intimate embrace, float against the brilliant, curved limb of the Earth below. The planet’s illuminated surface features detailed blue oceans and swirling white cloud formations, contrasting sharply with the dark, heavy folds of cast-off clothing in the left foreground of the cabin. acrylic and gouache on illustration board, 1979 2026-05-26T17:24:45.693Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/427-great-sky-river-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/427-great-sky-river-dixon.jpg 427-great-sky-river-dixon –The chandeliers - huge space habitats - were humanity's last refuge before destruction by the Mech civilization. A massive, multi-ringed orbital space station with a long central tower axis floats in deep space, suffering a bright orange and yellow explosion on its outermost ring. Below the damaged complex, a small crescent planet hangs suspended against a chaotic background dominated by an expansive, fiery spiral galaxy. The galactic core burns with intense orange, gold, and white light, while turbulent dust lanes and brilliant blue star-forming clusters swirl through the outer spiral arms. Cover for "Great Sky River" by Gregory Benford. Digital painting for Warner Books, 2004. © Don Dixon 2005. 2026-05-26T17:14:33.488Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/115-commuter-fantasy-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/115-commuter-fantasy-dixon.jpg 115-Commuter-Fantasy 115-commuter-fantasy-dixon – An elevated, multi-lane concrete highway system lies heavily fractured, overgrown, and crumbling into ruins within a dense, marshy forest landscape. Several glowing, translucent golden spheres float silently above the decaying infrastructure and surrounding wetlands, which reflect the bright light of a low sun on the distant horizon. The aerial perspective highlights nature reclaiming the abandoned transit corridors, creating a stark juxtaposition between past industrial engineering and speculative future phenomena. ; acrylic on board, 1979 2026-05-26T17:06:46.248Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/287-red-mars-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/287-red-mars-dixon.jpg 287 - Red Mars 287-red-mars-dixon – Red Mars - A giant spacecraft assembled from discarded Shuttle fuel tanks orbits over Mars, having transported the first colonists to the Red Planet. This cover painting for Kim Stanley Robinson's award-winning novel about the terraforming of Mars is part of the Planetary Society's digital "Martian Library" on the Phoenix spacecraft, which landed in the arctic region of Mars on May 25, 2008. acrylic and gouache on illustration board, 15.5x19.5 inches, 1992; © Don Dixon 2026-05-26T17:02:18.105Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/019-space-shuttle-2001-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/019-space-shuttle-2001-dixon.jpg 019-Space-Shuttle-2001 019-space-shuttle-2001-dixon – in an homage to Kubrick's 2001, a sleek, silver spacecraft with delta wings maneuvers in low Earth orbit. The vehicle is angled toward a double-ringed, rotating wheel space station visible in the mid-ground against the blackness of space. A large portion of the Earth’s limb occupies the left side of the frame, showing textured, bright blue oceans and complex white cloud patterns. Oil on canvas panel, 1970. 2026-05-26T16:59:49.072Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/289-green-mars-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/289-green-mars-dixon.jpg Green Mars Cover Painting 289-green-mars-dixon – cover painting for book two of the science fiction trilogy by Kim Stanley Robinson. I began the painting in 1993 sitting outside Biosphere II in Arizona with “Bionauts” watching through the glass. There are hints of the Biosphere architecture in the painting. A vast Martian canyon landscape undergoes terraforming, featuring a winding river reflecting a distant, low-slung sun or atmospheric laser line, with alpine pine trees taking root along the rugged rocky cliffs and cold foreground slopes. A central vertical montage strip divides the composition, displaying six distinct science fiction scenes from top to bottom: a complex orbital space station, a high-altitude research glider soaring above an orange Martian atmosphere, an erupting volcano venting gases, an industrial terraforming plant with a cooling tower near biodomes, a heavy mechanical walking harvester or crane chassis, and a spacesuited explorer surveying a rugged, pinkish alien hillside. The wide right-hand side reveals an intricate habitat structure built directly into a massive cavern opening within a sheer canyon wall. acrylic on illustration board, overall size 17x21.5 inches, picture area 16x20.5 inches. 1995 2026-05-26T05:04:00.088Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/289b-blue-mars-cover-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/289b-blue-mars-cover-dixon.jpg Blue Mars 289b-blue-mars-cover-dixon – Blue Mars, cover painting for the third book in Kim Stanley Robinson's trilogy about the terraforming of Mars, shows the final stages of the transformation of Mars and the inundation of earth. acrylic and gouache on illustration board, 16.5x22.5 inches, 1995; copyright Don Dixon 2026-05-26T00:56:37.899Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/374-atlantis-aerial-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/374-atlantis-aerial-dixon.jpg 374-Atlantis-Aerial 374-atlantis-aerial-dixon – A dramatic high-angle aerial view reveals a vast legendary city built in concentric rings of land and water channels, inspired by classical accounts of Atlantis. A central citadel topped with multi-tiered golden domes rises from the highest point, illuminated on one side by a brilliant, low-slung sunset that casts warm golden and orange light across the western half of the metropolis. The eastern districts fall into deep blue and violet shadows, creating a sharp tonal contrast across the elaborate network of stone bridges, aqueducts, colonnades, and classical temples that span the waterways. Pre-production art for Race for Atlantis, a Las Vegas theme attraction ; acrylic on board by Don Dixon ; © 1997 Rhythm and Hues Studio 2026-05-26T00:36:03.049Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/317-Samsung-Storyboard.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/317-Samsung-Storyboard.jpg 317-Samsung-Storyboard storyboard for ride through the universe theme park ride in Korea 2013-04-07T12:35:32.000Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/208-Last-Launch.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/208-Last-Launch.jpg 208-Last-Launch Last Launch - detail of Asimov cover "Winds of Change", bald eagle witnesses departure of starship © Don Dixon 2013-04-07T10:57:44.000Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/230-encounter-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Science%20Fiction%20and%20Futurism/slides/230-encounter-dixon.jpg 230-encounter-dixon – A UFO hovers low over a rugged, snow-dusted alpine valley dense with evergreen trees. The vessel illuminates a rocky foreground ravine by projecting a brilliant, highly focused beam of white light directly onto a single human figure. In the background, a dramatic twilight sky is filled with high-altitude, magenta-tinted clouds, a crisp crescent moon, and bright stars above a distant mountain range. Cover for Whynne Whiteford novel Breathing Space Only, 1986, acrylic and gouache 2026-06-08T00:27:34.526Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/index.html 2026-05-16T00:33:19.403Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Solar%20System%20Diagrams/index.html 2026-06-07T18:43:32.104Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Solar%20System%20Diagrams/slides/313-solar-system-to-scale-2-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Solar%20System%20Diagrams/slides/313-solar-system-to-scale-2-dixon.jpg 313-Solar-System-to-scale-2 313-solar-system-to-scale-2-dixon – This panoramic astronomical painting presents a scale comparison of the solar system, displaying the eight major planets and several prominent moons arranged horizontally from left to right next to the blazing edge of the Sun. Moving outward from the fiery solar limb, the terrestrial planets—Mercury, Venus, Earth with its Moon, and Mars—precede the immense spheres of Jupiter and Saturn. On the far right, the ice giants Uranus and Neptune complete the sequence, all set against a rich cosmic background filled with deep purple nebulae and distant stars. relative sizes are correct, but not the distances between the planets; acrylic and gouache, © Don Dixon 2026-05-16T20:00:52.592Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Solar%20System%20Diagrams/slides/314-solar-system-to-scale-2-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Solar%20System%20Diagrams/slides/314-solar-system-to-scale-2-dixon.jpg 314-Solar-Sysystem-to-scale-2.jpg 314-solar-system-to-scale-2-dixon – This astronomical painting illustrates the relative scale of the eight major planets, shown in alignment above the curved, glowing limb of the Sun. Jupiter and Saturn dominate the center with detailed gaseous atmospheric bands and prominent ring structures, while the smaller spheres of Uranus and Neptune trace a path to the upper right. The rocky inner planets—Mercury, Venus, Earth, and Mars—are depicted as a smaller diagonal sequence extending toward the lower left, all set against a rich, colorful background nebula interspersed with deep purple gas clouds and a field of stars. 2026-05-16T19:55:31.866Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Solar%20System%20Diagrams/slides/366-evolving-orbits-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Solar%20System%20Diagrams/slides/366-evolving-orbits-dixon.jpg 366-Evolving-Orbits 366-evolving-orbits-dixon – This two-part technical diagram illustrates the dynamic evolution of planetary and planetesimal orbits within a stellar system, contrasting an early configuration with a later, rearranged state. The upper panel shows an initial stage where thin, concentric, color-coded rings (orange, green, light blue, and white) encircle a central star on a single, relatively flat plane. The lower panel depicts a post-migration phase where the orbits have destabilized and evolved, showcasing an expanded, highly elongated, and eccentric outer white orbit that stretches far into the foreground, while the inner planetary tracks remain relatively contained. Gravitational perturbations may have caused the orbit of Pluto to become more elliptical. digital, 2004, copyright Don Dixon 2026-05-16T19:52:04.345Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Solar%20System%20Diagrams/slides/451-pluto-solar-system-diagram-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Solar%20System%20Diagrams/slides/451-pluto-solar-system-diagram-dixon.jpg 451 Solar System with Kuiper Objects 451-pluto-solar-system-diagram-dixon – This technical astronomical diagram illustrates the structural layout of the solar system from an oblique perspective, emphasizing the relationship between the planets, the asteroid belt, and the expansive Kuiper Belt. The inner planets orbit closely around the bright central Sun, bordered by a dense, white-flecked main asteroid belt and two Trojan asteroid clouds. The major gas giants trace clean white paths across a vast, dark disc, while a highly eccentric, inclined orbital path cuts steeply through the outer system, demonstrating the orbital mechanics characteristic of Pluto and other resonant trans-Neptunian objects navigating the hazy, brown-tinted debris field of the Kuiper Belt. Digital, for Scientific American; Artwork © 2007 Don Dixon / cosmographica.com 2026-05-16T19:48:06.741Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Solar%20System%20Diagrams/slides/485-solar-system-diagram-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Solar%20System%20Diagrams/slides/485-solar-system-diagram-dixon.jpg 485-solar-system-diagram 485-solar-system-diagram-dixon – This wide aspect ratio digital infographic illustrates the layout of the solar system, showcasing the planets along their respective white orbital paths relative to the Sun on the far left. The four inner terrestrial planets are clustered closely to the star, followed by the main asteroid belt rendered as concentric gray dust rings. The outer gas giants—Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—stretch across the right half of the canvas, bounded by a textured blue expanse at the top representing the Kuiper Belt.The relative distances of the planets are NOT to scale. Diagram created for Scientific American in 2006. 2026-05-16T19:42:38.150Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Solar%20System%20Diagrams/slides/499-rosetta-new-horizons-flight-paths-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Solar%20System%20Diagrams/slides/499-rosetta-new-horizons-flight-paths-dixon.jpg Spacecraft Probe the Kuiper Belt 499 - The Rosetta and New Horizons spacecraft explore different realms of the Kuiper Belt. Rosetta’s complex trajectory to rendezvous with Comet 67P/Churyumov–Gerasimenko is shown in brown. The orbit of Comet 67P is green. New Horizon’s path to Pluto is red. The main Kuiper Belt is in blue. A few Kuiper Belt Objects are shown near the camera. Digital painting by Don Dixon for Scientific American, November 2014. 2026-05-16T19:37:57.705Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Solar%20System%20Diagrams/slides/505-solar-system-planets-to-scale-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Solar%20System%20Diagrams/slides/505-solar-system-planets-to-scale-dixon.jpg 505-solar-system-planets-to-scale 505-solar-system-planets-to-scale-dixon – This technical digital diagram illustrates the relative sizes of the eight major planets of the solar system, arranged in order of distance from left to right against the vast curve of the Sun's limb. The gas giants Neptune, Uranus, Saturn, and Jupiter dominate the left side of the frame with realistic atmospheric band detailing, while the smaller rocky planets Mars, Earth, Venus, and Mercury are clustered on the right near a dark solar sunspot group. The composition emphasizes the stark scale disparity between the terrestrial planets, the Jovian giants, and the immense solar diameter. Relative sizes are correct. Distances have been compressed. digital, 2016; © Don Dixon / cosmographica.com 2026-05-16T19:34:32.282Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Sun/index.html 2026-06-11T00:53:16.379Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Sun/slides/462-solar-flare-diagram-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Sun/slides/462-solar-flare-diagram-dixon.jpg 462-solar-flare-diagram-dixon– This technical diagram illustrates the physics of magnetic reconnection driving a solar flare. The top graphic details the Sweet-Parker mechanism, where opposing magnetic field lines (purple) are pushed together by plasma flows, forming a central current sheet that triggers reconnection and shoots plasma outward along newly configured field lines (blue). Below, a two-stage sequential graphic demonstrates how shearing magnetic loops anchored in the solar photosphere twist, pinch together, and sever to release massive amounts of energy and plasma into the corona.; for Scientific American 2026-05-16T01:19:43.068Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Sun/slides/461-solar-flare-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Sun/slides/461-solar-flare-dixon.jpg 461-solar-flare 461-solar-flare-dixon – This dramatic illustration captures a powerful solar flare erupting from the active surface of the Sun. A blindingly bright point of energy releases a brilliant arc of superheated plasma that arches into the dark solar corona, driven by the snapping and reconnecting of powerful magnetic field lines. The solar limb curves below, showcasing the textured, bubbling convection cells of the photosphere bathed in a fiery palette of reds, oranges, and yellows, contrasted against deep blue coronal features above. Digital Artwork © 2007 Don Dixon / cosmographica.com 2026-05-16T01:22:17.973Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Sun/slides/460-solar-flare-diagram-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Sun/slides/460-solar-flare-diagram-dixon.jpg 460-solar-flare-diagram01 460-solar-flare-diagram-dixon – This technical diagram maps particle acceleration along magnetic field lines during a solar flare event. On the left, a deep red extreme ultraviolet image of the solar limb shows loops anchored at high-energy footprints, highlighted by bright orange glow and double-headed white arrows indicating particle deposition. Green lines trace the overarching magnetic field structure, while a callout box isolates a single field line to detail the helical path (yellow spiral) of an accelerated electron or ion spinning around a central guide field line (green) via cyclotron motion ; digital, 2006, for Scientific American 2026-05-16T01:25:02.616Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Sun/slides/383-sun-anatomy-cutaway-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Sun/slides/383-sun-anatomy-cutaway-dixon.jpg 383-Sun-anatomy-Cutaway 383-sun-anatomy-cutaway-dixon– This detailed cross-sectional illustration reveals the internal structure and dynamic atmosphere of the Sun. The cutaway exposes the core as a brilliant, high-pressure central source where nuclear fusion occurs, surrounded by the radiative zone and the outer convective zone marked by churning plasma columns. The textured green-gold photosphere shows sunspots and a prominent solar flare on the limb, while the entire star is enveloped by an expansive, streaming solar wind and corona composed of intricate magnetic field lines reaching out into deep space. - digital painting © by Don Dixon for Scientific American 2026-05-16T01:28:31.065Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Sun/slides/190-sunspots-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Sun/slides/190-sunspots-dixon.jpg 190-Sunspots 190-sunspots – This high-resolution illustration provides a detailed view of an active sunspot group embedded within the solar photosphere. The painting accurately depicts the dark, cooler central region of the main sunspot known as the umbra, surrounded by the lighter, filamentary structure of the penumbra where magnetic field lines emerge more obliquely. The surrounding solar surface is rendered with a dense, mottled pattern representing the bubbling convection cells of solar granulation. 2026-05-16T01:31:03.463Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Sun/slides/181-solar-corona-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Sun/slides/181-solar-corona-dixon.jpg 181-Solar-Corona 181-solar-corona-dixon –This dramatic illustration depicts the Sun's outer atmosphere, or corona, as it appears during a total solar eclipse. The pitch-black silhouette of the Moon perfectly covers the solar disk, revealing the delicate, pearly-white coronal streamers and magnetic field structures radiating outward into dark space. Subtle blue and pale golden highlights catch the ethereal glow of superheated plasma shaped by solar magnetic activity. 2026-05-16T01:33:20.000Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mercury/index.html 2026-06-11T00:53:37.506Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mercury/slides/341-mercury-corona-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mercury/slides/341-mercury-corona-dixon.jpg 342 - Sunrise on Mercury 341-mercury-corona-dixon – Sunrise on Mercury - wisps of the solar corona herald sunrise on Mercury - acrylic and gouache painting on illustration board, 1998 by Don Dixon 2026-05-16T02:56:23.888Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mercury/slides/337-mercury-caloris-basin-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mercury/slides/337-mercury-caloris-basin-dixon.jpg Sunrise over the Caloris Basin on Mercury 337-mercury-caloris-basin-dixon – This painting offers a dramatic low-orbit view of Mercury, focusing on the massive Caloris Basin under a brilliant, oversized Sun. The immense impact crater dominates the middle distance, its ringed walls and fractured floor casting soft shadows across the sun-baked, ancient terrain. cover November, 1997, Scientific American - acrylic and gouache painting © by Don Dixon 2026-05-16T03:00:01.166Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mercury/slides/56-sun-over-mercury-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mercury/slides/56-sun-over-mercury-dixon.jpg 256-Sun-Over-Mercury 56-sun-over-mercury-dixon – This striking landscape painting depicts a low sunrise from the rugged, airless surface of Mercury. A massive, brilliant Sun hangs just over the horizon, casting a sharp, low-angle light that accentuates a complex terrain of ancient impact craters, steep ridges, and heavily textured regolith. The intense solar glare is surrounded by an expansive corona of streaming blue and white field lines extending into a stark, black sky. 2026-05-16T03:02:57.527Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mercury/slides/037-mercury-flyby-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mercury/slides/037-mercury-flyby-dixon.jpg 037-Mercury-Flyby 037-mercury-flyby-dixon –This historic illustration depicts the Mariner 10 spacecraft executing a close flyby over the heavily cratered surface of Mercury. The robotic probe, complete with its characteristic solar panels, high-gain dish antenna, and elongated magnetometer boom, glides above an ancient landscape pockmarked by overlapping impact basins. In the distance, a large Sun rises over the curved planetary horizon, casting long shadows across the airless, rocky terrain and illuminating the scene in warm, dust-brown tones. 2026-05-16T03:06:48.315Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mercury/slides/032-sunrise-on-mercury-1-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mercury/slides/032-sunrise-on-mercury-1-dixon.jpg 032-Sunrise-On-Mercury-1 032-sunrise-on-mercury-1-dixon –This dramatic painting captures a striking sunrise as seen from a rugged canyon on the planet Mercury. Framed by towering, dark rock formations and jagged cliffs, a brilliant, intense Sun rises into a pitch-black, star-filled sky, Oil on Masonite, 1974. artwork © Don Dixon/cosmographica.com 2026-05-16T03:09:47.594Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Venus/index.html 2026-06-11T00:53:58.205Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Venus/slides/038-crescent-venus-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Venus/slides/038-crescent-venus-dixon.jpg 038-Crescent-Venus Mariner 10 nears Venus. Gouache on illustration board, 1975. artwork © Don Dixon/cosmographica.com 2014-12-22T20:18:12.000Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Venus/slides/189-venus-surface-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Venus/slides/189-venus-surface-dixon.jpg 189-Venus-Surface 189-venus-surface-dixon – This dramatic painting depicts the hellish and volatile environment on the surface of Venus. A massive active volcano erupts on the rugged horizon, spewing a thick, billowing column of dark ash into a heavy, oppressive atmosphere choked with dense sulfuric acid clouds. Lightning bolts crackle through the murky sky, casting an eerie glow over a hyper-heated, fractured landscape of volcanic rock, jagged slab-like formations, and ancient lava flows rendered in toxic shades of amber, sulfur-yellow, and deep brown. acrylic and gouache on illustration board, 1975 2026-05-16T04:34:15.089Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Venus/slides/124-venus-surface-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Venus/slides/124-venus-surface-dixon.jpg 124-Venus-Surface 124-venus-surface-dixon – Venus' lava strewn surface bakes at 900 degrees F ; acrylic and goauche on paper, 1980 2026-05-16T04:36:53.818Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Venus/slides/100-venus-landing-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Venus/slides/100-venus-landing-dixon.jpg 100-Venus-Landing 100-venus-landing-dixon – This dramatic space art painting visualizes the Pioneer-Venus spacecraft resting on the hostile surface of Venus after its historic descent. The lander, shaped with its signature circular aerodynamic braking shield and spherical pressure hull, sits amidst a desolate field of dark, jagged volcanic boulders and fine orange regolith. The alien landscape is illuminated by an eerie, diffused light filtering through the planet's crushingly dense, sulfur-choked atmosphere, casting soft shadows across the rolling volcanic plains and distant craggy hills.; acrylic on board, 1978 2026-05-16T04:40:15.030Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Venus/slides/098-Venusian-Caldera.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Venus/slides/098-Venusian-Caldera.jpg 098-Venusian-Caldera 098-venusian-caldera-dixon – This high-angle geological painting depicts a massive volcanic caldera complex on the surface of Venus. Columns of pale, glowing gas or steam vent from dynamic fissures within the concentric, terraced crater rings, highlighting active tectonic processes. The rugged, basaltic mountain flanks drop away into deep shadow beneath an oppressive, intensely thick orange-red atmosphere that blankets the volatile planetary landscape.; vinyl on animation cel, 1978 2026-05-16T04:43:50.870Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Venus/slides/097-inferno-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Venus/slides/097-inferno-dixon.jpg 097-Inferno 097-inferno-dixon –This dramatic landscape painting portrays the oppressive, superheated environment on the surface of Venus, aptly titled "Inferno." In the foreground, heavily textured, smooth-topped boulders and volcanic rocks sit under the extreme atmospheric pressure of the inner planet. The sky above is filled with thick, turbulent clouds of sulfuric acid, which split dramatically to reveal a heavily distorted, flattened Sun hanging low over a hazy, orange-saturated horizon. (dated concept) ; vinyl on animation cel, 1978 2026-05-16T04:46:26.517Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Venus/slides/096-super-refraction-venus-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Venus/slides/096-super-refraction-venus-dixon.jpg 096-Super-refraction-venus 096-super-refraction-venus-dixon – Super-refraction on Venus - Prior to the landing of Russian Venera probes, some astronomers suggested Venus' dense atmosphere might refract light so strongly that the horizon would seem to curve up (dated concept) ; acrylic and gouache on board, 1978 2026-05-16T16:45:19.080Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Venus/slides/095-venus-atmosphere-entry-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Venus/slides/095-venus-atmosphere-entry-dixon.jpg 095-Venus-Atmosphere-Entry 095-venus-atmosphere-entry-dixon – The illustration depicts a planetary probe undergoing high-velocity atmospheric entry into the upper atmosphere of Venus. A brilliant incandescent plasma sheath envelopes the descending spacecraft, trailing a narrow, glowing ablation wake against the dark backdrop of space. Below, the dense, continuous sulfuric acid cloud deck of Venus stretches toward the horizon, illuminated by the distant sun with a distinct atmospheric haze layer separating the cloud tops from the vacuum above. ; acrylic on board, 1977 2026-05-16T16:50:48.534Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Venus/slides/094-venus-multiprobe-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Venus/slides/094-venus-multiprobe-dixon.jpg 094-Venus-Multiprobe 094-venus-multiprobe-dixon – The illustration details the deployment phase of the Pioneer Venus Multiprobe mission as it approaches its target destination. The cylindrical main bus, covered in blue solar panels, has released its four atmospheric entry probes: the large probe and three smaller identical probes, all configured with conical heat shields. In the background, the featureless, pale-yellow globe of Venus looms large against the blackness of interplanetary space, capturing the tense moments before atmospheric insertion.; acrylic on board, 1977 2026-05-16T16:53:51.366Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Venus/slides/093-pioneer-venus-orbiter-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Venus/slides/093-pioneer-venus-orbiter-dixon.jpg 093-pioneer-venus-orbiter-dixon – the first probe to orbit Venus and map its hidden surface by radar ; acrylic on board, 1978 2026-05-16T16:56:55.287Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/index.html 2026-06-11T00:54:16.416Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/494-bathyscaphe-trieste-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/494-bathyscaphe-trieste-dixon.jpg 494-bathyscaphe-trieste 494-bathyscaphe-trieste-dixon –The Trieste is a Swiss-designed, Italian-built deep-diving research bathyscaphe ("deep boat") with a crew of two, which reached a record maximum depth of about 10,911 metres (35,797 ft), in the deepest known part of the Earth's oceans, the Challenger Deep, in the Mariana Trench near Guam, on 23 January 1960, crewed by Jacques Piccard (son of the boat's designer Auguste Piccard) and U.S. Navy Lieutenant Don Walsh achieving the goal of Project Nekton.Trieste was the first manned vessel to have reached the bottom of Challenger Deep. The vessel is on display in the parking lot of the U.S. Naval National Undersea Museum, right next to the Naval Undersea Warfare School in Keyport, Washington. 2026-05-20T01:46:18.685Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/493-ocean-layers-diagram-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/493-ocean-layers-diagram-dixon.jpg Ocean Layers 493-ocean-layers-diagram-dixon – A detailed cross-sectional infographic illustrates the ecological zones and marine life spanning different vertical layers of the ocean, moving from a sunlit coastline down to an abyssal trench. The upper pelagic zones depict marine megafauna including sharks, dolphins, a sperm whale, and a giant squid, transitioning into darker gradients where an anglerfish represents the bathypelagic depths. The deep seafloor features benthic organisms like crabs and starfish adjacent to an active hydrothermal vent plume erupting within a steep oceanic trench. 2026-05-20T01:50:28.869Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/483-planet-formation-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/483-planet-formation-dixon.jpg 483-Planet-formation 483-planet-formation-dixon –A violent scenes of early solar system evolution depicts a proto-planet's molten, cratered surface dominating the foreground, dotted with glowing patches of active lava. In the midground, a massive asteroid collision erupts in a shower of fragments and bright kinetic energy. In the background, a young, bright star is surrounded by a sprawling accretion disk of dust and gas, while massive streams of gas and energetic flare columns erupt vertically into a chaotic nebula. Digital painting, cover comp for Scientific American, 2008; © Don Dixon / cosmographica.com 2026-05-20T03:08:11.436Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/478-hadean-earth-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/478-hadean-earth-dixon.jpg 478-Hadean-Earth 478-hadean-earth-dixon –A violent, high-energy planetesimal impact breaches the thin, primordial crust of the Hadean Earth. The colossal kinetic collision triggers a massive, blinding conical eruption of superheated plasma, molten ejecta, and shockwaves that pierce the dense, glowing atmospheric haze. Below the impact site, a vast, hellish expanse of fractured volcanic rock is interlaced with extensive, bright orange river networks and lakes of churning, liquid lava under a darkening sky. © 2010 Don Dixon/cosmographica.com 2026-05-20T03:11:09.735Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/475-end-of-cosmology-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/475-end-of-cosmology-dixon.jpg 475-end-of-cosmology 475-end-of-cosmology-dixon – A panoramic, four-panel chronological progression visualizes the ultimate structural evolution and decay of the universe over trillions of years. The first panel shows a vibrant ocean shoreline under a brilliant night sky dense with galactic stars. The second panel transitions to a desiccated, craggy alien landscape beneath a massive colliding galactic system rich with dust lanes. The third panel depicts an undulating, dark liquid expanse under a single, fading elliptical galaxy of aging stars. In the final panel the last stars wink out and the frozen cinder that is earth's surface is blasted smooth by a trillion years of micrometeorite bombardments. Only a few stars relieve the eternal night. created for Scientific American. 2026-05-20T05:11:20.987Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/474-winter-solstice-diagram-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/474-winter-solstice-diagram-dixon.jpg 474-winter-solstice-diagram 474-winter-solstice-diagram-dixon – The beginning of winter marks the time when earth, in its orbit, is oriented so that the northern hemisphere is maximally tilted away from the sun. This results in a shorter period of daylight and lower angle of incidence of sunlight; days are cool and short. Around the solstice, the sun does not rise as seen from any point north of the Arctic Circle. The Southern Hemisphere begins its summer at this time. Digital diagram © 2007 by Don Dixon. 2026-05-20T05:14:53.261Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/457-moon-capture-theory-diagram-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/457-moon-capture-theory-diagram-dixon.jpg 457-moon-capture-theory-diagram 457-moon-capture-theory-diagram-dixon –Infographic shows processes for planet to aquire a satellite. A developing planet's halo of gas expands to capture a passing body (top). Its gravitational sphere of influence expands as well (middle). Interactions between passing asteroids may cause one to fall into orbit (bottom). Artwork for Scientific American, © 2007 Don Dixon / cosmographica.com 2026-05-20T05:20:48.395Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/442-cool-early-earth-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/442-cool-early-earth-dixon.jpg 442-Cool-Early-Earth 442-cool-early-earth-dixon –A panoramic aerial vista illustrates the "Cool Early Earth" hypothesis, capturing the transition from a molten world to a planet with liquid water. On the left, a massive active volcanic complex spews thick, dark ash columns and glowing lava flows down rugged slopes toward a primordial shoreline. To the right, a vast, white blanket of low-lying clouds and turbulent weather fronts breaks to reveal an expansive, early blue ocean under a massive, detailed moon hanging close in the sky, while distant lightning strikes illuminate the atmospheric haze. ; digital, 2006, for Scientific American 2026-05-20T05:25:39.082Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/423-methane-earth-pan-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/423-methane-earth-pan-dixon.jpg 423-Methane-Earth-Pan 423-methane-earth-pan-dixon - A sweeping, cinematic panorama visualizes the ancient, hydrocarbon-rich atmosphere of Archean Earth under an amber sky. To the left, a turbulent primordial sea beats against dark, submerged volcanic rocks under a thick bank of orange clouds, where a giant crescent Moon hangs low on the horizon. To the right, the rugged, barren coastline gives way to active volcanic vents or geysers blasting towering plumes of steam and gas into the air, all illuminated by a pale, muted Sun filtering through a dense methane haze. Hybrid painting, 2004, for Scientific American. © by Don Dixon. 2026-05-20T05:55:30.291Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/422-methane-earth-01-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/422-methane-earth-01-dixon.jpg 422-Methane-Earth-01 422-methane-earth-01-dixon – Earth's original atmosphere may have been rich in methane gas, which formed an orange, smoglike haze. Digital painting for Scientific American, 2004. © 2005 by Don Dixon. 2026-05-20T05:58:37.337Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/421-first-seas-02-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/421-first-seas-02-dixon.jpg 421-First-Seas-02 421-first-seas-02-dixon – The first seas of the young earth, 4 billion years ago, may have served as wombs for the development of microscopic life forms. Digital painting, 2004, for Scientific American. © 2005 by Don Dixon. 2026-05-20T06:00:37.413Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/298-early-earth-detail-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/298-early-earth-detail-dixon.jpg 298-Early-Earth-detail 298-early-earth-detail-dixon – volcanos and mists shroud the primitive earth, as its oceans are stirred by a much closer moon. This dramatic vertical illustration depicts a turbulent primitive seascape on the primordial Earth. Massive, choppy ocean waves churn aggressively in the foreground, breaking against dark, jagged rocks along a volcanic coastline. A dense, heavily textured atmosphere filled with swirling purple and white storm clouds frames a clear break in the weather, revealing a large crescent Moon hanging low in the sky, symbolizing the early Moon's proximity to Earth. Acrylic and gouache on illustration board, 1994. copyright 2013 Don Dixon/cosmographica.com 2026-05-20T23:09:55.583Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/420-First-Rains-02-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/420-First-Rains-02-dixon.jpg 420-first-rains-02-dixon – The first rains may have fallen for a thousand years, filling craters on the young earth to form shallow seas. An expansive primordial landscape depicts the early Archean Earth experiencing its initial condensation epoch, with heavy rainfall cascading over barren, craggy volcanic rock. Twin waterfalls cut through the foreground terrain, draining into a complex network of pooling basins and a vast inland sea under a dark, turbulent sky. Intense forks of atmospheric lightning strike the distant horizon, illuminating the rugged topography and reflecting off the newly formed bodies of liquid water.Digital painting, 2004, for Scientific American. 2026-05-21T00:30:14.467Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/063-accretion-of-earth-07-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/063-accretion-of-earth-07-dixon.jpg 063-accretion-of-earth-07-dixon – 4.5 billion years ago, our planet coallesced out of swarming planetesimals. A wide-angle cosmic view depicts the early solar nebula during the intense accretion phase of the proto-Earth. Countless rocky planetesimals, asteroids, and fragments of primordial debris swirl within a dense, dust-filled orbital disc, drawn together by mutual gravitational attraction. In the center, a luminous, glowing concentration of mass marks the core of the assembling planet. digital rework of 1975 acrylic and gouache painting; copyright Don Dixon 2026-05-21T00:41:13.137Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/127-moonrise-4by-bc-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/127-moonrise-4by-bc-dixon.jpg 127-moonrise-4by-bc-dixon – A dramatic coastal vista on the early Earth, approximately four billion years ago, depicts an immense Moon rising over a restless primordial ocean. Seawater cascades down rugged, dark volcanic rock formations in the foreground, creating vibrant blue waterfalls that spill into coastal tide pools as powerful ocean tides recede. The massive size of the lunar disc on the horizon illustrates its close orbital proximity to Earth during the Hadean or early Archean eon, casting a brilliant glow through a hazy, turbulent atmosphere. acrylic and gouache, 1978 ; digital restoration 2026 2026-05-21T00:48:04.636Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/188-moon-forming-impact-v2-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/188-moon-forming-impact-v2-dixon.jpg 188-Moon-Forming-Impact_v2 188-moon-forming-impact-v2-dixon – A catastrophic cosmic collision depicts the Giant Impact Hypothesis, in which a Mars-sized protoplanet (Theia) strikes the proto-Earth. The violent grazing impact generates a brilliant explosion of incandescent magma, vaporized rock, and glowing debris, breaching the planet's crust. The resulting debris disc coalesces in about a month to form Earth's Moon. hybrid digital and traditional art, 1994/2022 © Don Dixon 2026-05-21T01:07:45.404Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/067-first-lunar-tides-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/067-first-lunar-tides-dixon.jpg 067-First-Lunar-Tides 067-first-lunar-tides-dixon – The newborn moon looms close and large in the earth's sky, stirring huge tides; A dramatic horizontal view captures the massive influence of the early Moon rising over a violent, churning primordial ocean. Powerful, frothing waves crash heavily against dark, craggy volcanic shorelines in the foreground under a hazy, golden atmospheric glow. The Moon's proximity to the young Earth caused ferocious gravitational tidal forces that shaped the planet's early marine and geological environments. cover of The Deep Range by Arthur C. Clarke ; acrylic on canvas, 1975, © Don Dixon 2026-05-21T03:17:21.958Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/384-forming-solar-system-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/384-forming-solar-system-dixon.jpg Formation of the Solar System 384-forming-solar-system-dixon – A dynamic panoramic overview of the primordial solar nebula illustrates multiple stages of early planetary development and cosmic activity. In the upper left, the young Sun bursts with violent T Tauri solar flares, casting energetic radiation across a sweeping, multi-hued accretion disc. To the right, a massive gas giant ringed with proto-planetary material begins to clear its orbital path, while chaotic fields of rocky planetesimals collide and fragment in the foreground against an atmospheric backdrop of glowing nebular gases and incoming icy comets. acrylic and gouache on illustration board, 18.5x13.5inches,1993; © Don Dixon 2026-05-21T03:33:24.273Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/065-evolving-atmosphere-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/065-evolving-atmosphere-dixon.jpg 065-evolving-atmosphere-dixon –A vertical, hellish illustration of Earth's early Hadean eon depicts a highly unstable crust dominated by active volcanism and molten lava flows. In the foreground, a stark, jagged black basaltic cliff towers over a canyon floor flooded with glowing magma veins, while a molten waterfall cascades in the mid-ground. The turbulent, soot-choked atmosphere above is streaked with incoming meteors, one of which violently impacts a molten basin, as distant volcanic eruptions line the glowing horizon. ; gouache on illustration board, 1976 2026-05-21T05:44:58.674Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/062-birth-of-the-sun-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/062-birth-of-the-sun-dixon.jpg 062-birth-of-the-sun-dixon – 5 billion years ago the solar nebula flattens into a disk, pressure within the central mass triggers nuclear fusion. An oblique cosmic perspective illustrates the early stages of a star's formation within a swirling, highly structured protoplanetary disc. At the center, a bright, intensely glowing protostar shines with brilliant white light, casting a powerful radial illumination across the surrounding matter. Concentric rings of dense, textured gas and brown dust undulate outward into the dark void of space, showing the gravitational consolidation that precedes the birth of a planetary system.; gouache on illustration board, 1976 2026-05-21T19:42:59.169Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/061-primordial-clouds-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/061-primordial-clouds-dixon.jpg 061-primordial-clouds-dixon – A wide telescopic view displays a massive emission nebula acting as a stellar nursery deep in interstellar space. Luminous pockets of ionized hydrogen gas glow with a deep crimson and reddish hue, energized by the intense ultraviolet radiation of embedded, freshly formed young stars. Bright blue-white stellar clusters puncture the dense gas formations, casting stark points of light across the complex, filamentary clouds of cosmic dust. acrylic and gouache on illustration board, 1976. © Don Dixon 2026-05-21T19:51:54.187Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/039-earth-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/039-earth-dixon.jpg 039-earth-dixon – A classic astronomical vantage point from the lunar surface reveals the planet Earth hanging suspended in the dark void of deep space. In the foreground, the heavily cratered, dusty tan terrain of the Moon stretches across the frame, providing a stark, barren contrast to the vibrant, water-rich world above. Gouache on illustration board, 1975. artwork © Don Dixon 2026-05-21T20:02:39.267Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/068-primeval-earth-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/068-primeval-earth-dixon.jpg 068-primeval-earth-dixon – A full orbital perspective showcases the primeval Earth suspended against a crisp backdrop of distant background stars. The young planet exhibits a partially consolidated supercontinent dominated by arid, tan terrains and early inland drainage basins, juxtaposed against a massive, deep-blue proto-ocean swathed in dynamic, sweeping cloud bands. A delicate, glowing atmospheric limb encircles the globe, highlighting the stabilization of the planet's climate and the presence of liquid water essential for early biological evolution. gouache on illustration board, 1976 2026-05-21T20:14:33.828Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/356-primitive-earth-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/356-primitive-earth-dixon.jpg 356-primitive-earth-dixon – An orbital perspective of the early Earth during the Late Heavy Bombardment reveals a highly scarred surface dominated by deep, water-filled impact craters. A massive asteroid impact breaches the planet's crust in the mid-ground, sending a brilliant, incandescent plume of ejecta and vaporized rock into space. In the background, a heavily cratered, close-orbiting Moon hangs near a bright comet, emphasizing the chaotic cosmic environment of the early solar system. Featured in Scientific American. copyright Don Dixon / cosmographica.com 2026-05-21T20:22:42.115Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/099-fire-fountains-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/099-fire-fountains-dixon.jpg Fire Fountains 099-fire-fountains-dixon – A bleak volcanic plain under a dense, monochromatic orange sky features active lava fountains erupting along a subterranean fissure network. High-energy geysers of incandescent, molten rock spray upward, feeding a river of bright yellow-orange lava that winds through a dark, crustal field of cooled pahoehoe basalt. The uniform, haze-choked atmosphere of the young Earth was dominated by heavy outgassing with an dense greenhouse effect.; acrylic and gouache on illustration board, approximately 10x7 inches, 1975; © Don DIxon 2026-05-21T20:35:01.363Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/400-yucatan-impact-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/400-yucatan-impact-dixon.jpg 400-yucatan-impact-dixon – An asteroid 5-10 miles across impacts in the Yucatan to end the age of dinosaurs 65 million years ago. A fine layer of clay, rich in the element iridium -- more concentrated in meteorites than in terrestrial rocks -- marks the geological boundary between the Cretaceous and Tertiary eras. This clay layer is believed to have precipitated out of a planet-blanketing cloud of dust that was ejected into the atmosphere by the impact and subsequent fires. The dust darkened and cooled the earth so much that many species became extinct. 2026-05-21T23:12:03.394Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/399-white-dwarf-collision-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/399-white-dwarf-collision-dixon.jpg 399-white-dwarf-collision-dixon – A scene far more common within a globular cluster, where stars swarm like bees and collisions between them are more likely, this digital painting shows the final minutes of our sun's life as a white dwarf approaches it. As tidal forces stretch the sun into a pear-shape, the delicate balance between gravity and radiation pressure fails, and the sun ruptures. The energy released as the two stars merge would vaporize the earth. Painted for November, 2002 cover of Scientific American. 2026-05-21T23:20:31.861Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/388-ring-source-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/388-ring-source-dixon.jpg 388-ring-source-dixon –This scientific diagram illustrates the mechanics of planetary ring formation or replenishment via meteoroid bombardment. A small, dark micrometeoroid is shown striking a larger, irregular moonlet or boulder within a diffuse, translucent blue ring structure. The impact generates a bright explosive flash and liberates a stream of fine, tan-colored dust particles, which disperse along the orbital path to populate the planetary ring. - painting by Don Dixon for Scientific American 2026-05-21T23:45:42.549Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/381-life-cloud-comet-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/381-life-cloud-comet-dixon.jpg 381-life-cloud-comet-dixon – This astronomical landscape depicts a bright comet with a long, sweeping tail trailing across a deep purple and pink twilight sky on an early terrestrial world. In the foreground, primitive green biological mats thrive in a body of water, which perfectly mirrors the comet's reflection and the rugged, volcanic rock formations lining the coast. The scene visualizes theories of panspermia or the delivery of organic compounds to early Earth by cometary impacts. - painting by Don Dixon for Geo Magazine 2026-05-22T01:08:42.352Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/380-life-cloud-meteors-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/380-life-cloud-meteors-dixon.jpg 380-life-cloud-meteors-dixon – This astronomical illustration shows meteors bringing organic material to the primordial Earth. Multiple bright meteors or bolides streak streak through the dense, golden-hued atmosphere. The meteors leave glowing orange thermal trails as they ablate, casting intense reflections upon the calm water surface in the foreground. Primitive green organic mats or early life-forms populate the shoreline and pools beneath dark, textured volcanic rock formations, highlighting a period of intense cosmic bombardment on an evolving world. - painting by Don Dixon for Geo Magazine 2026-05-22T01:19:40.536Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/378-ancient-impact-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/378-ancient-impact-dixon.jpg 378-ancient-impact-dixon – This dramatic space art illustration depicts the Late Heavy Bombardment era on a young, evolving early Earth. A massive, heavily cratered asteroid tumbles in the foreground, while below it, a catastrophic cosmic impact tears into the planet's scarred crust, unleashing a brilliant explosion of molten rock, blinding light, and expanding shockwaves. A large, heavily cratered Moon hangs over the curved, atmospheric blue horizon in the deep blackness of space. - painting by Don Dixon for Geo Magazine 2026-05-22T01:29:44.575Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/362-solar-nebula-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/362-solar-nebula-dixon.jpg 362-solar-nebula-dixon –This astronomical illustration presents a young, forming solar system during its protoplanetary disk phase. At the center sits a brilliant protostar, surrounded by a flattened, rotating accretion disk composed of concentric rings of dust, gas, and early planetesimals. Bipolar outflows or cones of diffuse material escape along the rotational axis perpendicular to the disk, illustrating the chaotic and dynamic processes of early stellar evolution and planetary system formation. - Painting by Don Dixon 2026-05-22T01:33:22.396Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/340-comet-flood-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/340-comet-flood-dixon.jpg 340-comet-flood-dixon –This dramatic astronomical scene illustrates a cataclysmic cometary bombardment on the early Earth. In the background, a massive comet impact erupts on the horizon, unleashing a colossal plume of debris and thermal energy beneath the nearby Moon and a second incoming comet. In the foreground, turbulent waters surge across a fractured, volcanic landscape, filling impact craters and craggy basins to illustrate the scientific hypothesis that planetary oceans were delivered by cometary impacts. - painting by Don Dixon 2026-05-22T05:53:13.180Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/339-Comet-Surface.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/339-Comet-Surface.jpg 2026-05-22T06:05:04.435Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/338-proto-planets-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/338-proto-planets-dixon.jpg 338-Proto-Planets 338-proto-planets-dixon –This intricate astronomical painting illustrates the chaotic early stages of planetary accretion within a young solar system. From a vantage point on a primitive, heavily cratered body, a dense field of rocky planetesimals and debris is seen colliding and orbiting within a vast circumstellar disk. In the background, a massive protostar radiates intense light, illuminating a developing protoplanet surrounded by its own concentric ring system as it clears its orbital path. acrylic and gouache, 1993 2026-05-22T18:46:28.255Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/324-tertiary-dawn-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/324-tertiary-dawn-dixon.jpg 324-tertiary-dawn-dixon – a sauropod grazes peacefully in the last seconds before the impact that ended the age of dinosaurs - painting by Don Dixon 2026-05-22T18:59:44.885Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/309-proto-continent-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/309-proto-continent-dixon.jpg 309-proto-continent-dixon – This global astronomical painting depicts a primordial Earth, viewed from deep space against a background of distant stars. The planet features an evolving surface with emerging proto-continents of brownish-gold landmasses surrounded by vast, primitive oceans. Wispy, white atmospheric cloud patterns swirl across the globe, partially obscuring the geologically active surface below. acrylic and gouache 2026-05-22T19:11:30.764Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/297-early-earth-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/297-early-earth-dixon.jpg Early Earth 297-early-earth-dixon – This intricate astronomical landscape depicts a highly dynamic scene on the early Earth during the Archean or Hadean eon. Plumes of volcanic steam and gases erupt from a rugged, geologically active coastline into a turbulent, storm-laden sky where a pale, young Sun breaks through dense clouds. Violent, churning ocean waves crash against the rocky shore and spill into coastal volcanic basins, while a large crescent Moon hangs conspicuously in the sky, reflecting the closer orbital distance of Earth's satellite during its early history. Acrylic and gouache on illustration board, 1994. 2026-05-22T19:15:48.712Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/274-first-seas-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/274-first-seas-dixon.jpg 274-first-seas-dixon – This serene astronomical landscape depicts a stabilizing early Earth as its global temperature drops enough to allow liquid water to pool permanently. Wide, clear blue seas flood ancient volcanic impact basins along a barren, undulating brown shoreline under a calm, lightly clouded blue sky. A large crescent Moon hangs low over the ocean horizon, illustrating the proximity of the lunar orbit during this early planetary epoch. acrylic, gouache, and colored pencil 2026-05-22T19:42:50.428Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/273-first-rain-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/273-first-rain-dixon.jpg 273-first-rain-dixon – This striking astronomical landscape depicts a pivotal atmospheric transition on the early Earth, capturing the planet's first major precipitation events. Intense lightning strikes pierce a dark, heavy storm cloud layer, illuminating a barren, rugged terrain dominated by prominent impact craters. Torrents of primordial rain begin to accumulate in the deep basins, initiating the formation of the planet's first stable bodies of liquid water and early oceans. for Newsweek Japan, 1988, acrylic, gouache, and colored pencil 2026-05-22T19:47:14.701Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/257-pacific-basin-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/257-pacific-basin-dixon.jpg 257-pacific-basin-dixon – This astronomical illustration depicts a full-disk view of planet Earth centered over the Pacific Basin, seen from an altitude of 20,000 miles, showcasing complex global atmospheric dynamics. The Australian continent is prominently visible near the bottom of the globe, while the islands of Southeast Asia and East Asia stretch upward through the western Pacific. Two distinct tropical cyclonic systems are rendered with realistic spiral cloud structures in the Northern Hemisphere, surrounded by extensive global cloud cover, shifting weather fronts, and a subtle atmospheric limb. acyrlic and gouache, 1993 2026-05-23T00:11:26.202Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/194-moonrise-2-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/194-moonrise-2-dixon.jpg 194-moonrise-2-dixon - the nearby moon draws huge tides on the young earth. This astronomical illustration captures a massive, luminous full moon rising over a distant ocean horizon. In the foreground, turbulent ocean waves crash over a rugged, rocky outcrop, creating cascading waterfalls and churning seafoam, stirring the chemicals of life. painted for Omni magazine 2026-05-23T01:13:39.731Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/192-uk-from-space-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/192-uk-from-space-dixon.jpg 192-uk-from-space-dixon –This astronomical illustration presents an orbital perspective of Northwestern Europe, focusing on the British Isles as seen from space from high above the Bay of Biscay. The landmasses of Great Britain and Ireland are clearly defined against the deep blue of the Atlantic Ocean, North Sea, and English Channel, while continental Europe visible to the right includes parts of France and Scandinavia further back. A gentle atmospheric curve outlines the Earth's horizon at the top of the frame, accompanied by sweeping, realistic weather fronts and scattered cloud formations blanketing portions of the land and sea.. 2026-05-23T01:31:07.850Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/488-dead-earth-far-future-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/488-dead-earth-far-future-dixon.jpg 488-dead-earth-far-future 488-dead-earth-far-future-dixon – Bilions of years hence, the sun will swell, warm, and boil away earth's oceans, transforming our once-verdant world into a desiccated wasteland. Whatever intelligent beings might exist then may gaze over the salt flats of extinct seas at a cosmic spectacle, the slow-motion collision between our Milky Way and the Andromeda Galaxy, which will trigger a wave of star formation. Interior painting for the April, 2013 issue of Astronomy Magazine. 2026-05-23T03:08:37.739Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/188-moon-forming-impact-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/188-moon-forming-impact-dixon.jpg 188-moon-forming-impact-dixon – This astronomical illustration visualizes the giant impact hypothesis, capturing a cataclysmic collision between the proto-Earth and a Mars-sized planetesimal (often referred to as Theia). A colossal, brilliant orange and red explosion erupts from the point of contact, ejecting incandescent magma, debris, and shockwaves across the planetary surface. The untouched hemisphere of the planet reveals a primitive, cratered crust swirling with atmospheric features, set against a dark space background enriched by a purple nebula and distant stars. acrylic and gouache, 2003 2026-05-23T06:11:49.233Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/172-red-giant-sun-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/172-red-giant-sun-dixon.jpg 172-red-giant-sun-dixon – This astronomical illustration envisions the distant future of our solar system, depicting a dying Earth scorched by an expanded red giant sun. A massive, textured orange star dominates the hazy red sky, showing convective cell patterns on its surface while a small, dark planetary silhouette transits across its disk. In the foreground, a barren, heat-blasted landscape features rolling sand dunes, rocky terrain, and a jagged, petrified structure resembling a twisted rock formation or ancient remnants under the intense solar radiation. acrylic and gouache, 1989 2026-05-23T06:17:02.584Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/129-asteroid-impact-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/129-asteroid-impact-dixon.jpg 129-asteroid-impact-dixon – This astronomical illustration captures a devastating asteroid impact on Earth, viewed from an orbital vantage point. A massive, brilliant orange and yellow thermal explosion erupts along the planetary limb, scattering molten debris, rock fragments, and ejecta into the vacuum of space. The remainder of the globe reveals a detailed, blue and white oceanscape covered in realistic weather fronts and swirling cloud systems, contrasted against a stark black starfield. ; acrylic and gouache, 1979 2026-05-23T06:33:27.542Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/126-planetesimals-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/126-planetesimals-dixon.jpg 126-planetesimals-dixon - This astronomical illustration visualizes the chaotic environment of the early solar system during the accretion phase of planetary formation. In the center-right foreground, a large planetesimal undergoes a violent fragmentation event, its rocky crust splitting apart to reveal a glowing, molten interior under energetic impact. The surrounding space is filled with dense debris disks, smaller rocky bodies, and cosmic dust clouds, all illuminated by the bright, hazy glare of the young, active proto-Sun visible in the background. ; acrylic and gouache 1985 2026-05-23T06:41:36.935Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/066-moon-capture-theory-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/066-moon-capture-theory-dixon.jpg 066-moon-capture-theory-dixon – An explanation for the moon's origin is that a ring of dust around earth slowed the passing moon, allowing it to be captured by earth's gravity. The modern consensus is that our moon formed through an impact with a small planet, but the dust capture hypothesis is still a possible mechanism for other worlds. ; gouache on illustration board, 1976 2026-05-23T06:47:37.357Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/060-meteoric-rain-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/060-meteoric-rain-dixon.jpg 060-meteoric-rain-dixon – during the formation of the earth, millions of tons of dust and rock rained down every day ; gouache on illustration board, 1976 2026-05-23T07:32:21.151Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/005-double-sunrise-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Earth%20Origin%20and%20Destiny/slides/005-double-sunrise-dixon.jpg 005-double-sunrise-dixon – earth, sun and moon align. Oil on panel, 1972. 2026-05-23T07:46:46.250Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/The%20Moon/index.html 2026-06-11T00:52:43.354Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/The%20Moon/slides/519-antique-moon-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/The%20Moon/slides/519-antique-moon-dixon.jpg Antique Moon 519-antique-moon-dixon – The graphic illustration presents a stylized, three-panel composite display of the Moon's phases, evoking the aesthetic of antique stipple engravings or lithographs. Arranged horizontally against a neutral gray field, the central full lunar disk is flanked by a waxing gibbous phase on the left and a waning gibbous phase on the right. The rendering employs high-contrast, textured pointillism to delineate major lunar maria, bright highlands, and prominent ray craters like Tycho and Copernicus along the shifting terminators. 2026-05-16T17:06:34.666Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/The%20Moon/slides/518-clavius-crater-from-6-miles-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/The%20Moon/slides/518-clavius-crater-from-6-miles-dixon.jpg 518-clavius-crater-from-6-miles-dixon – The great lunar walled plain Clavius as it would look from an altitude of 6 miles; the height of a commercial jet. This is only 10 percent the altitude of the standard Apollo orbit. oil on masonite; 16"x20" © Don Dixon 2021 2026-05-16T17:13:57.423Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/The%20Moon/slides/439-apollo-11-flag-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/The%20Moon/slides/439-apollo-11-flag-dixon.jpg 439-Apollo-11-Flag 439-apollo-11-flag-dixon – The painting depicts the historic deployment of the American flag during the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission on July 20, 1969. Two astronauts anchor the flag into the textured regolith of Tranquility Base, with the Lunar Module Eagle standing prominently behind them. The sun bursts dramatically over the horizon directly behind the spacecraft, casting long shadows forward and illuminating a crescent Earth and a dense field of stars in the vacuum of the lunar sky. Acrylic and gouache study for Hamilton Collection commemorative plate, 1993. 2026-05-16T17:19:17.930Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/The%20Moon/slides/436-palm-moon-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/The%20Moon/slides/436-palm-moon-dixon.jpg 436-Palm-Moon 436-palm-moon-dixon – The image captures a nearly full Moon glowing brightly through a soft, luminous haze in a deep twilight sky. In the foreground, dense, dark silhouettes of palm tree fronds dominate the lower two-thirds of the frame, their intricate, drooping structures contrasting with the smooth gradients of the evening sky. The composition creates a stark juxtaposition between terrestrial tropical flora and the bone-white surface of the lunar disk. digital composite. © 2005 by Don Dixon. 2026-05-16T17:23:32.719Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/The%20Moon/slides/330-apollo-montage-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/The%20Moon/slides/330-apollo-montage-dixon.jpg 330-apollo-montage-dixon – The painting is a complex commemorative montage celebrating the achievements of the Apollo lunar exploration program. At the center stands the Apollo Lunar Module with the American flag on the lunar surface, flanked on the right by the dramatic liftoff of a Saturn V rocket from its launch pad and an orbiting Command and Service Module above. The surreal composition incorporates symbolic elements including an iconic astronaut bootprint in the regolith, a heavily cratered lunar horizon, a distant crescent Earth, and a stylized, swirling colorful nebula that frames the celestial scene. Hamilton Collection plate commemorating 25th anniversary of Apollo 11 landing on moon - acrylic painting by Don Dixon 2026-05-16T17:27:42.280Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/The%20Moon/slides/291-moon-ring-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/The%20Moon/slides/291-moon-ring-dixon.jpg 291-Moon-Ring 291-moon-ring-dixon – the newborn moon orbits within a ring of debris splashed out by the impact that formed it, over a molten earth ; acrylic and gouache 1999 2026-05-16T17:31:34.479Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/The%20Moon/slides/282-moon-ice-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/The%20Moon/slides/282-moon-ice-dixon.jpg 282-Moon-Ice 282-moon-ice-dixon – The illustration depicts a hypothetical deposits of water ice inside a permanently shadowed crater at one of the Moon's poles. The textured, crystalline icy sheets floor the deep basin, reflecting faint, scattered light from surrounding sunlit peaks. In the distance, a rugged, sun-drenched crater wall rises steeply toward a black, star-filled sky, where a detailed full-phase planet Earth hangs low along the lunar horizon. 2026-05-16T17:34:29.714Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/The%20Moon/slides/197-lunar-eclipse-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/The%20Moon/slides/197-lunar-eclipse-dixon.jpg 197-Lunar-Eclipse 197-lunar-eclipse-dixon –The painting depicts a total solar eclipse as viewed from the surface of the Moon, an event known terrestrially as a total lunar eclipse. The dark, unilluminated disk of the Earth blocks the sun, surrounded by a brilliant, fiery ring created by the sunlight filtering through the terrestrial atmosphere. This refracted ring projects a dim, reddish-copper copper glow across the rugged, boulder-strewn lunar landscape in the foreground, while the solar corona stretches out vertically into a dense field of distant stars. 2026-05-16T17:37:27.539Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/The%20Moon/slides/187-moonscape-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/The%20Moon/slides/187-moonscape-dixon.jpg 187-Moonscape 187-moonscape-dixon – The painting features an expansive, ground-level view of an untamed lunar landscape, capturing the stark textures of the moon's surface. In the foreground, fine lunar regolith, scattered pebbles, and soft depressions run into highly detailed, rugged hills and crater rims that catch crisp sunlight along their peaks. Rising above the undulating horizon, a highly detailed blue-and-white Earth hangs suspended in a dark, incredibly dense starfield, emphasizing the silence and isolation of the lunar environment. 2026-05-16T17:40:50.931Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/The%20Moon/slides/120-eclipse-by-earth-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/The%20Moon/slides/120-eclipse-by-earth-dixon.jpg 120-Eclipse-By-Earth 120-eclipse-by-earth-dixon – earth's atmosphere blazes with the glow of all sunsets and sunrises during a lunar eclipse, tinting the moon red ; acrylic on board, 1981 2026-05-16T17:42:54.525Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/The%20Moon/slides/090-formation-of-tycho-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/The%20Moon/slides/090-formation-of-tycho-dixon.jpg 090-Formation-Of-Tycho.jpg 090-formation-of-tycho-dixon –The painting depicts the cataclysmic kinetic impact event that created the prominent lunar crater Tycho. Viewed from a high orbital perspective above a heavily cratered lunar limb, a massive asteroid impact generates a blinding, expanding dome of incandescent plasma and molten ejecta. A towering vertical plume of vaporized rock erupts into the vacuum of space, while powerful concentric shockwaves fracture the surrounding ancient crust across the lunar terrain. ; gouache on illustration board, 1977 by Don Dixon 2026-05-16T17:45:41.835Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/The%20Moon/slides/025-apollo-17-carrying-the-fire-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/The%20Moon/slides/025-apollo-17-carrying-the-fire-dixon.jpg 025-Apollo-17-Carrying-the-Fire 025-apollo-17-carrying-the-fire-dixon – The last expedition to the moon departs on December 7, 1972 in this photograph by Don Dixon from the shore of the Banana river near Cape Canaveral, Florida. The dark shock wave racing across the water heralds the arrival of the thunderous noise of the Saturn V rocket engines. © Don Dixon 2026-05-16T17:48:34.905Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/The%20Moon/slides/010-tycho-by-earthlight-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/The%20Moon/slides/010-tycho-by-earthlight-dixon.jpg 010-Tycho-By-Earthlight 010-tycho-by-earthlight-dixon – Earth viewed from the lunar crater Tycho. The Pleiades star cluster is about to be occulted by earth. Oil on canvas panel, 1973. © Don Dixon/cosmographica.com 2026-05-16T17:50:45.727Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/index.html 2026-06-11T00:54:37.224Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/440-exploring-mars-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/440-exploring-mars-dixon.jpg 440-Exploring-Mars 440-exploring-mars-dixon – A manned expedition unfolds on the rugged floor of a Martian canyon, featuring steep, layered cliffs and boulder-strewn terrain typical of Valles Marineris. A conical landing spacecraft sits parked in the middle distance with its egress ramp extended, while an astronaut in a full pressure suit stands in the lower right foreground surveying a large rock formation. The expansive landscape is bathed in a distinct, pale orange illumination under a thick, dust-laden Martian sky. Acrylic and gouache, 1983. 2026-05-16T22:42:36.526Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/405-mars-colony-02-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/405-mars-colony-02-dixon.jpg 405-Mars-Colony-02 405-mars-colony-02-dixon –This vertical space art composition visualizes a future human outpost establishing a permanent presence on the Martian surface. A network of pressurized habitats and transparent agricultural domes containing green trees is built into a flat desert plain, linked together by enclosed transit tubes. In the foreground, two astronauts in pressure suits deploy scientific gear next to an exploration rover. Version 2. Digital, 2005. 2026-05-16T22:47:07.273Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/404-mars-colony-01-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/404-mars-colony-01-dixon.jpg 404-Mars-Colony-01.jpg 404-mars-colony-01-dixon – This vertical space art landscape provides an alternative foreground perspective of an expanding human settlement on the Martian surface. Cylindrical habitation modules and central command towers branch across the orange plains, flanked by large, translucent environmental biodomes showing internal greenery. From a rocky red vantage point in the lower left, two suited astronauts set up communications gear near a parked rover beneath a hazy, uniform salmon sky. Digital, 2005 2026-05-16T23:04:03.957Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/370-aldrin-mars-cycler-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/370-aldrin-mars-cycler-dixon.jpg 370-Aldrin-Mars-Cycler 370-aldrin-mars-cycler-dixon – This astronomical illustration depicts the "Xanadu," a massive interplanetary spacecraft utilizing an Aldrin Mars cycler trajectory to transport crew and cargo between Earth and Mars. The modular, cross-shaped cycler vehicle dominates the foreground, featuring long cylindrical habitat bays and a large parabolic communication dish on its central axis. The planet Mars looms in the background, showing distinct surface markings and a thin atmospheric limb, flanked by its small, irregular moon Phobos. - painting by Don Dixon for Scientific American 2026-05-16T23:14:04.418Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/357-mars-impact-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/357-mars-impact-dixon.jpg 357-Mars-Impact 357-mars-impact-dixon – An asteroid Impact on Mars ejects meteorites to Earth. This space art rendering illustrates a high-energy impact event occurring on the northern hemisphere of Mars. A large asteroid or comet strikes the planet at a shallow angle, creating a brilliant, self-luminous impact crater and lofting a high-velocity plume of superheated rock vapor and ejecta into the vacuum of space. The crescent Mars displays a dusty, mottled surface texture, partially illuminated against the absolute blackness of the background. - digital, 1997, © Don Dixon 2026-05-16T23:23:26.548Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/351-mars-launch-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/351-mars-launch-dixon.jpg 351-Mars-Launch 351-mars-launch-dixon – Mars Direct Earth Return Vehicle Launches From Mars. A biconic Martian ascent vehicle blasts off from a rugged, dust-covered mountain ridge, its clustered engine bells firing with intense incandescent thrust. The rocket power kicks up a violent exhaust plume of surface dust and flame against the rocky topography below. The landscape and the wide, open sky are drenched in a uniform, deep monochromatic rust tone, capturing the thin, dusty atmospheric conditions of the Red Planet. digital, for Scientific American 2026-05-17T00:03:27.532Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/319-approaching-deimos-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/319-approaching-deimos-dixon.jpg 319-approaching-deimos-dixon – A recently discovered very early oil on canvas painting dating from 1972 shows a spacecraft maneuvering near Mars's outer moon. Outdated concept of Deimos. This striking space art composition looks across the jagged, irregular ridges of Mars’ outer moon, Deimos, as a nuclear rocket fires its attitude thrusters to approach the small moon. Mars fills the background as a massive, dark crescent, its illuminated limb revealing a thin orange haze layer. The sun blazes in the distance. 2026-05-17T00:19:24.205Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/308-mars-base-detail-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/308-mars-base-detail-dixon.jpg 308-Mars-Base-Detail 308-mars-base-detail-dixon – This vertical space art landscape documents an early human reconnaissance mission on Mars, focusing on surface communications and transportation infrastructure. In the foreground, two astronauts in heavy pressure suits assemble a portable parabolic satellite dish on a rugged, deep red rocky ridge. In the middle distance valley below, a sleek, black-and-white biconic rocket lander sits parked on its landing legs with an egress ladder extended. The background features steep, highly eroded crimson mountains under a hazy pinkish-tan sky, where two tiny crescent moons, Phobos and Deimos, are visible. 2026-05-17T00:26:06.240Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/306-red-mars-ship-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/306-red-mars-ship-dixon.jpg 306-Red-Mars-Ship 306-red-mars-ship-dixon – detail of colony ship from cover of Red Mars. This striking orbital perspective showcases a massive, complex interplanetary exploration vehicle arriving in Mars orbit. The vessel features a stacked, hexagonal array of cylindrical fuel tanks or habitat modules at its forward section, connected by a structural truss to an immense radiation shield. A large nuclear thermal nozzle terminates the stack. Below, the mottled, rust-colored globe of Mars curves dramatically into darkness. acrylic, around 1991 2026-05-17T00:33:52.445Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/283-phobos-base-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/283-phobos-base-dixon.jpg 283-phobos-base-dixon –This dramatic orbital perspective looks across the craggy, crater-pocked landscape of Mars' innermost moon, Phobos, where a permanent human outpost has been established. Two large, dark pressurized habitat domes are anchored directly into the rocky surface near a cluster of support equipment. In the foreground, a modular, T-shaped transfer vehicle floats in zero gravity, its hull bearing a detailed circular emblem. The background is dominated by the colossal, beautifully textured sphere of Mars, showcasing intricate cloud patterns, massive volcanic plains, and a sweeping atmospheric limb that curves against a dense star field. covert art for "Circuit Breaker" by Melinda Snodgrass, 1987 2026-05-17T00:43:49.010Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/255-mars-base-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/255-mars-base-dixon.jpg 255-Mars-Base.jpg 255-mars-base-dixon – This wide, expansive space art landscape documents an early human reconnaissance mission on the Martian surface, establishing the full traditional canvas from which later compositions were derived. In the right foreground, two astronauts in heavy pressure suits assemble a portable parabolic communication dish on a rugged, deep red rocky ridge, with a cable trailing toward an uncrewed exploration rover parked on the left. In the middle distance valley, a sleek, black-and-white vertical biconic rocket lander sits resting on its landing legs with its egress ladder extended. The background features steep, highly eroded crimson mountains and a smooth, pale orange sky where the two tiny crescent moons, Phobos and Deimos, hang low. acrylic and gouache, around 1993 2026-05-17T00:54:10.940Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/167-deimos-first-step-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/167-deimos-first-step-dixon.jpg 167-Deimos-First-Step 167-deimos-first-step-dixon –This low-angle orbital perspective captures a historic moment of human exploration on the craggy, fractured surface of Mars' smaller moon, Deimos. An astronaut wearing an advanced life-support pressure suit cautiously maneuvers in the moon's ultra-low gravity field along a rock-strewn ridge. In the blackness above, a long, modular interplanetary exploration cruiser drifts in orbit with a second astronaut floating nearby in a manned maneuvering unit. The immense globe of Mars dominates the background, revealing the intricate chasms of Valles Marineris and massive dust features across its illuminated desert disk. acrylic and goauche, around 1988 2026-05-17T00:57:55.057Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/165-mars-polar-region-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/165-mars-polar-region-dixon.jpg 165-mars-polar-region-dixon – This astronomical study depicts a wide panoramic vista of a Martian polar landscape, highlighting the characteristic layered terrain and ice cap structures. A massive, relatively flat basin or impact crater dominates the middle ground, framed by terraced, step-like concentric rings formed by alternating strata of dust and volatile ice. In the far distance, a high, expansive wall of white polar ice rises beneath a hazy, salmon-colored atmospheric sky. The foreground features rugged, dark rock formations and shadows, emphasizing the dramatic topography of the high-latitude martian environment. 2026-05-17T01:05:18.472Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/159-martian-mists-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/159-martian-mists-dixon.jpg 159-Martian-Mists 159-martian-mists-dixon – This orbital astronomical illustration captures a dynamic meteorological event above the surface of Mars, showcasing a dense system of pale blue and white water-ice mists moving through canyon systems. The upper-left quadrant reveals heavily cratered highlands bathed in warm, golden sunlight, while a complex network of chasmata or tectonic fractures carves through the lower right. A massive, swirling dust storm or atmospheric front dominates the central diagonal axis, creating a vivid contrast between the fiery ochre tones of the Martian dust and the cool, ethereal hues of the low-altitude morning mists. Acrylic on canvas, 1990 2026-05-17T01:18:38.973Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/163-mars-telescopic-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/163-mars-telescopic-dixon.jpg 163-Mars-Telescopic 163-mars-telescopic-dixon – Mars sketched while observing through a 6" Newtonian reflector telescope under excellent conditions. The planetary disk displays prominent surface albedo features, including the dark, sweeping markings of Meridiani Sinus and surrounding terrae contrasted against brighter, ochre-colored desert plains. A brilliant white polar ice cap is clearly visible at the upper left limb, accompanied by a subtle, pale blue atmospheric haze along the planetary edge. 1986 2026-05-17T03:35:56.846Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/161-valles-kasei-1-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/161-valles-kasei-1-dixon.jpg 161-valles-kasei-1-dixon – This astronomical illustration presents a dramatic vertical view of Kasei Valles on Mars, a massive outflow channel system carved by ancient liquid floods. The composition is dominated by a smooth, wide channel bed cutting diagonally across the middle ground, flanked by rugged, heavily eroded rock terraces and dark, craggy boulder fields in the foreground. In the distance, prominent mountain ridges and flat-topped mesas rise beneath a deep, gradients-of-ochre Martian sky, showcasing the vast scale of martian cataclysmic geology., based on a sketch made below Zabriskie's Point in Death Valley, 1988 2026-05-17T05:10:31.483Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/160-valles-kasei-2-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/160-valles-kasei-2-dixon.jpg 160-valles-kasei-2-dixon – A dry river valley on Mars, based on sketches made below Zabriskie's Point in Death Valley. This astronomical illustration offers a sweeping panoramic view of the ancient outflow channel system within Kasei Valles on Mars. A prominent, curved ridge line covered in rugged, fractured rock textures runs along the left foreground, dropping down into a vast, smooth channel bed sculpted by primeval fluid erosion. acrylic and gouache on Masonite panel, 1989 2026-05-17T08:05:34.931Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/157-mars-panorama-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/157-mars-panorama-dixon.jpg 157-Mars-Panorama 157-mars-panorama-dixon – cover for Gregory Benford's novel The Martian Race, this panoramic astronomical illustration depicts a rugged Martian plain strewn with dark, heavily textured boulders and undulating sand drifts. Patchy, bright white surface frost clings to low-lying depressions in the foreground, catching the ambient light. Above the distant, uneven horizon, the two small crescent moons, Phobos and Deimos, hang close together in the upper-right sky. acrylic and gouache, around 2004 2026-05-17T08:11:23.650Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/089-landing-on-deimos-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/089-landing-on-deimos-dixon.jpg 089-Landing-On-Deimos 089-landing-on-deimos-dixon – Landing at a base on Deimos - a spacecraft settles into a landing cradle on Mars' outer moon ; 8x10 inches, acrylic on board, 1982. copyright Don Dixon 2026-05-17T08:14:30.322Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/073-terminal-descent-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/073-terminal-descent-dixon.jpg 073-terminal-descent-dixon –A few miles above Mars, Viking's engines fire to slow its descent (dated concept of spacecraft) ; Viewed from an elevated perspective looking downward, the spacecraft has its radar altimeter and high-gain dish antenna deployed as its retrorockets fire cone-shaped exhaust plumes to decelerate. Far below, the alien topography of Mars unfolds, characterized by golden, sunlit fields of shifting sand dunes interspersed with dark, rocky crags and ancient eroded geological formations. gouache on illustration board, 1975 2026-05-17T18:41:32.815Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/074-ten-feet-over-mars-viking-landing-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/074-ten-feet-over-mars-viking-landing-dixon.jpg 074-Ten-Feet-Over-Mars-Viking-landing 074-ten-feet-over-mars-viking-landing-dixon – Viking's engines shut off and it drops to a soft landing. Color of the Martian sky is as conceived prior to first landing ; acrylic and gouache on masonite, 1975. 2026-05-17T18:42:25.499Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/075-sunrise-at-chryse-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/075-sunrise-at-chryse-dixon.jpg 075-Sunrise-At-Chryse 075-sunrise-at-chryse-dixon – Sunrise At Chryse Planitia - Viking One greets the dawn on the Martian surface (dated concept of Martian environment) ; gouache on illustration board, 1975 2026-05-17T18:58:39.408Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/072-parachute-braking-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/072-parachute-braking-dixon.jpg 072-parachute-braking-dixon – a huge parachute helps slow Viking's descent toward the Martian surface ; gouache on illustration board, 1975 2026-05-17T19:30:49.338Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/071-mars-atmosphere-entry-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/071-mars-atmosphere-entry-dixon.jpg 071-mars-atmosphere-entry-dixon – The Viking lander makes a fiery plunge through Mars' atmosphere in this painting created prior to the first landing, when we discovered that the atmosphere of Mars is orange ; Compression of the thin atmosphere generates a glowing, orange thermal plasma wake beneath the heat shield. Far below, the curved horizon reveals a detailed expanse of the rusty Martian desert, heavily scarred with large impact craters and wind-swept ripples under a dark, star-flecked sky.gouache on illustration board, 1975 (digitally remastered) 2026-05-17T19:36:55.785Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/076-viking-orbiter-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/076-viking-orbiter-dixon.jpg 076-viking-orbiter-dixon – As the lander explores the surface, the Viking Orbiter photographs Mars and its moons and serves as a radio relay ; This astronomical illustration features the Viking Orbiter spacecraft in high orbit above Mars, showcasing its extended solar panels and prominent high-gain dish antenna. The background is dominated by the gibbous disk of Mars, revealing a cratered orange surface partially shrouded by an atmospheric limb haze. In the lower-left foreground, the planet's small, irregular, and heavily pockmarked inner moon Phobos drifts against the blackness of deep space. gouache on illustration board, 1975 2026-05-17T20:15:14.817Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/070-mars-orbit-insertion-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/070-mars-orbit-insertion-dixon.jpg 070-mars-orbit-insertion-dixon – This illustration depicts The Viking One spacecraft executing its orbit insertion burn above Mars to slow down and become the first spacecraft to orbit another planet. A brilliant blue exhaust plume expands into the vacuum of space from the rocket nozzle, silhouetted against the dark, unilluminated hemisphere of the planet. Below, the sunlit Martian surface displays majestic geological features, including massive volcanic shields, canyon complexes, and cratered highlands under a thin, blue atmospheric haze along the curved horizon. ; gouache on illustration board, 1975 (digitally remastered) 2026-05-17T20:17:56.616Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/069-Trans-Mars-Injection.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/069-Trans-Mars-Injection.jpg Viking One departs earth enroute to Mars, venting fuel from the discarded booster creates a blue glow ; gouache on illustration board, 1975 2026-05-17T20:35:57.639Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/043-valles-marineris-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/043-valles-marineris-dixon.jpg 043-valles-marineris-dixon – Mars' grand canyon stretches for nearly 3,000 miles - gouache on illustration board painting by Don Dixon, 1974. The Martian sky is incorrectly depicted as deep blue, as was currently believed. © Don Dixon 2026-05-17T21:47:28.846Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/042-mars-vertical-view-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/042-mars-vertical-view-dixon.jpg 042-mars-vertical-view-dixon – This illustration presents a top-down, nadir perspective of the heavily cratered Martian surface, simulating an orbital overhead view. A prominent, winding sinuous channel or graben cuts vertically through the ancient, orange-red terrain, showing complex bank structures and fracturing. The surrounding landscape is densely pockmarked with impact craters of varying sizes and degradation states, partially obscured in areas by wispy, white atmospheric clouds or surface frost.. Gouache on illustration board, 1975. 2026-05-17T21:54:17.934Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/041-phobos-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/041-phobos-dixon.jpg 041-phobos-dixon – The larger Martian moon Phobos, known at the time of this painting to be a dark, potato shaped asteroidal body, orbits about 3,700 miles above Mars. Gouache on illustration board, 1974 2026-05-17T22:03:19.702Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/040-mars-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/040-mars-dixon.jpg 040-mars-dixon –The Red Planet dominates the sky of Deimos, its outer moon, in this gouache-on-paper painting from 1974. The Martian disk displays classic albedo features, including Syrtis Major and the bright northern polar cap, with subtle variations in surface coloration across its deserts. In the foreground, the low-gravity moon's landscape is highly textured, filled with deep depressions and rough rocky ridges illuminated by a distant sun. 2026-05-17T22:15:57.123Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/033-mars-from-deimos-1-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/033-mars-from-deimos-1-dixon.jpg 033-mars-from-deimos-1-dixon – Mars hangs above the nearby horizon of its outer satellite Deimos - painting by Don Dixon, gouache on paper, 1971 (digitally remastered) 2026-05-17T22:32:57.392Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/022-Portrait-Of-Mars.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/022-Portrait-Of-Mars.jpg 022-portrait-of-mars-dixon – An early study of Mars as revealed by Mariner Nine. Oil on masonite, 1973. 2026-05-17T22:46:06.509Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/020-mars-polar-cap-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/020-mars-polar-cap-dixon.jpg 020-mars-polar-cap-dixon – This illustration presents a striking overhead, close-up perspective of a Martian polar cap region, showcasing the stark interaction between ice and dust. The left portion of the frame features heavily textured, pale-toned frosted terrains pockmarked with ancient craters and etched with complex, stepped valleys. This icy sheet gives way along a highly irregular, fractured boundary to the deep, rust-red basaltic plains of the Martian desert, which are scattered with sharp-rimmed impact craters on the right. An early oil on Masonite study, 1974 2026-05-17T22:55:06.734Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/012-mars-rasena-valley-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/012-mars-rasena-valley-dixon.jpg 012-Mars-Rasena-Valley 012-mars-rasena-valley-dixon – Astronauts explore an ancient river valley on Mars, discovering ice deposits. (Dated sky treatment). Oil on canvas, 24x36 inches, 1972. 2026-05-17T23:02:40.674Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/011-approaching-mars-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/011-approaching-mars-dixon.jpg 011-approaching-mars-dixon – This early painting depicts an interplanetary expedition approaching Mars, featuring three large, multi-stage spacecraft coasting through deep space. In the background, the detailed, marbled globe of Mars displays prominent dark albedo features, scattered cratering, and a delicate blue atmospheric limb against a vast field of distant stars. Oil on masonite, 1973. 2026-05-17T23:19:10.789Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/004-the-mountains-of-mitchel-mars-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/004-the-mountains-of-mitchel-mars-dixon.jpg The Mountains Of Mitchel on Mars 004-the-mountains-of-mitchel-mars-dixon –Patches of snow or ice that persisted into late spring suggested the presence of mountains in the south polar region of Mars to early telescopic observers. (Dated concept). 22x28 inch oil on canvas panel, 1972. 2026-05-17T23:22:30.897Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/001-phobos-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/001-phobos-dixon.jpg 001-phobos-dixon – Mars' inner moon, Phobos, based on first photo by Mariner Nine. This illustration presents an orbital perspective of the irregular, crater-pocked moon Phobos moving across the sweeping, sunlit horizon of Mars. The composition is uniquely framed through the large, circular structural rings of an interplanetary transit vehicle in the foreground. Below, the detailed Martian surface reveals an ancient, heavily cratered terrain blending into localized dust storms and atmospheric haze along the planetary limb. oil on panel, 1971 2026-05-17T23:31:41.870Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/469-mars-nanedi-valles-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/469-mars-nanedi-valles-dixon.jpg 469-mars-nanedi-valles 469-mars-nanedi-valles-dixon – This wide-angle panoramic vista depicts the rugged interior of Nanedi Valles, a large sinuous valley located in the Lunae Palus quadrangle of Mars. The Martian canyon features steep, deeply eroded layered alcoves and terraced rocky walls, indicating ancient liquid water flow or collapse events. The arid valley floor is covered with fine wind-blown sand dunes and fractured, desiccated mud cracks beneath a dusty, salmon-colored atmospheric sky. Oil on masonite. © 2013 Don Dixon 2026-05-18T00:01:20.838Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/551-exploring-nanedi-valles_dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/551-exploring-nanedi-valles_dixon.jpg 551-exploring-nanedi-valles-dixon – This illustration depicts a view across a rugged, deeply eroded Martian canyon floor. The landscape is dominated by rich, multi-textured shades of rust-red and ochre rock formations, with wind-carved channels and debris fields sweeping toward towering, stratified canyon walls in the background. In the mid-ground, a landing module rests on a smoother, sandy terrace. In the foreground, two astronauts investigate a rocky outcropping, adding a dramatic sense of scale and human presence to the immense geologic features. oil on Masonite, 2013 2026-05-18T00:05:48.156Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/323-viking-landing-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/323-viking-landing-dixon.jpg 323-VikingLanding 323-viking-landing-dixon –Hamilton Collection plate commemorating landing of Viking One on Chryse Planitia, Mars, July 20, 1976. This classic space art painting captures the historic moment of a Viking lander hovering just moments before touchdown on the Martian surface. The spacecraft’s terminal descent engines fire downward, scouring the rock-strewn desert floor and kicking up localized dust circles. The landing site is covered in dark, iron-rich volcanic boulders under a smooth, pale pinkish-orange sky, with a small, bright Sun hanging low near the horizon. acrylic and gouache, 1994 2026-05-18T00:26:01.817Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/311-mars-lander-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/311-mars-lander-dixon.jpg 311-Mars-Lander.jpg 551-exploring-nanedi-valles-dixon – This illustration depicts a view across a rugged, deeply eroded Martian canyon floor. The landscape is dominated by rich, multi-textured shades of rust-red and ochre rock formations, with wind-carved channels and debris fields sweeping toward towering, stratified canyon walls in the background. In the mid-ground, a landing module rests on a smoother, sandy terrace. In the foreground, two astronauts investigate a rocky outcropping, adding a dramatic sense of scale and human presence to the immense geologic features. oil on Masonite, 2013 (digitally remastered) 2026-05-18T01:36:27.816Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/don-dixon-return-to-mars-HJ7DZ.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/don-dixon-return-to-mars-HJ7DZ.jpg 2026-06-01T17:01:03.763Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/307-port-lowell-mars-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Mars/slides/307-port-lowell-mars-dixon.jpg 307-Port-Lowell-Mars 307-port-lowell-mars-dixon – astronauts survey site for a base in an ancient river valley on Mars. This sprawling panoramic space art landscape captures an early human exploration base, designated Port Lowell, nestled within a wide Martian valley. painting by Don Dixon 2026-06-02T23:19:55.486Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/index.html 2026-06-11T00:55:13.982Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/006-halleys-comet-earth-moon-encounter-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/006-halleys-comet-earth-moon-encounter-dixon.jpg 006-Halleys-Comet 006-halleys-comet-earth-moon-encounter-dixon – A vibrant 1972 analog illustration depicting a bright comet, characterized by a brilliant coma and a multi-layered ion tail, traversing the foreground of the Earth-Moon system. The composition uses high-contrast lighting to show the comet's tail-structure sweeping across the dark expanse, with a crescent Earth and distant Moon providing a sense of scale and proximity.An early Spacescapes painting depicts Comet Halley near Earth, 1972; 24 x 36 inches, oil on canvas panel 2026-06-06T22:18:12.574Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/104-asteroid-prospector-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/104-asteroid-prospector-dixon.jpg 104-asteroid-prospector-dixon – Long, spindly legs level the prospector's craft in the irregular gravity field of a small asteroid ; acrylic on board, 1984 2026-06-06T23:18:18.539Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/121-comet-nucleus-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/121-comet-nucleus-dixon.jpg 121-comet-nucleus-dixon – A fragment of a comet passes by Mars ; An irregular, cratered comet nucleus drifts in deep space, backlit by a brilliant, concentrated sunburst that illuminates surrounding volatile gas and dust trails. In the background, Mars hangs in partial shadow, flanked by a distant, smaller moon. Whispy filaments of a blue-toned coma weave across the dense starfield, framing the celestial choreography. acrylic on masonite, 1979 2026-06-07T00:45:37.819Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/106-asteroid-mining-lunar-orbit-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/106-asteroid-mining-lunar-orbit-dixon.jpg 106-Asteroid-Mining 106-asteroid-mining-lunar-orbit-dixon –Speculative illustration of a large asteroid being steered into a high orbit around a crescent Moon for future industrial use. A small spacecraft is positioned near the lunar limb, while the dark, cratered surface of the asteroid in the foreground is equipped with blue navigational or landing lights. The Earth is visible in the distance as a small blue sphere against a dense star field. ; electromagnetic mass drivers eject rock to maneuver an asteroid into orbit between Earth and Moon ; acrylic on board, 1977 2026-06-07T01:04:56.750Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/183-giotto-halley-encounter-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/183-giotto-halley-encounter-dixon.jpg 183-giotto-halley-encounter-dixon - painted the night of the Giotto-Halley encounter, the Giotto spacecraft speeds past the dark, bi-lobed nucleus of Halley's Comet, its protective shield glowing yellow from high-velocity dust impacts. Powerful geyser-like jets of volatile gas and dust erupt violently from the active nucleus, streaming into a turbulent, sunlit coma. A brilliant, distant sun illuminates the energetic display of filaments and dust trails slicing through the deep blue cosmic void. for The Orange County Register, acrylic and gouache, 1986. 2026-06-07T02:25:23.486Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/199-ceres-dwarf-planet-asteroid-belt-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/199-ceres-dwarf-planet-asteroid-belt-dixon.jpg 199-ceres-dwarf-planet-asteroid-belt-dixon - early conception of a large asteroid as seen from a possible satellite. A detailed view of the dwarf planet Ceres as seen from the perspective of a nearby orbiting body or a fragmenting asteroid. The illustration highlights the dense cratering of the C-type carbonaceous surface, emphasizing the ancient geological history of the largest object in the asteroid belt. Deep shadows and high-contrast lighting accentuate the rugged topography against a backdrop of distant stars. Acrylic, 1982. 2026-06-07T02:33:00.232Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/251-asteroid-mining-moon-earth-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/251-asteroid-mining-moon-earth-dixon.jpg Mining an Asteroid Operation Asteroid - A mile-long carbonaceous asteroid is maneuvered into orbit over the moon, where it will be mined for organics required to sustain a lunar base. An electromagnetic mass driver provides not only propulsion (by ejecting asteroidal rock at high velocity), but will be used to deliver mined material to the lunar surface where it can be collected by colonists. 18x24 inch acrylic and gouache on Masonite panel, 1980. 2026-06-07T02:34:22.576Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/258-earth-crossing-asteroid-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/258-earth-crossing-asteroid-dixon.jpg 258-Earth-Crossing-Asteroid 258-earth-crossing-asteroid-dixon – A dark, pockmarked near-Earth asteroid drifts through space, positioned between a heavily cratered lunar surface and a distant, vibrant blue Earth. The massive celestial body on the left showcases dense impact basins with dramatic side-lighting that accentuates its rugged topology. In the lower right quadrant, Earth hangs half-illuminated against a vast, deep black cosmic void speckled with a fine distribution of distant stars. illustration for Orange County Register, 1985, acrylic and gouache. 2026-06-07T02:36:55.565Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/327-gliese-710-comets-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/327-gliese-710-comets-dixon.jpg 327-Gliese-710-Comets 327-gliese-710-comets-dixon – A wide cosmic diagram illustrates the orange dwarf star Gliese 710 perturbing the Oort cloud of our solar system, triggering a shower of comets. To the left, a spherical cloud composed of millions of icy primordial bodies surrounds a central, bright star system. On the right, the incoming rogue star leaves a wake of active comets with long, luminous blue ion tails streaming away into a vast, dense field of background stars. digital, for Scientific American, circa 2000. 2026-06-07T02:39:49.981Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/414-comet-tail-passage-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/414-comet-tail-passage-dixon.jpg 414-comet-tail-passage-dixon – A brilliant comet nucleus blazes in the lower right quadrant, generating an expansive, luminous blue ion tail that stretches diagonally across the frame. Earth and Moon are immersed directly within the flowing streams of the cometary tail, casting subtle shadows or wakes through the gas. Wispy, delicate filaments of dust and energized ions curve gracefully away from the core, highlighting the intense solar wind interaction in deep space. digital, circa 2000. 2026-06-07T02:48:35.243Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/344-saudi-meteor-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/344-saudi-meteor-dixon.jpg Meteorite impact in the Rub' al Khali 344-saudi-meteor-dixon – Molten glass splashes out from a meteor impact in the Empty Quarter ( Rub' al Khali) of the Saudi Desert. A dramatic meteor impact unfolds across a vast desert landscape, dominated by rolling sand dunes under a darkened sky. A massive, brilliant explosion erupts from the desert floor, blasting fine debris, shockwaves, and an immense mushroom-shaped plume of smoke and dust high into the atmosphere. In the upper left quadrant, a secondary glowing bolide streaks downward, leaving a fiery trail, while freshly scattered, burning meteorites impact the foreground terrain. digital painting by Don Dixon for Scientific American 2026-06-07T02:53:47.864Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/345-greenland-meteor-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/345-greenland-meteor-dixon.jpg 345-Greenland-Meteor 345-greenland-meteor-dixon – A brilliant bolide streaks downward through Earth's upper atmosphere, terminating in an intense, glowing explosion above a glaciated coastal landscape. The hypervelocity impactor casts a bright golden-orange reflection across the partially ice-covered ocean water below. In the foreground, complex patterns of sea ice, fractured glaciers, and rugged coastlines are illuminated under a dark, star-filled orbital sky. Recreation of a meteor that may have exploded over Greenland - digital painting by Don Dixon for Scientific American, 1998 2026-06-07T02:59:37.780Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/346-fire-over-ice-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/346-fire-over-ice-dixon.jpg 346-Fire-over-ice-greenland-meteor-explosion 346-fire-over-ice-dixon – a huge fireball exploding over the Greenland ice cap, cover November, 1998 Scientific American - digital painting by Don Dixon 2026-06-07T04:21:07.271Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/353-comet-nucleus-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/353-comet-nucleus-dixon.jpg 353-comet-nucleus-dixon – A dark, irregular cometary nucleus vents volatile gases and dust as it heats up in interplanetary space. Linear jets of outgassing material erupt directly from the sunlit surface, feeding into a vast, glowing blue coma structured by fine, radial filaments. A distinct, elongated shadow is cast by the nucleus directly behind it, cutting through the illuminated haze of the surrounding dust and gas envelope. digtial, 2003 2026-06-07T04:27:58.996Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/354-stardust-comet-probe-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/354-stardust-comet-probe-dixon.jpg 354-stardust-comet-probe-dixon – The Stardust Probe Approaches Comet Wilde 2. An automated robotic spacecraft performs a close flyby of an active comet nucleus, encountering hypervelocity dust particles that strike its protective shields with bright, microscopic impacts. In the background, the dark, irregular nucleus forcefully vents linear jets of gas and dust into a sprawling, vibrant blue coma filled with intricate radial filaments. The probe is positioned directly in front of the comet's primary dust stream, catching a glint of sunlight on its main bus and solar arrays against the deep black of space. digital, for Sciantific American 2026-06-07T04:34:27.561Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/355-stardust-2-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/355-stardust-2-dixon.jpg 355-stardust-2-dixon – The Stardust Probe Approaches Comet Wilde 2. An automated robotic spacecraft navigates close to a highly active, dark cometary nucleus venting dramatic fountain-like jets of gas and dust. Curved, colorful plumes in shades of white, orange, and blue erupt symmetrically from the core, forming a vast, dynamic coma structured by delicate radial filaments against a star-studded deep space background. The probe is positioned in the foreground below the nucleus, with its solar panels and main body highlighted by an orange glow from the surrounding energetic environment. Digital painting, 2002 2026-06-07T04:40:26.179Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/410-Monte-Carlo-Meteor.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/410-Monte-Carlo-Meteor.jpg 410-monte-carlo-meteor-dixon – .A bright Perseid meteor streaks across a dense, star-filled night sky as viewed from a hilltop in Ventimiglia, Italy, leaving a fine, glowing trail above a sweeping coastal view. Below, a winding mountain road and sprawling seaside towns are illuminated by artificial golden and white lights, tracing the rugged contours of the coastline. The calm ocean waters are visible along the dark shorelines, contrasting with the vibrant nocturnal human activity and the vast celestial display above. Digital composite, 2004. 2026-06-07T04:45:30.939Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/437-asteroid-collision-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/437-asteroid-collision-dixon.jpg 437-Asteroid-Collision 437-asteroid-collision-dixon – A large asteroid is struck by a smaller one. Since both bodies are porous, most of the energy is absorbed as heat, rather than dispersed with ejecta, thus explaining the internal melting of asteroids. Digital, for Scientific American. © 2005 by Don Dixon. 2026-06-07T04:47:23.710Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/441-deflecting-a-comet-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/441-deflecting-a-comet-dixon.jpg 441-Deflecting-A-Comet 441-deflecting-a-comet-dixon –A high-powered laser in earth orbit blasts surface material from an approaching comet nucleus in an effort to deflect it. Pre-production art for NBC miniseries "Asteroid." Acrylic and goache, 1997. © 2005 by Don Dixon. 2026-06-07T04:49:06.399Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/009-in-the-shadow-of-icarus-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Asteroids%20and%20Comets/slides/009-in-the-shadow-of-icarus-dixon.jpg 009-In-The-Shadow-Of-Icarus 009-in-the-shadow-of-icarus-dixon – an early painting by Don Dixon showing a crewed spacecraft sheltering in the shadow of the sun-diving asteroid Icarus as a tethered instrument examines the nearby Sun; 24 x 36 inches, oil on canvas with watercolor paper applique´, 1972; copyright Don Dixon 2026-06-08T00:34:43.407Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/index.html 2026-06-11T00:55:42.238Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/481-volcano-eruption-io-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/481-volcano-eruption-io-dixon.jpg Volcanic Eruption on Io 481-volcano-eruption-io-dixon – This illustration captures an active volcanic plume erupting from the surface of Jupiter's moon, Io, with the massive, banded gas giant filling the background sky. The volcanic vent expels a luminous, umbrella-shaped plume of sulfur dioxide gas and particulate matter that glows with a faint bluish-green luminescence against the dark void of space. The rugged, sulfuric foreground terrain is marked by fractured silicate rock, lava channels, and undulating hills, all illuminated by the filtered light of the Jovian system.Digital, around 2007 2026-05-18T05:04:27.470Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/455-jupiter-moon-orbit-diagram-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/455-jupiter-moon-orbit-diagram-dixon.jpg Diagram of Jupiter's Satellites' Orbits 455-jupiter-moon-orbit-diagram-dixon – This orbital schematic illustrates the complex, tangled web of irregular satellite trajectories surrounding Jupiter. The highly eccentric, inclined, and overlapping paths are highlighted in luminous green vector lines against a stark black void, with small arrows indicating orbital direction. The central planet is depicted at the focal point as a small, banded globe encircled by its regular, inner prograde satellite orbits. digital, for Scientific American, around 2006 2026-05-18T05:08:36.829Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/445-clouds-of-jupiter-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/445-clouds-of-jupiter-dixon.jpg 445-clouds-of-jupiter-dixon – The horizon is nearly 1,000 miles away in this high-altitude vista within the Jovian atmosphere, depicting layered decks of ammonia ice and ammonium hydrosulfide clouds. In the foreground, cumulus-like storm towers rise above a vast, ochre-tinted lower haze layer under a pale blue upper sky. To the upper right, a massive cyclonic storm system churns, illuminating towering wall clouds with internal electrical lightning discharges, while two crescent moons are visible in the distant clear air.. Digital painting © 2007 Don Dixon 2026-05-18T22:03:43.706Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/419-europa-cover-03-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/419-europa-cover-03-dixon.jpg Crescent Jupiter over Europa 419-europa-cover-03-dixon – A crescent Jupiter is poised on the horizon of its icy moon Europa in this variation of artwork created for the May, 2004 cover of "Astronomy." A small, colorful inner moon, Io, hangs directly in transit against the banded gas giant. Digital, 2004. © 2005 by Don Dixon. 2026-05-18T22:08:04.487Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/369-europa-cover-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/369-europa-cover-dixon.jpg Jupiter seen from the Icy Surface of Europa 369-europa-cover-dixon –Digital cover painting for the October, 1999 issue of Scientific American for the story "Europa's Ocean." A view from the Jovian moon Europa depicting a chaotic landscape of fractured water ice blocks, pressure ridges, and rugged hummocky terrain rendered in cool blue and white tones. On the stark horizon, a partially illuminated Jupiter cuts through the darkness of space, showing distinct atmospheric bands and its day-night terminator line. A smaller moon, Io, hangs suspended in front of the gas giant's illuminated hemisphere. © Don Dixon 2026-05-18T22:18:17.102Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/391-jupiter-rings-diagram-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/391-jupiter-rings-diagram-dixon.jpg 391-jupiter-rings-diagram-dixon –A technical three-dimensional diagram illustrating the structure and origin of Jupiter's ring system. The graphic models the faint main ring, the inner halo, and the expansive, faint outer gossamer rings. On the right, a callout demonstrates micrometeoroid impacts on small inner moons (such as Metis, Adrastea, Amalthea, or Thebe), showing how the resulting dust ejecta feeds and maintains the distinct concentric ring structures. Brightness and density of the rings are exagerrated. digital painting by Don Dixon for Scientific American 2026-05-18T22:18:32.871Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/352-europa-probe-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/352-europa-probe-dixon.jpg 352-europa-probe-dixon –A cross-sectional speculative illustration of the Jovian moon Europa, revealing a robotic submarine probe exploring the dark, deep liquid water ocean beneath the thick, fractured ice crust. The upper portion of the frame shows the moon's rugged, brownish-orange surface cutting across the horizon, with a massive Jupiter and a smaller transiting moon rising into the black vacuum of space. The submarine navigates the abyssal depths using a forward-facing spotlight, illuminating sub-surface ice formations and potential hydrothermal venting activity in the lower right. digital, for Scientific American 2026-05-18T22:24:25.159Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/347-jupiter-meteor-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/347-jupiter-meteor-dixon.jpg 347-jupiter-meteor-dixon – A dramatic first-person perspective from within the upper atmosphere of Jupiter, capturing the high-velocity entry and detonation of a massive bolide or comet fragment. The meteor cuts a brilliant, glowing ionization trail vertically through a pale blue upper sky, piercing layered decks of white ammonia cumulus clouds and impacting the denser, ochre-tinted ammonium hydrosulfide clouds below. The point of airburst triggers powerful concentric shockwaves and thermal ripples across the Jovian cloudscape, while the distant Sun and small crescent moons hang calmly above the atmospheric disturbance. commisioned for Carl Sagan's book "Comet". acrylic on illustration board, 1987. 2026-05-18T22:29:12.384Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/332-ice-lead-on-europa-2-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/332-ice-lead-on-europa-2-dixon.jpg 332-ice-lead-on-europa-2-dixon – a brief opening in the icy crust of Europa reveals its usually hidden ocean, frontispiece for Scientific American Cosmos. A dramatic night view across a fractured ice lead on the surface of Europa, showing a dark lane of slushy or newly frozen water cutting through jagged, hummocky ice blocks. High in the black sky, a large Jupiter hangs over the flat horizon, its banding subtly illuminated by moonlight as glare from the eclipsed sun peaks out from its lower edge, which casts a faint specular reflection onto the dark ice below. painting by Don Dixon 2026-05-18T22:39:08.279Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/281-europan-valley-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/281-europan-valley-dixon.jpg 281-europan-valley-dixon – A wide view from inside a deep, fractured ice canyon or graben on the surface of Europa, looking across a smooth, refrozen valley floor toward the distant horizon. The sheer, rugged canyon walls show complex vertical faulting textures characteristic of a tidally stressed ice crust. In the pitch-black sky above, a huge, banded Jupiter dominates the upper frame, displaying prominent atmospheric storms and the Great Red Spot near its limb, while a small inner moon hangs directly beneath it in a star-filled vacuum. acrylic and goauche on board 2026-05-18T22:54:32.912Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/261-sl9-impact-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/261-sl9-impact-dixon.jpg 261-sl9-impact-dixon –An orbital perspective above Jupiter capturing the violent impact of a Shoemaker-Levy 9 comet fragment into the dense Jovian atmosphere. In the foreground, a large, irregular, cratered cometary nucleus falls toward the planet, while a previous fragment's detonation is visible below, ripping open the atmospheric cloud decks with a blinding central flash and concentric, ring-like thermal shockwaves. The planetary limb curves gracefully toward the upper left under a dark vacuum, where a small, detailed moon hangs amidst a field of stars. acrylic on board, 1994 2026-05-18T23:02:46.151Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/196-io-in-transit-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/196-io-in-transit-dixon.jpg 196-io-in-transit-dixon – A view from the craggy, organics-stained ice in a graben on Jupiter's moon Europa, framing a dramatic planetary alignment. In the mid-ground, the volcanic moon Io hangs in transit against the massive, banded disk of Jupiter, which fills a significant portion of the star-flecked sky. The vertical, backlit, tenuous ring of Jupiter bisects the scene, accentuating the stark lighting conditions of deep space. 2026-05-18T23:27:26.658Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/186-eclipse-by-gas-giant-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/186-eclipse-by-gas-giant-dixon.jpg 186-eclipse-by-gas-giant-dixon - cover of the Magazine of Fantasy and Science Fiction, October 1977 ; A striking high-altitude perspective from a rugged, ice-dusted alien landscape, looking up at a solar eclipse caused by a massive gas giant. The sun is positioned directly behind the limb of the planet, creating a brilliant diamond ring effect and an intense circular lens flare that illuminates a thin, golden atmospheric crescent. The deep blue sky fades upward into a dark starfield, where three smaller crescent moons align in the distance to the right of the primary planet. acrylic and gouache, 1977 2026-05-18T23:46:04.543Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/144-jupiter-10-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/144-jupiter-10-dixon.jpg 144-jupiter-10-dixon - probably a captured asteroid, this tiny moon affords a distant, high-inclination view of the giant planet. The small, distinct sphere of Jupiter reveals faint atmospheric banding, surrounded by its four prominent Galilean moons scattered as pinpricks of light at varying orbital distances. 2026-05-19T00:39:10.428Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/143-callisto-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/143-callisto-dixon.jpg 143-callisto-dixon - A wide, desolate look across the ancient, heavily cratered terrain of the Jovian moon Callisto, emphasizing a surface dominated by frost-rimmed ridges and icy impact structures. Hanging prominently in the dark, starry vacuum above the horizon is the detailed disk of Jupiter, showing its characteristic atmospheric bands and a hint of the Great Red Spot. Several small, pinpoint moons are scattered near the gas giant, tracing their orbital paths against the deep space background. 2026-05-19T00:54:53.862Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/142-ganymede-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/142-ganymede-dixon.jpg 142-ganymede-dixon – A wide-angle perspective from the deeply grooved and stratified surface of the Jovian moon Ganymede, looking down an icy, undulating tectonic valley framed by weathered ridges. In the deep black sky above the flat horizon, a large, detailed Jupiter displays subtle atmospheric bands and swirling weather patterns. Two smaller moons hang nearby in the star-flecked vacuum, with one positioned close to Jupiter's edge and the other suspended further to the right. 2026-05-19T01:00:22.168Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/141-ice-lead-on-europa-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/141-ice-lead-on-europa-dixon.jpg Europa's Ice Crust Fractures 141-ice-lead-on-europa-dixon - a rare fracture in the icy crust of Europa briefly reveals the ocean below. Rapid sublimation of the exposed water would quickly re-freeze it. The distant sun flares into view from behind Jupiter as an eclipse ends. 8x10 inches, acrylic and gouache on illustration board, 1984. © Don Dixon 2026-05-19T01:04:17.185Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/140-europan-valley-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/140-europan-valley-dixon.jpg 140-europan-valley-dixon – A dramatic surface view from a deep tectonic canyon on an inner Jovian satellite, Europa, looking down a rugged, sunlit valley floor flanked by steep, fractured icy cliffs. In the star-dense black sky above the horizon, a massive, highly detailed Jupiter showcases intricate cloud belts, active cyclonic storms, and a sharp day-night terminator line. Near the bottom edge of the gas giant, the volcanic moon Io moves in close transit, emitting distinct, bright blue volcanic plumes from its active surface. 2026-05-19T01:14:52.195Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/139-io-sodium-aurora-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/139-io-sodium-aurora-dixon.jpg 139-io-sodium-aurora-dixon - A dramatic vista from the highly volcanic and rugged surface of Io, looking across a jagged, rocky canyon landscape. A colossal, half-illuminated Jupiter hangs in the dark sky, its dense cloud bands and iconic Great Red Spot visible along its day-night terminator line. To the left, a luminous, orange-glowing cloud of neutral sodium atoms forms a vast magneto-atmospheric nebula, interacting with the Jovian magnetic field and casting an eerie glow over the star-flecked background. 6x7 inch acrylic and gouache on illustration board, 1984. © Don Dixon 2026-05-19T01:18:45.284Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/137-jupiter-sea-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/137-jupiter-sea-dixon.jpg Jupiter's Hydrogen Ocean 137-jupiter-sea-dixon – Jupiter's Sea - deep beneath Jupiter's clouds, an exotic ocean of liquid hydrogen roils mysteriously. 6x8 inch acrylic and gouache on illustration board, 1982. © Don Dixon 2026-05-19T01:29:25.142Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/136-io-shadow-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/136-io-shadow-dixon.jpg 136-io-shadow-dixon The shadow of Io races across the cloudtops of Jupiter during a solar eclipse 2026-05-19T03:10:53.571Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/135-Jupiter-balloon-Probe.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/135-Jupiter-balloon-Probe.jpg Jupiter Probe - a balloon probe floats amidst Jupiter's clouds 2026-05-19T03:23:34.368Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/134-jupiter-ring-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/134-jupiter-ring-dixon.jpg 134-jupiter-ring-dixon - Jupiter's thin ring is dimly visible when backlit by the sun. Lightning and auroras sparkle in the Jovian night. The volcanic moon Io transits the disk. 2026-05-19T04:41:26.505Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/133-amalthea-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/133-amalthea-dixon.jpg 133-amalthea-dixon - Jupiter's tiny, close moon races above the roiling cloudtops. The planet dominates the frame with intricate orange, ochre, and cream atmospheric bands, highlighted by a prominent, swirling Great Red Spot in the upper right quadrant. A distinct, soft-edged circular black shadow of an inner moon is cast onto the lower, pale yellow cloud deck. 2026-05-19T04:50:29.827Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/128-Seas-Of-Europa.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/128-Seas-Of-Europa.jpg Seas Of Europa - warmed by the heat of the young Jupiter, Europa briefly experiences earthlike conditions ; acrylic and gouache 1980 2026-05-19T07:21:25.787Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/113-jovian-dawn-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/113-jovian-dawn-dixon.jpg 113-jovian-dawn-dixon –A dramatic vista from within the turbulent upper atmosphere of Jupiter captures a distant sunrise breaking over an expansive cloud deck. Towering, multi-layered cumulus formations flank a central atmospheric clearing, where vibrant curtains of orange and yellow aurora stream vertically along magnetic field lines. Multiple crescent moons hang in the sky beneath the auroral display, while an atmospheric probe suspended by a clear, teardrop-shaped balloon descends into the deep blue cloud layers on the left. ; acrylic on masonite, 1980 2026-05-19T17:45:06.863Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/087-jupiter-seen-from-europa-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/087-jupiter-seen-from-europa-dixon.jpg 087-jupiter-seen-from-europa-dixon – A crescent Jupiter hangs above icy volcanoes (dated concept, could serve as extrasolar gas giant) ; acrylic on masonite, 1979 2026-05-19T17:56:29.439Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/046-redspot-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/046-redspot-dixon.jpg 046-redspot-dixon – A detailed, close-up view focuses on Jupiter's Great Red Spot, capturing the immense anticyclonic storm system as it rotates within the planet's southern hemisphere. Concentric, multi-layered spiral patterns define the rich brick-red core of the vortex, which is surrounded by a brilliant white cloud channel. Intricate, chaotic eddies, turbulent wakes, and smaller white ovals interact along the margins of the neighboring atmospheric bands, fading into darkness toward the planet's shadow-draped terminator on the right. - painting by Don Dixon for documentary Jupiter Odyssey in 1974. © Don Dixon 2026-05-19T18:26:31.791Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/047-eclipse-from-io-1-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/047-eclipse-from-io-1-dixon.jpg 047-eclipse-from-io-1 – The Sun begins to slip from behind the massive disk of Jupiter as viewed from the fractured surface of its moon Io, creating a brilliant lens flare along the planet's limb. The gas giant dominates the starry sky, showcasing its iconic Great Red Spot and highly detailed atmospheric bands in ochre and cream tones. Below, the craggy landscape features dramatic scarps, a prominent impact crater on the left, and plumes of sublimating frost venting into the thin atmosphere across the right foreground. acrylic and goache painting on illustration board; © Don Dixon, 1974 2026-05-19T18:29:35.091Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/045-Pioneer-Jupiter.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/045-Pioneer-Jupiter.jpg 045-Pioneer-Jupiter – Pioneer 10 becomes the first spacecraft to visit Jupiter. The gas giant is beautifully rendered in the background, showing complex atmospheric belts, zones, the Great Red Spot, and the distinct black shadow of the orange moon Io cast upon its cloud decks. Io is visible further out in the star-studded field to the right of the spacecraft. Gouache on illustration board, 1974. © Don Dixon 2026-05-19T18:40:08.684Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/038-io-eruption-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/038-io-eruption-dixon.jpg 038-io-eruption-dixon –Two massive volcanic plumes erupt violently from the sulfurous surface of Io, sending bright, ethereal fans of gas and particulate matter high into the vacuum of space. The intense blue and white umbrella-shaped plumes are backlit by a crescent Jupiter, which rises majestically over a rugged, low-lying horizon of dark volcanic rock and sulfur-crusted plains. A narrow channel of molten lava glows faintly along a valley floor in the midground beneath a star-filled black sky. acrylic and gouache on board 2026-05-19T18:56:22.492Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/035-jupiter-from-io-1-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/035-jupiter-from-io-1-dixon.jpg 035-jupiter-from-io-1-dixon – Io depicted as a Mars-like world, cover of Family Weekly, November 1973. (Don Dixon's first published painting). dated concept. A vast gibbous Jupiter displaying intricate atmospheric bands and a prominent Great Red Spot hangs in a dark starless sky over the rugged surface of Io. In the foreground, two astronauts clad in white spacesuits traverse a steep, reddish-orange ridge strewn with rocky debris. The expansive planetary landscape opens into a distant valley floor containing reflective patches, bounded by jagged, precipitous mountain ranges illuminated by low-angle sunlight. Oil on illustration board, 1973. artwork © Don Dixon/cosmographica.com 2026-05-19T19:06:10.243Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/023-exploring-jupiter-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/023-exploring-jupiter-dixon.jpg 023-exploring-jupiter-dixon – Perhaps the earliest depiction of a balloon probe floating in the atmosphere of Jupiter. Hot hydrogen provides buoyancy. High above a churning Jovian cloudscape, a large, teardrop-shaped balloon probe drifts through the upper troposphere on the right. Below, deep atmospheric layers are illuminated by intense, branching channels of red and white lightning snaking across the darker storm zones. In the distance, a high-altitude cloud deck catches the warm glow of a hidden sun, while three crescent moons hang suspended in the dark, aurora-filled sky above the planetary horizon. Oil on masonite, 1973 Artwork © 2007 Don Dixon/cosmographica.com 2026-05-19T22:09:46.340Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/014-ganymede-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/014-ganymede-dixon.jpg 014-ganymede-dixon – Exploring Ganymede ; an early Don Dixon painting showing astronauts exploring one of Jupiter's moons; A large, near-full Jupiter dominating the star-filled sky displays pronounced, swirling atmospheric bands and a prominent, pale Great Red Spot near its southern limb. A small moon transits across the upper right quadrant of the gas giant, while another icy, textured moon hangs further out in deep space to the left. The scene is viewed from a deep canyon on Ganymede, where several tiny astronauts in white spacesuits explore flat-topped mesas and a smooth valley floor bordered by massive, fractured stone cliffs on the right. 24 x 36 inches, oil on canvas, 1972; copyright Don Dixon 2026-05-19T22:16:56.462Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/002-approaching-jupiter-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/002-approaching-jupiter-dixon.jpg Approaching Jupiter 002-approaching-jupiter-dixon – included in the first Spacescapes series, this very early piece shows Jupiter and its moons through a spacecraft viewport, 1972; 24 x 36 inches, oil on canvas panel; copyright Don Dixon 2026-05-19T22:20:33.475Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/552-amalthea-retro-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/552-amalthea-retro-dixon.jpg 552-amalthea-retro-dixon - an oil on panel redo of a very early piece for a private commission. A close-up view from the rugged, rust-colored surface of the inner moon Amalthea looks out across the immense, banded expanse of Jupiter. The gas giant fills the background, displaying highly detailed ochre, cream, and reddish-brown cloud belts, chaotic eddies, and a massive Great Red Spot accompanied by an adjacent oval storm. Two stark, dark moon shadows are cast distinctly upon the lower turbulent cloud structures, positioned above a jagged rocky ridge that dominates the foreground. 2020 2026-05-19T22:41:27.945Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/553-amalthea-modern-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Jupiter/slides/553-amalthea-modern-dixon.jpg 553-amalthea-modern-dixon – A high-resolution view from the craggy, textured terrain of the small moon Amalthea captures a massive gibbous Jupiter dominating the local horizon. The gas giant exhibits intricate, pale cream and tan atmospheric bands interlinked with complex white oval storms, alongside a subtle, low-contrast Great Red Spot. Two sharp, circular black moon shadows are cast distinctly upon the lower southern cloud structures, situated just above a starkly shadowed, rocky foreground composed of deep craters and ridges. digital, 2020 2026-05-19T23:04:15.581Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/index.html 2026-06-11T00:56:07.484Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/456-saturn-moon-orbit-diagram-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/456-saturn-moon-orbit-diagram-dixon.jpg 456-saturn-moon-orbit-diagram-dixon.jpg Diagram for Scientific American shows orbits of the many satellites of Saturn. A technical data visualization illustrates the complex orbital paths of Saturn's irregular moons against a black void. The orbits are color-coded, with green and red elliptical paths representing prograde and retrograde motions respectively, highlighting the gravitational capture of small outer satellites. Arrows along the orbital lines indicate the direction of travel around the central point representing the gas giant. Artwork © 2007 Don Dixon / cosmographica.com 2026-05-12T02:18:33.947Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/086-saturn-from-rhea-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/086-saturn-from-rhea-dixon.jpg 086-saturn-from-rhea-dixon – Saturn's rings appear as a thin line as seen from this icy moon ; small gouache study on board, 1983 2026-05-12T19:40:21.762Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/416-cassini-trajectory-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/416-cassini-trajectory-dixon.jpg 416-cassini-trajectory-dixon – A two-part technical diagram illustrates the complex orbital path of the Cassini spacecraft around Saturn. The top section shows the wide, eccentric orbits used to study the planet's moons, while the bottom detail highlights the arrival burn, with a trajectory marked in red passing through the narrow gap between the planet's atmosphere and its innermost rings. This visualization demonstrates the precise navigational engineering required to explore the Saturnian system without colliding with ring debris.. Digital, 2004, for Scientific American. 2026-05-12T02:26:59.105Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/392-saturn-rings-diagram-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/392-saturn-rings-diagram-dixon.jpg 392-saturn-rings-diagram-dixon – Lord of the RIngs: Saturn's magnificent system of rings extends nearly 200,000 miles from the center of the planet, but only the denser regions are easily observerd. A technical overhead view of Saturn provides a clear visualization of the primary ring divisions and the planet's atmospheric banding. The rendering highlights the varying opacity of the A, B, and C rings, with the prominent Cassini Division appearing as a dark gap. The planet's shadow is cast precisely across the ring plane, while several small inner moons are positioned along the outer edges of the complex ring structure. Digital painting for Scientific American. © 2012 Don Dixon / cosmographica.com 2026-05-16T00:51:06.895Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/407-huygens-titan-parachute-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/407-huygens-titan-parachute-dixon.jpg 407-huygens-titan-parachute –The Huygens probe descends through the hazy, nitrogen-rich upper atmosphere of Titan, suspended from its drogue parachute. Below the probe, a thick layer of orange photochemical smog partially obscures the moon's complex surface features. In the distant sky, Saturn appears as a bright, pale orb with its rings viewed nearly edge-on Version 2. Digital, for Scientific American, 2004. 2026-05-12T03:43:10.676Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/415-cassini-huygens-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/415-cassini-huygens-dixon.jpg 415-cassini-huygens-dixon – An infographic illustration details the sequence of the Huygens probe’s descent onto the surface of Titan, Saturn's largest moon. The diagram shows the separation from the Cassini orbiter, followed by the deployment of various parachute stages through Titan's thick, orange atmosphere, culminating in a landing on a landscape of hydrocarbon ice and liquid methane pools.Digital, 2004, for Scientific American. 2026-05-12T02:31:29.677Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/107-saturn-rising-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/107-saturn-rising-dixon.jpg 107-saturn-rising-dixon – Saturn rises above its moon Iapetus, as seen from orbit ; a small gouache on masonite study, 1975 2026-05-12T19:13:50.541Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/150-encke-division-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/150-encke-division-dixon.jpg 150-encke-division-dixon – A dramatic perspective from within Saturn's ring system highlights the Encke Gap, a clear lane within the A Ring kept open by the moon Pan. The sun is depicted with a prominent lens flare, casting a harsh light that reflects off the ring particles and the crescent edge of the planet. This view emphasizes the razor-thin profile of the rings and the gravitational sculpting that defines their complex boundaries. 2026-05-12T17:56:58.859Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/116-titan-base-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/116-titan-base-dixon.jpg 116-titan-base-dixon – A speculative science fiction scene depicting workers at a hydrocarbon mining facility on Saturn's moon as they take a ski break. Astronauts equipped with specialized environmental suits and breathing apparatuses are seen navigating a steep, slushy slope of methane ice. The low-contrast, orange-tinted sky reflects the moon's thick hydrocarbon haze and dense atmospheric conditions. acrylic on board, 1979 2026-05-12T18:55:28.509Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/145-saturn-from-phoebe-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/145-saturn-from-phoebe-dixon.jpg 145-saturn-from-phoebe-dixon – visualization from the heavily cratered, dark surface of the irregular moon Phoebe looking back toward a distant Saturn. The planet appears small in the black void of space, emphasizing Phoebe's remote, retrograde orbit far from the primary ring system. The foreground highlights the rugged, battered terrain characteristic of this captured Kuiper Belt object. 2026-05-12T18:23:03.518Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/088-exploring-saturns-rings-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/088-exploring-saturns-rings-dixon.jpg Exploring Saturn's Rings 088-exploring-saturns-rings-dixon.- explorers use a laser to zap a ring fragment for spectroscopic analysis ; cover Starlog magazine, 1977; vinyl on animation cel. 2026-05-12T19:32:06.517Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/149-co-orbital-moons-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/149-co-orbital-moons-dixon.jpg 149-co-orbital-moons-dixon – A dramatic low-angle perspective from the cratered surface of a small moon, looking toward its co-orbital partner against the limb of a gas giant. A distant sun is eclipsed or filtered through a narrow ring plane, creating a vertical pillar of light and a circular halo effect. The composition illustrates the unique gravitational relationship of Janus and Epimetheus or similar Trojan-style orbital configurations. 2026-05-12T17:59:38.336Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/151-f-ring-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/151-f-ring-dixon.jpg 151-f-ring-dixon – A wide-angle view of Saturn and its complex ring system, focusing on the braided and knotted structure of the narrow F ring. The sun appears as a bright, haloed light source, backlighting the delicate dust particles and revealing the intricate, non-uniform bands within the rings. Atmospheric features on the planet’s night side are subtly illuminated by "ringshine." 2026-05-12T06:06:03.029Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/310-titan-lake-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/310-titan-lake-dixon.jpg 310-titan-lake-dixon –Crepuscular rays pierce through a dense, golden-hued atmosphere to illuminate a vast expanse of liquid methane on Titan's surface. In the foreground, jagged outcroppings of water ice, frozen to the hardness of rock, create a stark shoreline against the ripples of the hydrocarbon sea. A localized storm on the horizon suggests the active methane cycle that shapes the moon's unique, prebiotic environment. 2026-05-12T05:37:53.934Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/119-saturn-from-rhea-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/119-saturn-from-rhea-dixon.jpg 119-saturn-from-rhea-dixon – Saturn's inner moons, seen against the thin line of the rings, shuttle like beads on a string. The planet’s rings are seen edge-on as a precise, thin line bisecting the gas giant, while broad, dark ring shadows are cast across the upper northern hemisphere. acrylic on board, 1981 2026-05-12T18:35:58.118Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/024-orbiting-titan-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/024-orbiting-titan-dixon.jpg Orbiting Titan 024-orbiting-titan-dixon – Titan depicted as a world warmed by the greenhouse effect, a dated concept. An orbital perspective looking across the curved, hazy limb of Titan toward a distant Saturn. The moon’s surface is a complex tapestry of reddish-orange terrains and dark, low-lying regions, partially obscured by a thin atmospheric blue fringe. Saturn is positioned centrally in the black void, its rings appearing as a brilliant, near-horizontal line with a distinct planetary shadow bisecting the ring plane. Oil on masonite, 1973. 2026-05-13T05:07:55.575Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/018-orbiting-ice-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/018-orbiting-ice-dixon.jpg 018 The Orbiting Ice 018-orbiting-ice-dixon – Saturn's rings are composed of a myriad particles of ice, ranging in size from pebbles to icebergs,each following its own orbit. Oil on masonite, 1973. © Don Dixon 2026-05-16T00:01:59.343Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/122-Classical-Titan.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/122-Classical-Titan.jpg 122-classical-titan-dixon – A nostalgic perspective from the surface of Titan, reflecting pre-Voyager scientific models that envisioned a transparent atmosphere. Massive, snow-capped peaks dominate the foreground, looking out toward a large, detailed Saturn suspended in a deep blue sky. This illustration captures a "classical" era of planetary art, emphasizing sharp geological textures and a vivid, clear-sky vista of the gas giant and its rings. Acrylic on illustration board, 1979 2026-05-12T18:27:06.698Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/264-clouds-of-saturn-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/264-clouds-of-saturn-dixon.jpg 264-clouds-of-saturn-dixon–From deep within the high-altitude haze of Saturn's upper atmosphere, the planet's vast ring system arcs across a brilliant indigo sky. Ammonia ice clouds form delicate, swirling structures in the foreground, catching the pale sunlight and casting soft shadows over the deeper atmospheric layers. Two small moons appear as sharp pinpoints of light near the edge of the ring plane, emphasizing the immense scale and complexity of the gas giant's environment ; acrylic on board, 1990 2026-05-12T05:41:24.409Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/333-titan-clouds-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/333-titan-clouds-dixon.jpg 333-titan-clouds-dixon –Saturn hangs serenely above towering methane storm clouds rising above the dark, liquid hydrocarbon seas of Titan, illuminated by a low, distant sun. In the upper atmosphere, the thick nitrogen-rich haze transitions into a deep indigo sky where Saturn hangs as a pale, ringed globe. The scene captures the high-energy weather systems of the Saturnian moon, highlighting the dramatic contrast between its dense lower atmosphere and the vacuum of space beyond. cover for Scientific American Cosmos - painting by Don Dixon 2026-05-12T05:34:54.900Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/091-ice-cliffs-on-titan-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/091-ice-cliffs-on-titan-dixon.jpg 091-ice-cliffs-on-titan-dixon – pools of hydrocarbons nestle between highly eroded cliffs of ice on Titan. Detail from Don Dixon's first published work, the cover of Family Weekly. Featured in Carl Sagan's TV series Cosmos. gouache on board, 1974 2026-05-12T19:28:06.825Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/154-titan-geyser-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/154-titan-geyser-dixon.jpg 154-titan-geyser-dixon – A cold, hazy landscape on Saturn’s moon Titan depicts a cryovolcanic plume erupting from a rocky, ice-strewn surface. The thick orange-gold atmosphere obscures the distant horizon while casting a diffused light over the low hills and frozen plains. This illustration captures the speculative geology of the moon's methane-rich environment and hydrocarbon cycle., gouache on illustration board, 1974 2026-05-12T05:58:07.056Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/152-electric-moon-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/152-electric-moon-dixon.jpg 152-electric-moon-dixon –An energetic visualization of electrostatic discharge or plasma phenomena occurring within a planetary ring system or debris disk. Dramatic electrical arcs bridge the gap between irregular, jagged moonlets and a dense field of smaller particulates. The composition highlights the high-energy interactions and electromagnetic forces that can influence the structural dynamics of orbiting celestial bodies. 2026-05-12T06:01:54.103Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/472-iapetus-study-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/472-iapetus-study-dixon.jpg Iapetus 472-iapetus-study-dixon.jpg –Saturn produces a "diamond ring" effect as it eclipses the sun in this perspective from the satellite Iapetus. From the rugged, cratered surface of the moon Iapetus, Saturn appears as a distant, ringed jewel suspended in the absolute blackness of space. The perspective highlights the moon's unique topography, characterized by ancient, icy ridges and a dual-toned surface texture., acrylic, gouache, and oil glaze on illustration board, 48x35 cm, 1984. Collection of Paul Allen Family Trust 2026-05-12T02:15:38.413Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/148-exploring-saturn-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/148-exploring-saturn-dixon.jpg 148-exploring-saturn-dixon – A cinematic conceptual scene depicting human exploration within Saturn's ring system. Two astronauts in heavy extravehicular activity (EVA) suits navigate a dense field of icy ring particles and larger boulders, while a spacecraft maneuvers nearby against the backdrop of the gas giant's banded atmosphere. The illustration emphasizes the immense scale of the planetary environment and the technical challenges of orbital operations in high-particle environments. 2026-05-12T18:03:35.420Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/395-saturn-glory-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/395-saturn-glory-dixon.jpg 395-saturn-glory-dixon. – The sun blazes through the Cassini Division of Saturn's Rings as viewed from 5,000 miles below the C Ring. Ilustration for Scientific American, March, 2002. The satellite Mimas is visible slightly right and below center. 2026-05-12T03:48:50.846Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/390-encke-gap-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/390-encke-gap-dixon.jpg 390-encke-gap-dixon – A cluster of icy satellites have been perturbed into a temporary orbit a few thousand miles above the plain of Saturn's rings. Tenuous rings follow intertwined paths within the Encke Gap far below.- painting by Don Dixon for Scientific American 2026-05-12T05:30:48.486Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/406-huygens-titan-descent-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/406-huygens-titan-descent-dixon.jpg 406-huygens-titan-descent –The Huygens probe drifts through Titan's opaque, amber-hued atmosphere, supported by its pilot chute during the initial stages of its 2005 descent. Motion blur in the lower cloud deck suggests high-altitude winds, while the distant, ringed silhouette of Saturn serves as a celestial anchor in the hazy sky. The illustration captures the transition from the vacuum of space to the dense, hydrocarbon-rich environment of Saturn’s largest moon. Digital, for Scientific American, 2004 2026-05-12T03:46:16.618Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/550-saturn-from-enceladus-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/550-saturn-from-enceladus-dixon.jpg Saturn seen from Enceladus 550-saturn-from-enceladus.jpg – The ringed planet Saturn looms over the jagged, icy horizon of its moon Enceladus. Erupting cryovolcanic plumes are visible in the foreground, venting water vapor and ice particles from the moon's subsurface ocean into space. The Sun appears as a bright source behind the icy ridges, creating a pronounced lens flare and illuminating the fine structure of Saturn's rings seen at a high inclination. 2026-05-12T01:55:26.997Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/146-saturn-from-comet-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/146-saturn-from-comet-dixon.jpg 146-saturn-from-comet-dixon – A dramatic view from the irregular, craggy surface of a comet nucleus as it passes through the outer Saturnian system. The gas giant is positioned centrally, showcasing its broad ring system and the shadow of the planetary sphere cast upon the rings. The foreground features highly textured, porous landscape details suggestive of a "dirty snowball" composition, providing a sense of scale to the distant planet. 2026-05-12T18:18:23.446Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/003-sunrise-on-titan-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/003-sunrise-on-titan-dixon.jpg Sunrise on Titan, 1971 003-sunrise-on-titan-dixon – Saturn's rings poised vertically as seen from Titan's equator; oil on panel, 1971. At the time, Titan was believed to have a tenuous methane atmosphere which might afford a spectacular view of Saturn. 2026-05-16T00:13:47.474Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/013-view-from-iapetus-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/013-view-from-iapetus-dixon.jpg View from Iapetus 013-view-from-iapetus-dixon – This classic illustration depicts a stark, rocky ridge on the surface of Saturn's outer moon Iapetus, looking out into deep space. Two astronauts in pressure suits stand near a rugged crag in the foreground, establishing a sense of scale against the vast, star-filled void. High above the horizon, Saturn hangs prominently with its ring system highly inclined, displaying a distinct shadow cast by the planet's globe onto the rings. Oil on panel, 1968 2026-05-16T00:05:44.714Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/049-titan-1-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/049-titan-1-dixon.jpg 049-titan-1-dixon. – Titan rendered with a deep blue sky. At the time this was painted, hints of an orange haze had been detected. It is shown here as a fog that fills valleys. (Dated concept). Gouache on illustration board, 1976. © Don Dixon 2026-05-13T04:52:38.234Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/198-exploring-iapetus-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/198-exploring-iapetus-dixon.jpg 198-exploring-iapetus-dixon – A lone astronaut stands upon a rocky outcropping on the surface of Iapetus, surveying the desolate, cratered landscape of Saturn’s third-largest moon. The distant gas giant hangs prominently in a dense field of stars, its rings tilted to reveal the planet's southern hemisphere. This composition highlights the contrast between the scale of human exploration and the vast, silent reaches of the outer solar system. Acrylic, 1979. 2026-05-12T05:44:21.970Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/156-eclipse-by-saturn-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/156-eclipse-by-saturn-dixon.jpg 156-eclipse-by-saturn-dixon –From the rugged, airless surface of the small outer moon Iapetus, the Sun is momentarily eclipsed by the massive disk of Saturn. The solar corona flares out from behind the planet's limb, illuminating the delicate, multi-layered rings in a brilliant golden fire. The cratered landscape in the foreground is cast in deep shadow, punctuated only by the reflected "ring-shine" that softly reveals the texture of the ancient, rocky terrain. 2026-05-12T05:50:34.985Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/050-saturn-rings-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/050-saturn-rings-dixon.jpg 050-saturn-rings-dixon – a close-up, internal perspective from within the ring system of Saturn, looking back toward the gas giant. Countless individual ring particles, ranging from small boulders to fine icy dust, are depicted orbiting in a dense, flat plane, with foreground fragments rendered in sharp detail showing irregular, cratered textures. Saturn itself looms in the background, partially illuminated by sunlight, with its banded atmosphere visible through the transparent gaps in the ring plane. acrylic and gouache, 1976, digitally remastered 2026 2026-05-15T23:59:03.428Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/484-pioneer-saturn-1977-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/484-pioneer-saturn-1977-dixon.jpg 484-pioneer-saturn-1977-dixon.jpg – The Pioneer 11 probe flys past Saturn in this pre-encounter acrylic on board painting dating from 1977. The Pioneer 11 spacecraft is depicted during its historic flyby of Saturn, positioned against the dark, star-dusted backdrop of the outer solar system. The gas giant's complex ring system is shown in sharp detail, casting a dramatic shadow across the planet's banded atmosphere. In the distance, the Sun appears as a bright, concentrated point of light, emphasizing the vast, cold distances of the deep space environment. 2026-05-12T02:10:59.318Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/487-terraformed-titan-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/487-terraformed-titan-dixon.jpg Terraformed Titan 487-terraformed-titan-dixon.jpg – More than 3 billion years in the future, the slow-motion collision between the Andromeda Galaxy and our Milky Way will trigger a spectacular burst of star formation. In this painting, descendants of earth life have colonized Satun's moon Titan, which will warm as the sun ages. Cover painting for Astronomy magazine, April, 2013. 2026-05-12T02:07:39.054Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/118-titan-dawn-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/118-titan-dawn-dixon.jpg 18-titan-dawn-dixon.jpg – The ringed planet Saturn hangs like a shining bow in the sky of its largest moon Titan, which is shrouded in a dense atmosphere of nitrogen hazed by hydrocarbons. Although glimpses of Saturn from the surface are probably exceedingly rare, they are not impossible. Drifts of methane snow blanket the landscape. Originally painted in acrylic and gouache on illustration board in 1980, this image has been digitally restored. copyright 2014 Don Dixon / cosmographica.com 2026-05-12T18:41:31.755Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/031-saturn-flyby-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/031-saturn-flyby-dixon.jpg 031-saturn-flyby-dixon – The Pioneer 11 probe makes the first reconnaissance of Saturn in 1979. Oil on masonite, 1974. Base art for NASA Saturn Encounter logo. 2026-05-13T04:59:51.238Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/048-saturn-iapetus-2-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/048-saturn-iapetus-2-dixon.jpg 048-saturn-iapetus-2-dixon– A striking view from the high-latitude, rugged terrain of Iapetus looking toward a distant Saturn. The foreground features steep, dark cliffs and cratered highlands covered in bright frost or ice, illustrating the moon's extreme albedo dichotomy. Saturn is positioned high in the black sky, showcasing its broad ring system and a subtle planetary shadow cast upon the rings, while distant stars and smaller moons dot the void. acrylic and gouache, 1975 2026-05-13T04:55:54.087Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/117-below-saturns-rings-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/117-below-saturns-rings-dixon.jpg 117-below-saturns-rings-dixon – A view from deep within Saturn’s upper atmosphere looking upward through layers of ammonia ice clouds toward the ring system. The sun appears as a brilliant point of light, partially diffused by the rings, which span across a pale blue sky in massive, luminous arcs. The intricate cloud structures in the foreground provide a sense of scale and depth within the gaseous environment of the giant planet. The sun blazes briefly through the Cassini Division of Saturn's rings. acrylic on illustration board, 1980 2026-05-16T00:50:35.632Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/147-mimas-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/147-mimas-dixon.jpg 147-mimas-dixon – View from Herschel Crater on the icy, rugged surface of Mimas looking toward a massive, gibbous Saturn. The planet’s rings are seen edge-on as a thin, brilliant line, casting a broad, dark shadow across the gas giant's northern hemisphere. 2026-05-12T18:15:16.163Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/446-saturn-from-mimas-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Saturn/slides/446-saturn-from-mimas-dixon.jpg 446-saturn-from-mimas-dixon–The massive globe of Saturn fills the sky above the desolate, impact-scarred surface of its moon Mimas. Detailed rock textures and deep shadows emphasize the airless environment of the moon's cratered terrain, while the gas giant's rings cut a sharp diagonal across the frame. Two smaller moons are visible as tiny specks near the ring plane, highlighting the immense scale of the Saturnian system. Commisioned by Griffith Observatory for an exhibit. Digital painting © 2007 Don Dixon/cosmographica.co 2026-05-12T02:21:46.834Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Uranus/index.html 2026-06-07T18:43:32.141Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Uranus/slides/447-uranus-from-miranda-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Uranus/slides/447-uranus-from-miranda-dixon.jpg Uranus from Miranda 447-uranus-from-miranda-dixon – Deep rift valleys mark the surface of this strange moon that has apparently been repeatedly disrupted and reassembled. This astronomical illustration depicts the gas giant Uranus as viewed from the fractured icy surface of its moon, Miranda. The planet looms in the airless sky with its thin, vertical ring system faintly visible cutting across its disc. The rugged canyon in the foreground is filled with fractured ice, ridges, and complex graben topography, characteristic of Miranda's extreme geological formations like Verona Rupes.; digital, 2006, for Griffith Observatory, © Don Dixon 2026-05-16T19:10:38.392Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Uranus/slides/393-uranus-rings-diagram-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Uranus/slides/393-uranus-rings-diagram-dixon.jpg Uranus Rings Diagram 393-uranus-rings-diagram-dixon – This scientific illustration presents a close-up view of Uranus and its complex, narrow planetary ring system against a solid black background. The planet is oriented with its northern hemisphere mostly in shadow, showing only a faint, soft blue-cyan crescent illumination along its lower edge. The concentric rings encircle the planet's equator horizontally in this perspective, rendered in fine detail with varying bands of dark gray, charcoal, and bright dust lanes. painting by Don Dixon for Scientific American 2026-05-16T19:13:21.666Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Uranus/slides/260-uranus-from-miranda-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Uranus/slides/260-uranus-from-miranda-dixon.jpg Uranus seen from Miranda 260-uranus-from-miranda-dixon – This panoramic astronomical painting showcases the pale blue globe of Uranus rising above the heavily cratered, fractured terrain of its moon Miranda. The planet's surface features subtle atmospheric banding and wispy clouds, with a single, razor-thin vertical ring cutting directly across its disc. The foreground highlights a classic hand-painted texture depicting Miranda’s chaotic geology. - acrylic painting by Don Dixon for the Orange County Register 2026-05-16T19:17:25.899Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Uranus/slides/184-uranus-rings-full-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Uranus/slides/184-uranus-rings-full-dixon.jpg 184-uranus-rings-full-dixon –This square-format astronomical painting depicts an early speculative view of Uranus and its ring system as seen from a rugged, icy moon. The gas giant is rendered with intricate convective storm cells and cloud bands of pale green and blue swirling toward its rotational pole. A wide system of concentric, golden-hued rings encircles the planet, with the distant Sun positioned directly behind the upper ring plane to create a striking back-lit illumination across the scene. acrylic, 1980 2026-05-16T19:23:21.086Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Uranus/slides/017-uranus-from-oberon-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Uranus/slides/017-uranus-from-oberon-dixon.jpg 017-uranus-from-oberon-dixon – This classic astronomical painting presents a speculative view of Uranus and its satellite system from a deep, sunlit canyon on the moon Oberon. The gas giant appears centered in the sky with distinctive, dark vertical atmospheric formations crossing its disc, while several smaller moons are aligned vertically above and across it against a dense starfield. In the foreground, a smooth, frozen valley floor catches the light below towering rock cliffs, with two small astronaut figures standing on a rocky ledge in the lower right for scale. Oil on canvas, 1973. 2026-05-16T19:30:56.522Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Uranus/slides/051-uranus-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Uranus/slides/051-uranus-dixon.jpg Uranus from Oberon 051-uranus-dixon – Uranus on the horizon of its moon Oberon. This historical astronomical painting presents a speculative view of Uranus and its major satellites aligned vertically against the planet's disc, as viewed from a cratered, icy moon's surface. The gas giant exhibits subtle vertical atmospheric bands, consistent with its unique, highly tilted rotational axis. Three smaller spherical moons are positioned in a straight vertical line over the planet's face, transiting across the terminator line between the day and night sides, while a rugged foreground of rocky spires and frozen plains shapes the low-angle perspective. acrylic and gouache on illustration board, 1974. © Don Dixon 2026-05-20T01:41:48.550Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Neptune/index.html 2026-06-07T18:43:32.144Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Neptune/slides/448-neptune-from-triton-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Neptune/slides/448-neptune-from-triton-dixon.jpg 448-neptune-from-triton-dixon –This detailed visualization looks across the rugged, icy cantaloupe terrain of Neptune's largest moon, Triton. In the middle ground, a powerful cryovolcanic geyser erupts, lofting dark nitrogen gas and dust high into the thin atmosphere where it begins to drift horizontally. Hanging in the starry sky above the fractured horizon is the gas giant Neptune, showing its banded blue atmosphere, Great Dark Spot, faint high-altitude clouds, and subtle ring system.Commisioned by Griffith Observatory for an exhibit. Digital painting © 2007 Don Dixon/cosmographica.com 2026-05-16T22:05:13.533Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Neptune/slides/394-neptune-rings-diagram-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Neptune/slides/394-neptune-rings-diagram-dixon.jpg 394-neptune-rings-diagram-dixon –This three-quarter view diagram illustrates the structure of Neptune's dark, dusty ring system and its small inner moons. The gas giant is centered within concentric rings composed of fine debris, highlighting the localized clumps or "ring arcs" embedded within the outermost Adams ring. A small trailing alignment of inner shepherd satellites is depicted orbiting near the ring planes against a pitch-black background. for Scientific American 2026-05-16T22:09:00.562Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Neptune/slides/365-early-neptune2-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Neptune/slides/365-early-neptune2-dixon.jpg Migration of Neptune's Orbit, version 2 365-early-neptune2-dixon –This space art composition visualizes the chaotic formation of the early Neptunian system during the Late Heavy Bombardment. The proto-Neptune is depicted with a molten, glowing crust heavily scarred by bright kinetic impacts, surrounded by a thick primordial debris disk of dust and rocky fragments. A large, irregular asteroid-like planetesimal dominates the immediate foreground, while the distant young Sun encircled by comets shines in the distance. Digital, for Scientific American, 2000. © Don Dixon 2026-05-16T22:24:04.968Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Neptune/slides/364-early-neptune-1-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Neptune/slides/364-early-neptune-1-dixon.jpg Migration of Neptune's Orbit, version 1 364-early-neptune-1-dixon – Passing comets perturb the orbit of the planet Neptune during the formation of the solar system. In the distance, a halo of comets swarm about the newborn sun - digital, for Scientific American, 2000, © Don Dixon 2026-05-16T22:26:22.727Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Neptune/slides/212-triton-surface-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Neptune/slides/212-triton-surface-dixon.jpg 212-triton-surface-dixon – This low-angle landscape perspective looks across the undulating, frozen plains of Neptune's largest moon, Triton. The foreground showcases hummocky terrains and fractured ridges composed of water ice and frozen nitrogen, bordered by a vast expanse of rough, snow-like frost fields. In the hazy, twilight-lit sky above the flat horizon, the massive, softly blurred disk of the blue gas giant Neptune looms prominently, showing vertical atmospheric banding. 2026-05-16T22:29:40.135Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Neptune/slides/052-neptune-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Neptune/slides/052-neptune-dixon.jpg Neptune from Triton 052-neptune-dixon – Neptune in the sky of its large moon Triton; This visualizes the surface landscape of a Neptunian moon, offering a dramatic look across an expanse of rugged, brown rock formations and icy plains. The stark horizon is dominated by the colossal, pale blue disk of the gas giant Neptune, showing subtle atmospheric banding and a soft limb glow against a dark star field. The composition captures a pre-Voyager scientific view of the outer solar system's extreme scales. acrylic and goache on illustration board ; 1974. © Don Dixon 2026-05-16T22:33:01.169Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Pluto%20and%20Kuiper%20Objects/index.html 2026-06-11T00:56:30.549Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Pluto%20and%20Kuiper%20Objects/slides/503-pluto-glacier-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Pluto%20and%20Kuiper%20Objects/slides/503-pluto-glacier-dixon.jpg Glacier on Pluto 503-pluto-glacier-dixon – This vivid space art painting explores a rugged planetary landscape, capturing a sprawling nitrogen ice glacier moving through steep mountain passes on Pluto, The moon Charon hangs low against the dark void of space. Oil on Masonite panel 2015. 2026-05-16T20:47:57.529Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Pluto%20and%20Kuiper%20Objects/slides/500-planet-nine-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Pluto%20and%20Kuiper%20Objects/slides/500-planet-nine-dixon.jpg Hypothetical Planet X 500-planet-nine-dixon – A hypothetical planet in the outer reaches of the solar system orbits more than 700 times farther from the sun than earth does. A super-Earth, with an estimated mass of 10 Earths (approximately 5,000 times the mass of Pluto), a diameter two to four times that of Earth, and a highly elliptical orbit with an orbital period of approximately 15,000 years, the planet is shown as a ringed ice giant whose night side is illuminated by lightning and aurorae powered by galactic cosmic rays. digital painting, copyright Don Dixon, 2016 2026-05-16T20:54:34.450Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Pluto%20and%20Kuiper%20Objects/slides/397-pluto-landscape-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Pluto%20and%20Kuiper%20Objects/slides/397-pluto-landscape-dixon.jpg Pluto Landscape 397-pluto-landscape-dixon –This detailed astronomical painting portrays a sweeping panoramic landscape on the surface of Pluto under a faint, distant Sun. The composition looks out across low, fractured plain structures and fields of nitrogen ice that stretch toward a flat horizon under a dark sky transitioning to a subtle blue atmospheric haze. In the foreground, dark, crystalline methane ice formations and rugged boulders block out a massive, heavily detailed crescent Charon hanging low in the upper left quadrant. painting by Don Dixon for Scientific American 2026-05-16T21:00:59.005Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Pluto%20and%20Kuiper%20Objects/slides/396-pluto-charon-compared-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Pluto%20and%20Kuiper%20Objects/slides/396-pluto-charon-compared-dixon.jpg Pluto and Charon compared 396-pluto-charon-compared-dixon –This astronomical infographic side-by-side comparison features the dwarf planet Pluto and its largest moon, Charon, isolated against a plain black background to illustrate their relative scales, surface compositions, and coloration. Pluto on the left appears as a highly textured sphere showing prominent mottled reddish-brown terrains, dark equatorial bands, bright icy patches, and a thin, glowing atmospheric limb of pale blue. Charon on the right is rendered at its proper relative scale, displaying a starkly contrasting neutral gray, heavily cratered icy surface marked by a prominent network of bright rays emanating from impact sites across its face. - 2008 painting by Don Dixon for Scientific American 2026-05-16T21:06:35.405Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Pluto%20and%20Kuiper%20Objects/slides/367-kuiper-belt-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Pluto%20and%20Kuiper%20Objects/slides/367-kuiper-belt-dixon.jpg Kuiper Belt 367-kuiper-belt-dixon –This digital diagram illustrates the architecture of the outer solar system, centering on the sun and the concentric orbits of the giant planets. Surrounding these orbits is the Kuiper Belt, depicted as a vast, donut-shaped torus comprised of countless icy bodies and debris rendered in shades of blue and white. A highly inclined, elongated elliptical orbit is highlighted, representing the path of a trans-Neptunian object (like Pluto) cutting through the main plane of the disc. Digital 1999 © Don Dixon 2026-05-16T21:14:44.311Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Pluto%20and%20Kuiper%20Objects/slides/328-oortcloud-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Pluto%20and%20Kuiper%20Objects/slides/328-oortcloud-dixon.jpg Oort Cloud 328-oortcloud-dixon – This astronomical illustration presents a view from within the inner regions of the Oort Cloud, looking back toward the distant Sun. In the foreground, craggy, irregularly shaped icy planetesimals and cometary nuclei are rendered with detailed, textured surfaces under faint illumination. In the background, the Sun appears as a bright, central star surrounded by a hazy, glowing disc of dust, which transitions into a vast, spherical swarm of countless microscopic icy particles extending across deep space. Digital painting by Don Dixon for Scientific American, 1999, © Don Dixon 2026-05-16T21:18:29.808Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Pluto%20and%20Kuiper%20Objects/slides/292-oort-body-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Pluto%20and%20Kuiper%20Objects/slides/292-oort-body-dixon.jpg 292-oort-body-dixon – a comet nucleus, whose exotic ices are stained brown by cosmic radiation, basks in the light of an ancient supernova. 2026-05-16T21:22:13.038Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Pluto%20and%20Kuiper%20Objects/slides/211-clyde-tombaugh-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Pluto%20and%20Kuiper%20Objects/slides/211-clyde-tombaugh-dixon.jpg 211-clyde-tombaugh-dixon – A montage portrait honors American astronomer Clyde Tombaugh, the discoverer of Pluto. His likeness is set against a dense background of stars and interstellar nebulae, flanked by two celestial bodies representing Pluto and its largest moon, Charon, depicted with cratered, icy surfaces. Two overlapping rectangular photographic plates containing faint star fields represent the blink comparator method used to detect Pluto's motion in 1930., 50th anniversary commemorative poster, 1980 2026-05-16T21:44:20.695Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Pluto%20and%20Kuiper%20Objects/slides/180-pluto-perihelion-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Pluto%20and%20Kuiper%20Objects/slides/180-pluto-perihelion-dixon.jpg 180-pluto-perihelion-dixon – This scene depicts the surface of Pluto during its perihelion passage, when its eccentric orbit brings it closest to the Sun. Nitrogen and methane glaciations coat the foreground landscape, with delicate icicles suspended from low ice shelves under a faint, sublimating atmospheric haze. The brilliant Sun sits low on the horizon, flanked by bright parhelia (mock suns) or optical glares caused by airborne ice crystals, while the crescent moon Charon hangs high in the dark sky above. acrylic and gouache, 1980 2026-05-16T21:47:30.410Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Pluto%20and%20Kuiper%20Objects/slides/123-pluto-charon-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Pluto%20and%20Kuiper%20Objects/slides/123-pluto-charon-dixon.jpg Pluto and Charon 123-pluto-charon-dixon.jpg– A remarkably prescient rendering of Pluto and its moon Charon, which form a double planet at the frontier of the solar system, cover for Out of the Darkness, by Clyde Tombaugh, discoverer of Pluto ; acrylic and gouache on illustration board, 1979, © Don Dixon 2026-05-16T21:49:46.247Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Pluto%20and%20Kuiper%20Objects/slides/044-pluto-1-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Pluto%20and%20Kuiper%20Objects/slides/044-pluto-1-dixon.jpg 044-pluto-1-dixon – Pluto depicted with lakes of liquid air, an outdated concept - painting by Don Dixon, acrylic and gouache 1975. © Don Dixon 2026-05-16T21:52:15.370Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Pluto%20and%20Kuiper%20Objects/slides/015-planet-x-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Solar%20System/Pluto%20and%20Kuiper%20Objects/slides/015-planet-x-dixon.jpg 015-planet-x-dixon – This space art rendering depicts a hypothetical trans-Neptunian world or "Planet X" shrouded in extreme cosmic cold. Smooth, sweeping dunes of frozen nitrogen or methane ice glint with a cold blue hue beneath an immense, pitch-black sky. A dark, sluggish river of liquid hydrocarbons or liquid nitrogen winds through the desolate plains, reflecting the dim light of an incredibly distant, point-like Sun. oil on canvas, 1973 2026-05-16T21:55:22.300Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/index.html 2026-06-11T00:57:35.088Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/029-milky-way-galaxy-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/029-milky-way-galaxy-dixon.jpg 029-milky-way-galaxy-dixon – Our galaxy rises in the sky of an earthlike world far above the galactic pole. Oil on masonite, 1974. 2026-06-08T05:47:20.398Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/053-orion-nebula-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/053-orion-nebula-dixon.jpg 053-orion-nebula-dixon - an earthlike world, child of one of the young stars in the Great Nebula in Orion, floats near the outskirts of this stellar nursery. This illustration depicts a vibrant, turbulent stellar nursery, showcasing dense clouds of interstellar gas and dust illuminated by the intense radiation of embedded young stars. Glowing filaments of magenta, crimson, and deep blues dominate the composition, revealing complex shock fronts and ionization zones characteristic of active star-forming regions. Silhouetted tendrils of cold, opaque dust lanes cut across the glowing nebula, creating a stark sense of three-dimensional depth and cosmic structure. Acrylic and gouache, 1974. 2026-06-08T05:49:36.745Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/058-supernova-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/058-supernova-dixon.jpg 058-supernova-dixon –a planet melts in the blazing radiance of a supernova explosion ; This illustration depicts a massive, energetic supernova explosion blazing violently in a star-filled sky. Below the cosmic detonation, the scorched surface of an alien world is shown covered in churning, molten lava domes and a highly excited, glowing orange atmosphere. The radiant energy from the cataclysmic stellar death brightly illuminates the planetary horizon, casting a harsh light over the searing landscape. gouache on illustration board, 1976 2026-06-08T05:53:52.453Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/078-sagittarius-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/078-sagittarius-dixon.jpg Sagittarius 078-sagittarius-dixon – This illustration depicts a wide cosmic vista focused on a dense, reddish-brown band of the Milky Way star clouds towards the Sagittarius constellation, rich with clusters and dark nebulae. In the foreground, a heavily cratered, airless moon hangs on the lower right, balancing a bright blue, cloud-covered Earth. The background is speckled with fine field stars, framing the two planetary bodies within the vast expanse of the galactic core region. ; acrylic on illustration board, Don Dixon 1976 2026-06-08T05:56:34.709Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/079-view-from-the-periphery-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/079-view-from-the-periphery-dixon.jpg 079-view-from-the-periphery-dixon ; The lenticular shape of the Milky Way galaxy becomes apparent when viewed from outside. Acrylic and gouache on illustration board, 1976, Don Dixon 2026-06-08T06:00:17.948Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/084-quasar-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/084-quasar-dixon.jpg 084-quasar-dixon – a massive black hole blazes in the core of a distant galaxy ; gouache on board, 1976 2026-06-08T06:02:19.994Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/102-globular-cluster-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/102-globular-cluster-dixon.jpg 102-globular-cluster-dixon – Globular clusters may be the cores of galaxies that were disrupted by tidal interactions. Dozens of them swarm like bees about the core of the Milky Way ; This illustration captures a spectacular night sky dominated by a massive, densely packed globular cluster containing thousands of individual stars that concentrate into a brilliant white core. The periphery of the stellar cluster radiates outward with multi-colored stars, blending into the dark void of space. This cosmic view is framed from the low-angle perspective of a cold, textured planetary horizon, which shows rolling, icy terrain faintly illuminated by the collective starlight above. acrylic on board, 1977. 2026-06-08T06:04:40.406Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/125-big-bang-1-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/125-big-bang-1-dixon.jpg 125-big-bang-1-dixon – the 4-dimensional universe squashed to 2 dimensions, creation is at the center, the present day at the edge ; This astronomical illustration visualizes the early primordial expansion of the universe, dominated by a blindingly white and yellow central singularity. Radiating outward from this concentrated energy source is a massive, circular shock front of deep red and orange cosmic fire. In the surrounding dark void, thousands of cool blue, embryonic protogalaxies or material fragments coalesce as they are propelled away from the primary explosion center. acrylic on board, 1980 2026-06-08T06:06:54.123Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/132-galactic-core_2-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/132-galactic-core_2-dixon.jpg 132-galactic-core_2-dixon – globular clusters blaze in the sky of a planet near the center of our galaxy ; This astronomical illustration depicts a dynamic proto-galaxy characterized by a brilliant white central core that radiates intense light into an evolving spiral disk. The primary galactic structure is surrounded by countless spherical star clusters and smaller satellite systems condensing within vast, deep blue interstellar gas clouds. The entire cosmic panorama is framed from a low-angle perspective across the jagged, craggy mountain ridges of a cold, airless planetary surface in the foreground. acrylic and gouache, 1982 2026-06-08T06:13:42.849Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/170-our-galaxy-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/170-our-galaxy-dixon.jpg 170-our-galaxy-dixon – Stylized view of the Milky Way as seen from 100,000 light years. This illustration presents an expansive overhead view of a grand design spiral galaxy rotating in deep space. A highly luminous, elongated central core composed of older yellow-orange stars transitions outward into tightly wound dust lanes and sweeping blue spiral arms populated by young stellar clusters. The vast galactic structure is set against a dark void speckled with distant background stars and foreground field stars. Acrylic on illustration board, 1988. 2026-06-08T06:15:41.711Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/263-galaxy-rising-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/263-galaxy-rising-dixon.jpg Galaxy Rising 263-galaxy-rising-dixon – a spiral galaxy rises gracefully in the sky of an alien world. cover of "Mountain Astrologer";acrylic and goauche and digital, 1983/2006; copyright Don Dixon / cosmographica.com 2026-06-08T06:17:38.165Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/325-quasar-a-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/325-quasar-a-dixon.jpg 325-quasar-a-dixon – active galaxies collide, feeding matter to the central black holes that power quasars; This illustration depicts a violent gravitational interaction between two spiral galaxies in deep space. The larger galaxy on the right hosts an active quasar core, erupting with a brilliant, tightly focused particle jet of yellow-white light that shears through the surrounding space. Opaque dust lanes and tidal streams of stars tear away from the smaller companion galaxy on the left, funneling matter directly into the primary system's active accretion disk. acrylic and gouache painting by Don Dixon for "Scientific American" 2026-06-08T06:20:27.018Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/504-thorne-zytkow-object-tzo-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/504-thorne-zytkow-object-tzo-dixon.jpg Thorne-Zytkow Object 504-thorne-zytkow-object-tzo-dixon - TZO - a dead star inside a dying star. A neutron star stirs the chaotic heart of a companion red giant star. A cross-sectional artistic depiction of a Thorne-Żytkow Object (TZO), a theoretical hybrid star formed when a red supergiant swallows a dense neutron star at its core. The image shows a massive, glowing orange stellar envelope surrounding a highly energetic, turbulent central region where the degenerate neutron star resides. Bright, explosive convective patterns and high-energy white-pink radiation emanate from the deep core, illustrating the unusual nuclear processes driving the hybrid star's interior. digital, for Astronomy Magazine , copyright 2016 Don Dixon 2026-06-08T22:56:05.322Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/503-universe-held-in-hand-inflation-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/503-universe-held-in-hand-inflation-dixon.jpg Universe in Hand Inflation Graphic 503-universe-held-in-hand-inflation — The universe is shown when it was only 10 centimeters in diameter, 10^-32 seconds after the Big Bang during the inflation era. A conceptual, allegorical illustration depicting the early universe or cosmic inflation cradled within an open human hand against a stark black void. The universe is captured as a brilliant, fractured sphere of crystalline shards and intense explosive energy. Energetic rays of white, gold, and violet radiation burst outward from the central core, illuminating the fingers and palm from below to signify the immense scale and power of cosmic origins. Cover for Astronomy magazine, March 2016. Digital art by Don Dixon. 2026-06-08T23:22:05.855Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/497-solar-system-neighborhood-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/497-solar-system-neighborhood-dixon.jpg Solar System Stellar Neighborhood 497-solar-system-neighborhood-dixon – The Sun's Neighbors -geography of the Milky Way Galaxy. Our sun orbits about 30,000 light years from the center of the galaxy, which contains approximately 400 billion stars. Astronomers currently know of only about a dozen stars within 10 light years of the Sun (inset cube). The large rectangle encompasses a region of about 10,000 light years. Digital, for Scientific American, 2009. copyright Don Dixon 2026-06-08T23:26:20.294Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/495-milky-way-rising-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/495-milky-way-rising-dixon.jpg 495-milky-way-rising-dixon – Milky Way Rising over an extragalactic planet; A dramatic fine art painting depicting a massive spiral galaxy, representing the Milky Way, dominating the night sky from a low-angle planetary perspective. The glowing core and sweeping, textured dust lanes of the galactic arms fill the upper atmosphere with brilliant white, gold, and deep blue starlight. Below, a serene, illuminated body of water reflects the celestial glow, bordered by a dark shoreline featuring the silhouettes of gnarled, moss-draped trees. Originally Spacescapes Number 60, this early gouache on illustration board painting shows our galaxy in the sky of an alien world high above the galactic pole; 1974 by Don Dixon. 2026-06-08T23:29:07.799Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/494-stellar-evolution-disks-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/494-stellar-evolution-disks-dixon.jpg Evolution of stars, planets, and brown dwarfs 494-stellar-evolution-disks-dixon –A detailed infographic chart illustrating the parallel evolutionary stages of stellar system formation from molecular clouds down to mature stellar objects. The diagram is split into two distinct vertical columns connected by gray downward arrows, contrasting a high-mass or solar-type star path on the left with a lower-mass or brown dwarf evolutionary path on the right. Each track progresses downwards from an initial collapse of a gas nebula into an accretion disk, followed by the clearing of the protoplanetary disk, and ending with fully formed substellar or planetary bodies at the bottom against a deep space background filled with cosmic dust. Artwork © 2007 Don Dixon / cosmographica.com 2026-06-08T23:32:11.101Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/452-galaxy-star-streams-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/452-galaxy-star-streams-dixon.jpg Galactic Star Streams 452-galaxy-star-streams-dixon – Streams of stars orbiting outside the plane of the Milky Way are thought to be the remains of small galaxies that were disrupted by tidal interactions and which are being assimilated into our own. An astrophysical illustration depicting a mature spiral galaxy enveloped by a complex network of stellar streams within its extended galactic halo. The primary disk of the galaxy glows with a bright yellowish-white nucleus and sprawling, dust-laden spiral arms rotating along an inclined plane. Looping around the main galactic structure are faint, filamentary arcs composed of thousands of stars, representing the tidal remnants of cannibalized dwarf galaxies torn apart by gravitational forces. Digital artwork for Scientific American © 2007 Don Dixon / cosmographica.com 2026-06-08T23:34:40.703Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/491-white-dwarf-star-dust-disk-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/491-white-dwarf-star-dust-disk-dixon.jpg Dusty halo around white dwarf star 491-white-dwarf-star-dust-disk-dixon – A dynamic astronomical illustration depicting a highly energetic debris field surrounding a dying white dwarf star. In the foreground, fragmented asteroids and rocky boulders undergo catastrophic tidal disruption, shedding fine gravel and dust into a vast, swirling circumstellar disk. In the upper right background, the brilliant violet-white stellar remnant unleashes powerful radiation rays that blast outward through the inner gaps of the dust rings, illuminating incoming cometary bodies vaporizing as they plunge toward the star. digital, for Astronomy Magazine 2026-06-08T23:39:46.249Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/486-supernova-melts-planet-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/486-supernova-melts-planet-dixon.jpg Supernova 486-supernova-melts-planet-dixon – Mountain ranges melt on the outer planet of a star that has gone supernova. Even before the wave of ejecta from the exploding star reaches the planet, the unimaginably intense radiation has turned the world's crust molten. 2026-06-08T23:43:00.937Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/477-sun-early-star-compared-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/477-sun-early-star-compared-dixon.jpg Sun and Ealy Star Compared 477-sun-early-star-compared-dixon – The first stars, formed perhaps only a few hundred million years after the Big Bang, were much more massive than our sun and much shorter lived, exploding as supernovae after shining for only a few million years. A comparative astronomical illustration contrasting two different classes of main-sequence stars against a deep black space background. On the left, a yellow G-type star, representing our Sun, glows with a distinct golden-yellow corona and subtle surface granulation patterns. On the right, a significantly larger, higher-mass hot blue star dominates the edge of the frame, emitting intense white-blue light and surrounded by a soft violet atmospheric fringe to show the variance in size, temperature, and luminosity between stellar classifications. 2026-06-08T23:45:30.787Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/476-lonely-galaxy-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/476-lonely-galaxy-dixon.jpg Lonely Galaxy 476-lonely-galaxy-dixon – Many billions of years in the future, the Milky Way will be alone in the observable universe, as all the local galaxies merge and the more distant ones recede beyond our ability to detect. A side-by-side comparative astronomical graphic demonstrating the formation or isolation of a "lonely galaxy" via cosmological void dynamics. The left panel shows a deep-field distribution of galaxies with overlay schematic arrows: light blue arrows point inward indicating that they are vistible to a central spiral cluster, while red arrows point outward toward galaxies that are too distant and receding too quickly to be observed from the central galazy. The right panel contrasts this complex environment with a single, highly isolated elliptical or diffuse galaxy glowing in absolute isolation against a pitch-black cosmic void. diagram for Scientific American 2026-06-08T23:52:13.072Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/451-quasar-core-galaxy-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/451-quasar-core-galaxy-dixon.jpg 451-quasar-core-galaxy-dixon – The blinding radiance of a massive black hole shines at the heart of a young, distant galaxy. A spectacular astronomical painting depicting an active galactic nucleus, or quasar, dominating the center of a massive spiral galaxy. The core features an intensely brilliant, golden-orange accretion disk surrounding a supermassive black hole, emitting a piercing central starlight spike. Swirling outward from this energetic center are vast, sprawling spiral arms composed of dense blue star clusters, dark interstellar dust lanes, and countless individual stars rotating through deep space. acrylic on board, 1995 2026-06-09T00:02:48.383Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/465-milky-way-bar-diagram-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/465-milky-way-bar-diagram-dixon.jpg Milky Way Diagram 465-milky-way-bar-diagram-dixon – Infographic showing the barred structure of our galaxy. A face-on astronomical illustration mapping the structural architecture of a barred spiral galaxy, depicting the modern astrophysical consensus of the Milky Way's morphology. The core features a distinct, elongated central bar of older, yellowish stars surrounding a brilliant galactic nucleus. Tightly wound spiral arms branch outward from the ends of the bar, transitioning into expansive blue structures rich with young star clusters, nebulae, and dark, intricate interstellar dust lanes that fade into a black void. Artwork © 2007 Don Dixon / cosmographica.com 2026-06-09T00:08:43.873Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/463-brown-dwarf-forming-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/463-brown-dwarf-forming-dixon.jpg Formation of Brown Dwarf 463-brown-dwarf-forming-dixon – A brown dwarf star shines within its accretion disk. Streams of ionized dust and gas are drawn to the forming star by its magnetic field. A detailed astronomical illustration depicting a young protostar undergoing magnetospheric accretion within a dense stellar nursery. The central, turbulent orange protostar is surrounded by a massive, glowing circumstellar disk of dust and gas, with small planetesimal fragments orbiting in the dark foreground. Powerful magnetic field lines pull material out of the inner disk, funneling it onto the stellar surface in bright, energetic impact streams, while high-velocity blue gas jets erupt outward along the rotational poles into a backdrop of cosmic nebulae. Digital illustration for Scientific American © 2007 Don Dixon / cosmographica.com 2026-06-09T01:18:51.040Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/458-cepheid-variable-cycle-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/458-cepheid-variable-cycle-dixon.jpg Cepheid Variable Cycle 458-cepheid-variable-cycle-dixon – A Cepheid variable star pulses in a regular period that is directly related to its intrinsic brightness, allowing astronomers to use such stars as "standard candles" to measure distances to other galaxies. A three-panel sequential astronomical illustration demonstrating the dramatic pulsation cycle of a Cepheid variable star as observed from the surface of a barren, airless rocky planet or moon. The panels depict a time-lapse sequence tracking the simultaneous changes in the star's physical size, color temperature, and luminosity, along with the corresponding illumination cast onto the craggy landscape below. Left Panel: The star is at its minimum size but highest temperature, appearing as a compact, intense white-blue sphere that casts sharp, cool, violet-tinted highlights onto the rocky ridges. Middle Panel: The star expands into its largest and coolest state, swelling into a massive golden-yellow supergiant that floods the entire planetary landscape with a warm, amber-orange glow. Right Panel: The star contracts back to its compressed, highly energetic white-blue state, returning the landscape to its initial coolly lit appearance and completing the periodic cycle.Artwork for cientific American, © 2007 Don Dixon / cosmographica.com 2026-06-09T01:22:51.808Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/457-type-ia-supernova-mechanism-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/457-type-ia-supernova-mechanism-dixon.jpg Type 1 Supernova Diagram 457-type-ia-supernova-mechanism-dixon – Diagram for Scientific American shows second type of supernova. A vertical, multi-stage astrophysical infographic illustrating the sequential mechanics of a Type Ia supernova explosion within a binary star system. The process flows downward against a black space background, detailing the progression from mass transfer to runaway thermonuclear detonation. Top Stage: A massive yellow donor star undergoes Roche lobe overflow, stripping its outer envelope into an accretion disk surrounding a compact, white dwarf companion star. Second Stage: A detailed callout focuses on the white dwarf, showing a cutaway of its internal shell structure as it approaches the Chandrasekhar limit (approximately 1.44 solar masses). A secondary callout zooms in further on the carbon-oxygen core where turbulent, runaway nuclear fusion is triggered.Third Stage: The white dwarf is shown in partial cross-section as a supersonic deflagration/detonation wave rips outward from the core, shattering the star's crystalline electron-degenerate structure amid brilliant rays of energy. Bottom Stage: The sequence culminates in a catastrophic thermonuclear explosion, showing a blinding white-hot central core surrounded by a rapidly expanding, turbulent orange shockwave shell that completely obliterates the white dwarf. Artwork © 2007 Don Dixon / cosmographica.com 2026-06-09T01:30:24.699Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/454-type-2-supernova-diagram-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/454-type-2-supernova-diagram-dixon.jpg Type 2 Supernova Diagram 454-type-2-supernova-diagram-dixon – Diagram for Scientific American shows steps in a celestial cataclysm. A vertical, multi-stage astrophysical infographic illustrating the sequential mechanics of a core-collapse (Type II) supernova event inside a massive star. The diagram details the transition from an onion-skin elemental shell structure down to gravitational collapse and the asymmetric explosion mechanisms against a deep black space background: Top Stage: A massive evolved supergiant star is shown in a three-quarter cutaway, detailing its interior concentric shells of advanced nuclear burning (the "onion-skin" model). A callout lines up with the innermost zone, zooming in on the dense iron core where black vectors point inward to represent overwhelming gravitational pressures attempting to trigger core collapse. Middle Stage: A secondary circular callout details the moment of core collapse. The central core has imploded into an ultradense stellar remnant (neutron star or black hole), while white arrows blast outward against the inward-rushing outer layers, showing the bounce shockwave mechanism. Bottom Left Stage: The shockwave propagates unevenly through the star's remaining envelope, showing the early development of an asymmetric, butterfly-shaped stellar explosion with white outward-pointing expansion vectors. Bottom Right Stage: The final phase details the violent, fully developed supernova remnant expanding rapidly into a non-spherical nebula of gas and dust. A prominent central arrow indicates the rapid space-velocity "kick" given to the central compact stellar remnant as it is ejected from the center of the asymmetric blast zone.Artwork © 2007 Don Dixon / cosmographica.com 2026-06-09T01:33:57.658Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/326-quasar-b-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/326-quasar-b-dixon.jpg Quasar Jet 326-quasar-b-dixon – This astronomical illustration depicts a powerful quasar operating at the core of a massive spiral galaxy that is undergoing a dynamic gravitational interaction or merger with a smaller companion galaxy. A brilliant, highly concentrated accretion disk surrounds the central supermassive black hole, fueling a pair of intense, bidirectional relativistic jets that blast perpendicularly out of the galactic plane. The tidal forces of the galactic collision pull streams of interstellar gas and stars between the two systems, feeding the active galactic nucleus (AGN) and triggering widespread star formation across the blue spiral arms. acrylic and gouache painting for the June, 1998 Scientific American cover by Don Dixon 2026-06-09T18:26:13.791Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/329-quantum-foam-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/329-quantum-foam-dixon.jpg Quantum Foam 329-quantum-foam-dixon – This theoretical illustration visualizes the concept of quantum foam, the substructure of spacetime at the incredibly minuscule Planck scale where gravitational and quantum mechanical fluctuations warp topology. Spherical and elongated bubble-like geometries represent localized universes, micro-wormholes, or nascent pocket dimensions budding from a highly energetic, turbulent background. The background features complex, self-similar fractal patterns of luminous blues, purples, and golds, illustrating the chaotic, non-smooth nature of spacetime where classical physics breaks down entirely. digital painting by Don Dixon 2026-06-09T18:28:47.444Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/336-big-bang-2-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/336-big-bang-2-dixon.jpg 336-big-bang-2-dixon – This cosmological illustration visualizes the evolution of the early universe, transitioning from the primordial singularity toward large-scale cosmic structures. A brilliant, dense sphere of golden-white light signifies the initial, high-energy expansion of the Big Bang, surrounded by a chaotic, undulating field of matter and radiation soup. As the perspective shifts outward into the cooling dark voids of space, the primordial material condenses, revealing the formation of the first generation of distinct spiral and irregular galaxies emerging from the cosmic dark ages. digital painting by Don Dixon 2026-06-09T18:31:48.110Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/342-galaxy-south-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/342-galaxy-south-dixon.jpg Galaxy South Pole 342-galaxy-south-dixon – This wide-angle astronomical illustration showcases a dramatic edge-on perspective of a massive barred spiral galaxy, revealing the intricate, layered structure of its galactic disk. A luminous, elongated golden core dominates the lower-left center, populated by an aging population of yellow stars and surrounded by a dense concentration of young, pinkish star-forming H II regions. The sprawling spiral arms are heavily mottled with chaotic fields of multi-colored nebulosity—vibrant greens, blues, and deep oranges—interspersed with dense, dark lanes of interstellar dust that obscure the light from more distant stellar clusters. digital painting by Don Dixon 2026-06-09T18:34:10.462Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/343-galaxy-north-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/343-galaxy-north-dixon.jpg Milky Way Galaxy 343-galaxy-north-dixon – a view of the Milky Way galaxy from galactic north, showing the Dwingaloo Dwarf Galaxy in the distance - digital painting by Don Dixon 2026-06-09T18:36:36.788Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/348-quantum-cosmos-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/348-quantum-cosmos-dixon.jpg Dark Energy 348-quantum-cosmos-dixon– This cosmological illustration visualizes a theoretical timeline of the universe, depicting a cosmic "bounce" or transition through a narrow spacetime bottleneck. The left side represents a chaotic, high-energy primordial state characterized by a complex, interconnected web of fiery orange and magenta quantum fluctuations or a collapsing pre-Big Bang phase. As the timeline funnels through a highly compressed central singularity, it expands outward to the right into a structured, inflating modern universe populated by distinct spiral galaxies, stellar clusters, and planetary systems developing within the dark void of space. mysterious energy causes the expansion of the universe to accelerate, cover, January 1999, Scientific American - digital painting by Don Dixon 2026-06-09T18:39:33.039Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/349-horizon-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/349-horizon-dixon.jpg Cosmic Expansion Event Horizon 349-horizon-dixon– This theoretical cosmological illustration diagrams the concept of the particle horizon and the expanding boundaries of the observable universe over cosmic time. Arranged in a vertical, branching hierarchy against a black void that transitions to a fiery orange primordial baseline, the infographic uses spherical bubbles to represent growing cosmic horizons. As time progresses upward, isolated galaxies once trapped outside each other's causal boundaries expand their observational spheres, illustrating how regions of the cosmos gradually enter into causal contact as light has more time to travel across expanding space. digital painting by Don Dixon for Scientific American 2026-06-09T18:42:35.975Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/350-time-temperature-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/350-time-temperature-dixon.jpg Time vs. Temperature Diagram 350-time-temperature-dixon – This theoretical cosmological infographic contrasts two different geometric models of space and time expanding from a central singularity. Both diagrams present an inverted triangular light cone tracking cosmic evolution, where a pale blue border transitions into a fiery orange and dark purple interior, capped by a row of distinct spiral galaxies along the modern epoch at the top. The upper diagram overlays a grid of rigid, horizontal linear time slices, while the lower diagram maps cosmic expansion using curved, concentric coordinate lines intersected by branching yellow worldlines that trace galactic trajectories back to a unified origin point. digital illustration for Scientific American, 2002 2026-06-09T18:46:12.272Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/358-campanas-survey-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/358-campanas-survey-dixon.jpg Campanas Survey Diagray 358-campanas-survey-dixon – Volume of Universe Explored by Campanas Survey - This cosmological diagram illustrates the observational limits imposed by interstellar dust within our galaxy when mapping large-scale cosmic structures. A central, horizontal purple disk containing a beautifully rendered spiral galaxy represents the plane of the Milky Way, where dense gas and dust clouds obscure deep-space observations. Two transparent, cone-shaped wedges of light, colored in gradients of blue and magenta, project perpendicularly outward from the galactic core, mapping narrow "zones of avoidance" windows where telescopes can successfully survey distant fields of galaxies, galaxy clusters, and the deep cosmic web. digital painting for Scientific American, © Don Dixon 2026-06-09T18:48:20.176Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/359-cosmic-structure-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/359-cosmic-structure-dixon.jpg Evolution of Cosmic Structure 359-cosmic-structure-dixon Large Scale Structure of Universe - This theoretical cosmological diagram illustrates the structural hierarchy and scale of matter distribution in the universe, arranged in a counter-clockwise loop of spherical vignettes connected by expanding blue field cones. The sequence scales upward from an individual, finely detailed blue spiral galaxy at the top-left, moving through a localized group of galaxies, a massive galaxy cluster populated by hundreds of points of light, and a broader supercluster network. The culmination on the right shows the large-scale cosmic web structure of filaments and voids, which eventually smooths out at the maximum scale into a homogeneous, uniform lavender sphere, demonstrating the cosmological principle where the universe becomes uniform on its largest scales. digital painting by Don Dixon for Scientific American 2026-06-09T18:51:04.078Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/360-omega-galaxies-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/360-omega-galaxies-dixon.jpg Omega Galaxies 360-omega-galaxies-dixon –This deep-space astronomical illustration depicts a massive, dense concentration of galaxies clustering within the cosmic web, contrasted against a stark, empty void on the left. The right side of the composition is heavily populated by hundreds of distinct galaxies, ranging from well-defined spiral systems with glowing cores to faint, distant elliptical and irregular galactic structures scattered across the deep-space background. The distribution captures the non-uniform, clumpy nature of matter on intermediate cosmological scales, showcasing how gravitational attraction pulls galaxies together into large-scale sheets and filaments. digital painting by Don Dixon 2026-06-09T18:53:14.199Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/371-locator-maps-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/371-locator-maps-dixon.jpg Cosmic Locator Maps 371-locator-maps-dixon – Scale of the Universe in Four Stages - This four-panel astronomical infographic illustrates different perspective zooms of our cosmic address, utilizing nested spherical vignettes connected by transparent field cones. Each quadrant shifts focus to emphasize a distinct level of cosmic scale: the upper-left highlights our Local Group of galaxies dominated by a large spiral, the upper-right zooms into our solar system featuring Saturn and the inner planets, the lower-left centers on the dense stellar fields and nebulae of the Milky Way galaxy, and the lower-right expands out to a massive cluster field representing the large-scale distribution of galaxies. The repetitive, structural layout demonstrates how localized systems are embedded within progressively grander macrocosmic scales. digital painting by Don Dixon for the Smithsonian 2026-06-09T18:55:49.317Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/372-evolution-of-stars-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/372-evolution-of-stars-dixon.jpg Evolution of Stars Diagram 372-evolution-of-stars-dixon – This four-panel astronomical infographic charts stellar and cosmic evolution across distinct chronological scales. The top panel illustrates a macrocosmic scale from point-source stars to fully formed spiral galaxies and diffuse irregular clusters. The second panel details a star-formation timeline from a collapsing molecular cloud and accretion disk to a mature star flanked by a newly formed rocky planet. The third panel visualizes stellar lifecycles and deaths, contrasting low-mass planetary nebula ejection with high-mass supernova explosions. The bottom panel serves as a cosmological timeline, showing the expansion of space from the hyper-dense Big Bang cone out to the modern epoch populated by distributed galaxy structures. painting by Don Dixon for Smithsonian Institution, © Don Dixon 2026-06-09T18:59:25.002Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/435-ancient-cluster-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/435-ancient-cluster-dixon.jpg Ancient Globular Cluster and asteroid 435-ancient-cluster-dixon – Strange clusters that seem to be a cross between open and globular clusters harbor stars that may provide clues to the evolution of the early universe. Cover for Astronomy, May 2005. 2026-06-10T17:12:12.265Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/434-lonely-universe-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/434-lonely-universe-dixon.jpg Lonely Universe Diagram 434-lonely-universe-dixon – The universe becomes very lonely as dark energy pushes most of it beyond our horizon. Diagram for Scientific American, 2004. © Don Dixon 2026-06-10T17:14:26.748Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/433-hypernova-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/433-hypernova-dixon.jpg Hypernova 433-hypernova-dixon – Gamma rays burst from either pole of a shattered star undergoing a hypernova explosion. A cataclysmic hypernova explosion erupts from the core of a collapsing, ultra-massive star, signaling the birth of a central black hole. An expanding, multi-colored torus of stellar debris and high-temperature plasma shears outward in shades of gold, turquoise, and magenta. Twin relativistic jets blast violently along the rotational axis, channeling intense radiation and particles into deep space across a dense background of stars. © Don Dixon, 2005. 2026-06-10T17:16:37.370Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/432-cosmic-dark-age-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/432-cosmic-dark-age-dixon.jpg The Cosmic Dark Ages 432-cosmic-dark-age-dixon –Although the early universe was immensely hot, it was dark, because photons were not able to travel through the highly-ionized gas. In this diagram of cosmic evolution, the upper left represents the cosmic dark age. Proceeding toward the lower right, the universe cools, atoms form, and filamentary structures condense to form galaxy clusters. © Don Dixon 2005. 2026-06-10T17:18:18.822Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/431-hst-ultra-deep-field-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/431-hst-ultra-deep-field-dixon.jpg Hubble Ultra Deep Field Diagram 431-hst-ultra-deep-field-dixon –Diagram showing the very small part of the sky that was surveyed in the Hubble Space Telescope's Ultra Deep Field project. Digital diagram, Popular Mechanics, 2004. 2026-06-10T17:22:28.973Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/417-cat-eye-nebula-evolution-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/417-cat-eye-nebula-evolution-dixon.jpg Cat Eye Nebula 417-cat-eye-nebula-evolution-dixon –The strange and beautiful shapes of planetary nebulae, like the Cat's Eye, form through complex interactions between stellar winds and magnetic fields. A step-by-step schematic diagram illustrates the complex structural evolution of a bipolar planetary nebula, akin to the Cat's Eye Nebula. Arranged across a black void, five evolutionary stages demonstrate a central aging star shedding its outer layers into expanding rings, tori, and polar jets regulated by magnetic fields or a binary companion. The sequence culminates at the bottom with a highly detailed, nested bubble structure showing concentric orange, red, and turquoise ionization shells. Digital, 2004, for Scientific American. © 2005 by Don Dixon. 2026-06-10T17:24:20.921Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/414-cosmic-brane-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/414-cosmic-brane-dixon.jpg Cosmic Brane 414-cosmic-brane-dixon – Some scientists speculate that, if microscopic black holes can be formed by the Large Hadron Collider, they may bridge the hyperdimensional gap between "branes" , demonstrating the existence of other universes. An abstract, geometric visualization depicting theoretical concepts of string cosmology and brane multidimensional space. A warped, translucent orange surface representing a dynamic cosmic membrane or "brane" curves down over three metallic spheres of increasing size resting on a flat, light blue plane. The minimalist 3D rendering uses clean lighting and shadows to represent complex mathematical ideas like higher dimensions, bulk space, or parallel universes interacting within a multiverse framework. Digital, 2005, for Scientific American. © Don Dixon 2026-06-10T17:26:17.632Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/413-Ancient-Stars.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/413-Ancient-Stars.jpg The Most Ancient Stars The most ancient stars in the universe may provide clues to its evolution. This montage, suggesting the formation of stars and galaxies out of the Big Bang, was the June, 2005 cover for "Astronomy" magazine. 2026-06-10T17:27:57.819Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/411-cosmicinflation-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/411-cosmicinflation-dixon.jpg Cosmic Inflation 411-cosmicinflation-dixon –In the theory of cosmic inflation, the universe expands from the size of an atomic nucleus to a baseball in a tiny fraction of a second. A progressive, conceptual infographic models the exponential expansion of space during cosmic inflation. Beginning as a small, sequence of solid white, yellow, and orange spheres, the nascent universe balloons rapidly into massive, nested bubbles filled with complex filamentary webs. The largest foreground structures transition from translucent pink networks to a massive, curved blue expanse showing the large-scale distribution of matter in the modern cosmos against a black void. Digital, 2005 © by Don Dixon. 2026-06-10T17:29:46.339Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/409-orion-constellation-3d-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/409-orion-constellation-3d-dixon.jpg Constellation Orion in 3D 409-orion-constellation-3d-dixon – The stars delineating the constellation Orion are dispersed across nearly 2,000 light years in this 3D representation. A technical infographic visualizes the true three-dimensional spatial distribution of stars within the Orion constellation relative to Earth. White sightlines project from a realistic Earth globe on the left, passing through a translucent blue vertical pane that displays the familiar, flat constellation pattern. Beyond this 2D projection screen, the individual stars are extended into true deep space at varying physical distances, suspended above a blue horizontal scale plane by vertical guide lines. Digital, 2003. © by Don Dixon. 2026-06-10T17:31:47.261Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/401-dark-matter-halo-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/401-dark-matter-halo-dixon.jpg Dark Matter Halo 401-dark-matter-halo-dixon –This diagram created for the March, 2003 issue of Scientific American suggests the immense halo of mysterious dark matter that many astrophysicists believe surrounds our galaxy. The visible stars and gases of the Milky Way contribute less than ten percent of its total mass. A conceptual wedge cutaway from the massive, glowing blue and translucent white spherical structure exposes the interior layout, showing how the invisible mass distribution extends far beyond the visible galactic disk. The diffuse halo reaches into the surrounding deep space void, providing the gravitational scaffolding necessary to hold the spinning galactic structure together. 2026-06-10T17:34:00.745Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/389-universe-time-line-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/389-universe-time-line-dixon.jpg Universe Time Line 389-universe-time-line-dixon –History of the universe in four stages: the Big Bang is marked by the left vertex, followed by a million-year dark age until the first stars form at the intersection of huge filaments of primordial hydrogen. A period of intense star formation and violent explosions lays the foundation for the universe we see today. - painting by Don Dixon for Scientific American 2026-06-10T17:35:23.215Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/387-proto-galaxies-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/387-proto-galaxies-dixon.jpg Proto Galaxies Form 387-proto-galaxies-dixon –An astronomical visualization models the early universe, highlighting a dense web of interconnected purple dark matter filaments and gas networks. A localized white bounding square targets a high-density intersection where the first structures form. This targeted region projects forward into a large, three-dimensional callout cube, revealing emerging proto-galaxies igniting as bright white points of light within the primordial fog. Digital painting for Scientific American 2026-06-10T17:37:41.958Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/386-cosmic-cycle-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/386-cosmic-cycle-dixon.jpg Starbirth and Death diagram 386-cosmic-cycle-dixon –Created in collaboration with Bryan Christie, this diagram illustrates a kind of cosmic ecology. Radiation from bright stars and violently ejected gases from supernovae replenish and compress interstellar clouds of gas and dust, leading to the formation of new stars - painting by Don Dixon for Scientific American, © Don Dixon 2026-06-10T17:39:48.166Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/385-galactic-atmosphere-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/385-galactic-atmosphere-dixon.jpg The Galactic Atmosphere 385-galactic-atmosphere-dixon – Even the galaxy has a kind of weather, in which fountains of tenuous gas arch high above the galactic plain through vents blasted by supernova explosions. A scientific visualization depicts the high-energy, turbulent gas dynamics within a galactic atmosphere or circumgalactic medium. An intense, linear orange-red horizon of hot plasma bisects the composition, venting loops and tendrils of cool purple and magenta gas into the surrounding void. On the right, a brilliant white energetic flare ionizes a broad swath of the interstellar medium, creating a dense, glowing purple cloud structure. digital painting for Scientific American, © Don Dixon 2026-06-10T17:41:42.962Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/382-quintessence-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/382-quintessence-dixon.jpg Quintessence 382-quintessence-dixon – Quintessence, an energy that pervades space-time, may regulate the expansion of the universe. A deep-space visualization depicts a dynamic cosmological model where a vast, textured field of dark energy or quintessence permeates the universe. Swirling, cellular clusters of dense crimson and scarlet matter form a vast structural web across a deep red cosmic backdrop. Thousands of detailed, tiny spiral and elliptical galaxies drift through the crimson medium, aggregating along the high-density energetic nodes of the cosmic framework. digital painting by Don Dixon for Scientific American 2026-06-10T17:43:42.184Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/377-seti-galaxy-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/377-seti-galaxy-dixon.jpg Milky Way 377-seti-galaxy-dixon –The Milky Way Galaxy - A grand, sweeping spiral galaxy tilts dynamically across a black cosmic void, its brilliant yellow-white core surrounded by tightly wound spiral arms. The structure is heavily detailed with mottled blue star-forming regions, pink emission nebulae, and complex lanes of dark interstellar dust cutting through the galactic plane. In the deep background to the upper left, the Andromeda galaxy accompanied by a tiny satellite galaxy drifts in isolation. digital painting by Don Dixon for Scientific American 2026-06-10T17:46:07.402Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/376-MAP-orbit.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/376-MAP-orbit.jpg Microwave Anisotropy Probe Diagram orbital diagram; Microwave Anisotropy Probe (MAP) - painting by Don Dixon for Scientific American 2026-06-10T17:48:03.564Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/375-microwave-probe-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Stars%20Galaxies%20and%20Cosmology/slides/375-microwave-probe-dixon.jpg 375-microwave-probe-dixon – The Microwave Anisotropy Probe (MAP) spacecraft floats in deep space, deploying its back-to-back primary reflectors to measure temperature fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background. A large, circular golden thermal shield protects the sensitive instruments from solar radiation, keeping them oriented away from the distant, eclipsed Sun and Earth visible on the left. Dual translucent pink scan paths extend from the telescope's optics into the background starfield, slicing across a diffuse band of zodiacal light. digital painting by Don Dixon for Scientific American 2026-06-10T17:49:31.899Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Landscapes/index.html 2026-06-11T20:54:03.997Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Landscapes/slides/498-ancient-alexandria-temple-caesareum.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Landscapes/slides/498-ancient-alexandria-temple-caesareum.jpg Caesareum Temple in Ancient Alexandria The Caesarium (or Caesareum) was a temple built by Cleopatra VII to commemorate the deification of her murdered lover Julius Caesar and to honor her husband Marc Antony. When Octavian, Caesar's heir, conquered Antony and occupied Alexandria he destroyed every statue of the "Egyptian whore" but preserved her monument, rededicating it to himself. So travelers entering Alexandria's harbor might notice the temple he set before it two fifteen-centuries-old pylons from the temple of Ra in Heliopolis, one of which now stands behind the Metropolitan Museum in New York's Central Park and the other in London's Thames Embankment. Until the middle of the 4th century the Caesarium was the center of a temple complex that included gardens, lecture halls, and satellites of the Great Library. Converted to a Christian church in the late 4th century, The Caesarium served as headquarters to Bishop Cyril who led a campaign to stamp out all non-Christian influences in Alexandria. The philosopher Hypatia was murdered on the steps of this temple in March, 415. The artist's reconstruction above depicts how the temple might have looked during late afternoon on 15, March 415 A.D. A print of this image is available. (artwork copyright 2014 by Don Dixon) 2014-12-28T03:09:52.000Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Landscapes/slides/516-water-rock-and-lantana-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Landscapes/slides/516-water-rock-and-lantana-dixon.jpg 516-water-rock-and-lantana-dixon – Afternoon sunlight dapples stones in a rock garden next to a lake. A detailed impressionistic landscape painting depicting a serene water feature flanked by large, weathered river rocks and desert flora. A vibrant green, orange, and red lantana bush grows from the crevices of the light-colored boulders, casting colorful reflections onto the rippling, sunlit water in the background. The foreground features shallow, clear water flowing over submerged stones, shifting in tone from cool blues to warm ochres under an explicit play of natural light. oil on canvas, 16x20 inches, 2019; © Don Dixon 2026-06-11T19:04:09.262Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Landscapes/slides/515-moon-over-stone-man-mountain-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Landscapes/slides/515-moon-over-stone-man-mountain-dixon.jpg 515-moon-over-stone-man-mountain-dixon – An evocative desert landscape painting showcasing a large, gibbous Moon suspended beneath towering cumulus clouds in a bright blue sky. Below, a rugged, heavily textured mountain ridge of fractured granite is illuminated by warm, low-angle sunlight, casting deep orange, red, and ochre hues across the craggy terrain. Scatters of smaller, shadowed clouds drift near the horizon, contrasting with the sharp, geological details of the sunlit precipice.; oil on canvas, 24x36 inches, 2019 © Don Dixon 2026-06-11T19:10:45.624Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Landscapes/slides/514-mendocino-garden-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Landscapes/slides/514-mendocino-garden-dixon.jpg 514-mendocino-garden-dixon – A bright architectural and landscape painting depicting the side view of a two-story cream-colored building adjacent to a lush coastal garden. A stone pathway winds through dense green shrubs, white flowers, and groundcover toward a small wooden bench overlooking the water. In the background, a blue ocean bay and a distant tree-lined shoreline sit beneath a sky filled with accumulating coastal clouds, while a window on the building displays a sign reading "Mendocino Music Festival." oil on canvas, 16x20 inches, 2017; © Don Dixon 2026-06-11T19:33:23.798Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Landscapes/slides/513-new-moon-in-the-old-moons-arms-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Landscapes/slides/513-new-moon-in-the-old-moons-arms-dixon.jpg 513-new-moon-in-the-old-moons-arms-dixon –A striking astronomical painting depicting the celestial phenomenon of earthshine, where a slender, brilliant crescent Moon cradles the faintly illuminated dark side of the lunar disc. The softly glowing features of the lunar maria and highlands are visible within the earthlit portion against a deep twilight sky. In the foreground, the jagged, silhouetted crest of a rugged mountain ridge cuts diagonally across the lower right frame, establishing a dramatic terrestrial contrast to the lunar alignment. Digital rework of photograph taken April 24, 2020. copyright Don Dixon / cosmographica.com 2026-06-11T20:03:51.899Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Landscapes/slides/438-new-orleans-flood-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Landscapes/slides/438-new-orleans-flood-dixon.jpg New Orleans Ruins 438-new-orleans-flood-dixon –Future fishermen ply their trade amidst the flooded ruins of New Orleans after the icecaps melt. A science fiction illustration depicting a speculative, flooded future where an ornate wrought-iron gate is submerged in a bayou-like waterway. An alligator swims past the moss-draped ironwork in the foreground, while a futuristic fan boat carries two occupants down the river channel. Dense, overgrown vegetation and swamp trees swallow the ruins of old stone buildings and brick facades under a bright, partly cloudy sky, evoking a post-apocalyptic Southern Gothic atmosphere. Acrylic and gouache, 1983. © 2005 by Don Dixon. 2026-06-11T20:07:18.048Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Landscapes/slides/304-sailors-delight-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Landscapes/slides/304-sailors-delight-dixon.jpg 304-sailors-delight-dixon – A dramatic maritime painting depicting a lone sailboat navigating wide ocean swells under a vivid, glowing sunset. The entire scene is bathed in intense monochromatic hues of amber, gold, and deep reddish-orange, reflecting the classic "red sky at night, sailor's delight" atmospheric condition. Two small figures are visible on the deck of the vessel as it cuts through the textured, metallic-sheened waves that dominate the composition. acrylic and gouache painting by Don Dixon, 1979 2026-06-11T20:12:20.709Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Landscapes/slides/303-andies-oak-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Landscapes/slides/303-andies-oak-dixon.jpg Andie's Oak 303-andies-oak-dixon –The golden light of earth's sun diffuses through the mist-filled branches of an oak tree in this unusual Don Dixon painting, which was executed in 1979 with sponge and airbrush on pebble board, giving it an interesting pointalistic and impasto texture. © Don Dixon / cosmographica.com 2026-06-11T20:15:58.592Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Landscapes/slides/302-blue-starry-sky-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Landscapes/slides/302-blue-starry-sky-dixon.jpg 302-blue-starry-sky-dixon –stock background showing a deep blue sky gradient with stars - An astronomical painting depicting a clear night sky filled with countless stars of varying magnitudes. The background features a smooth, vertical gradient that transitions from a deep indigo at the top to a lighter sapphire blue near the bottom horizon. The stellar field is meticulously arranged, capturing the natural variation in brightness and color temperature of individual stars across a clean celestial canopy. acrylic and gouache painting by Don Dixon, 1984 2026-06-11T20:18:37.939Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Landscapes/slides/299-greek-ruins-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Landscapes/slides/299-greek-ruins-dixon.jpg 299-greek-ruins-dixon - a Greek temple on the coast of the Aegean, opening illustration for article in Modern Maturity about Democritus, who first postulated an atomic theory of matter. A vibrant landscape painting depicting ancient classical ruins situated on a rugged clifftop overlooking a vast blue sea. The remnants of a stone temple structure with weathered fluted columns stand against a bright, hazy sun that pierces through dramatic coastal clouds. In the foreground, fallen architectural fragments and green shrubs lie scattered along the dirt path, while a large, bright green tropical leaf frames the right edge of the composition. acrylic and gouache, 1984 2026-06-11T20:29:26.507Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Landscapes/slides/279-annular-eclipse-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Landscapes/slides/279-annular-eclipse-dixon.jpg 279-annular-eclipse-dixon – painting of annular eclipse off California coast. A dramatic astronomical painting depicting a spectacular annular eclipse hanging low over a vast, undulating ocean. The moon perfectly centers over the solar disc, creating a brilliant "ring of fire" that projects a shimmering, golden path of light across the crests of the dark waves below. High, churning clouds frame the upper sky, catching the complex, multi-toned hues of an eclipsed twilight that transitions from deep purples to warm ochres and amber oranges. 1991, acrylic and gouache 2026-06-11T20:38:20.251Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Landscapes/slides/262-stage-flats-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Landscapes/slides/262-stage-flats-dixon.jpg 262-stage-flats-dixon – an all-too-youthful artist poses before stage flats painted for singer Johnny Rivers' Las Vegas show. The primary flat features a stylized 1970s counterculture scene, depicting people gathered in a field of orange California poppies, including Joni Mitchell playing an acoustic guitar. Acrylic on masonite, 1979. 2026-06-11T20:47:52.431Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/index.html 2026-06-11T00:58:15.935Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/026-algol-binary-star-mass-transfer-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/026-algol-binary-star-mass-transfer-dixon.jpg 026-Algol Variable Star [026] Algol System — This illustration depicts a close binary star system undergoing stellar mass transfer. A larger, cooler orange subgiant fills its Roche lobe, shedding gas that forms an accretion disk around a more massive, blue-white main sequence star. A foreground irregular asteroid or planetesimal provides a perspective of the orbital plane, while a distant third stellar component is visible in the background. Oil on masonite, 18x24 inches, 1974. artwork © Don Dixon/cosmographica.com 2026-04-15T19:44:30.533Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/030-crab-pulsar-magnetosphere-nebula-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/030-crab-pulsar-magnetosphere-nebula-dixon.jpg 030-Crab-Pulsar [030] Crab Pulsar — This illustration represents a pulsar, the rapidly rotating neutron star at the center of the Crab Nebula. The scene visualizes the intense magnetic field lines emerging from the stellar remnant, with relativistic particles tracing complex paths along the magnetosphere. A surrounding shell of ionized gas suggests the pulsar wind nebula environment created by the energetic emission of the central object.. Oil on masonite, 1974. artwork © 2007 Don Dixon/cosmographica.com 2026-04-15T19:47:19.359Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/059-cygnus-x-1-black-hole-accretion-disk-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/059-cygnus-x-1-black-hole-accretion-disk-dixon.jpg 059-Cygnus-X-1 Black Hole [059] Cygnus X-1 — This astronomical painting illustrates the Cygnus X-1 high-mass X-ray binary system, featuring a blue supergiant star (HDE 226868) undergoing Roche lobe overflow. Stellar material is being pulled toward a black hole, forming a glowing accretion disk that spirals toward the event horizon against a dense star field background.; gouache on illustration board, 1975. © Don Dixon 2026-04-15T19:48:46.998Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/092-white-dwarf-star-planetary-surface-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/092-white-dwarf-star-planetary-surface-dixon.jpg 092-White-Dwarf-Star [092] White Dwarf Star — the sun's ultimate fate, a shrunken, blue-white cinder that sheds little light on its devastated planets ;This astronomical painting depicts a planetary surface under the illumination of a white dwarf star. The foreground features a rugged, mountainous landscape with small figures for scale, while the distant terrain is characterized by stratified, eroded geological layers under a dark, star-studded sky. acrylic on board, 1981 2026-04-15T19:50:03.512Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/130-contact-binary-star-mass-transfer-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/130-contact-binary-star-mass-transfer-dixon.jpg 130-Contact-Binary [130] Contact Binary — the companions forming the binary star Algol exchange gases in a complex manner, This astronomical illustration represents a contact binary star system undergoing significant mass transfer and accretion. The scene depicts a primary and secondary star within a shared envelope, surrounded by a complex disk of circumstellar material, with a textured asteroid visible in the upper-left quadrant against a dense field of stars.cover for Science Digest ; acrylic on board, 1981 2026-04-15T19:51:16.457Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/131-black-hole-accretion-disk-blue-giant-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/131-black-hole-accretion-disk-blue-giant-dixon.jpg 131-Black-Hole [131] Black Hole — This astronomical painting illustrates a high-mass X-ray binary system where a blue giant star is losing mass to a black hole. The stellar material is pulled away in a visible stream, spiraling into a luminous red accretion disk that surrounds the gravitational singularity against a dark star field. ; acrylic, 1980; © Don Dixon 2026-04-15T19:52:04.471Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/168-maelstrom-ii-asteroid-torrent-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/168-maelstrom-ii-asteroid-torrent-dixon.jpg 168-Maelstrom-2 [168] Maelstrom II — This illustration by Don Dixon depicts a chaotic primordial solar system or protoplanetary disk. The scene features numerous rocky planetesimals and asteroids amid turbulent nebulous gases, with prominent electrical discharges or "lightning" occurring within the high-energy environment of the forming planetary system. acrylic and gouache, 1984 2026-04-15T19:52:47.486Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/169-black-hole-red-giant-accretion-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/169-black-hole-red-giant-accretion-dixon.jpg 169-Black-Hole-2 [169] Black Hole II — This illustration by Don Dixon depicts a high-mass X-ray binary system featuring a red giant star undergoing Roche lobe overflow. Stellar plasma is being stripped from the primary star and channeled into a vast, glowing accretion disk surrounding a central black hole, demonstrating complex orbital dynamics and mass transfer.gas is compressed to x-ray incandescence as it impacts the accretion disk of a black hole; acrylic and gouache on illustration board, 1987; copyright Don Dixon 2026-04-15T19:53:42.963Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/270-flare-star-red-dwarf-magnetism-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/270-flare-star-red-dwarf-magnetism-dixon.jpg 270-Flare-Star-1 [270] Flare Star — This illustration by Don Dixon depicts a flare star, a variable star that undergoes dramatic increases in brightness due to intense magnetic activity. The foreground showcases a roiling, textured stellar surface in deep reds and pinks, while bright white flare events erupt from the photosphere. Above these eruptions, massive coronal streamers—representing ionized gas guided by looping magnetic field lines—extend into the dark vacuum of space, set against a backdrop of distant stars. Originally commissioned as background detail for a Del Rey Books cover painting, this 1990 acrylic on canvas was later prominently featured as a promotional poster for the 1994 computer game Marathon by Bungie Software. 2026-04-15T19:54:42.296Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/276-heart-of-the-quasar-active-galactic-nucleus-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/276-heart-of-the-quasar-active-galactic-nucleus-dixon.jpg 276-Heart-Of-The-Quasar [276] Heart of the Quasar — An illustration by Don Dixon depicting the core of a quasar, featuring a supermassive black hole at the center of an active galactic nucleus. The scene illustrates the dynamics of a massive accretion disk where gas and dust spiral inward, becoming superheated and emitting intense radiation before reaching the event horizon. Perpendicular to the disk, a high-energy relativistic jet of ionized matter is being ejected into intergalactic space at near-light speeds. This traditional acrylic on board painting was created in 1988 and has been published in various astronomical journals and textbooks to visualize the Unified Model of Active Galactic Nuclei. 2026-04-15T19:55:49.679Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/334-algol-binary-star-mass-transfer-detail-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/334-algol-binary-star-mass-transfer-detail-dixon.jpg 334-Algol-Binary [334] Algol Binary — An illustration by Don Dixon depicting the Algol binary star system, demonstrating the process of Roche lobe overflow and active mass transfer. A cooler, orange-hued subgiant star is shown losing outer layers of gas to a more massive, blue-white main sequence companion through a concentrated stream. The captured material forms an uneven accretion disk around the primary star, while magnetic activity is indicated by darkened starspots on the donor star's surface. This digital illustration was created in 2004 for use in astrophysical journals and educational textbooks to explain the Algol paradox. interior Sky and Telescope - painting by Don Dixon 2026-04-15T19:58:47.478Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/363-gamma-ray-burster-magnetar-hypernova-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/363-gamma-ray-burster-magnetar-hypernova-dixon.jpg 363-Gamma-Burster [363] Gamma Burster — An illustration by Don Dixon representing a gamma-ray burster, specifically the collision of two neutron stars. The scene depicts a rotating, highly distorted stellar core undergoing gravitational collapse, with incandescent filaments of plasma and intense magnetic field lines visible against a dark photosphere. High-energy particles and radiation are shown beginning to channel into polar jets, characteristic of a hypernova event. This digital illustration was produced in 2006 and has been featured in scientific periodicals to visualize the collapsar model of long-duration gamma-ray bursts. 2026-04-15T19:59:41.304Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/379-gravity-mind-quantum-foam-spacetime-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/379-gravity-mind-quantum-foam-spacetime-dixon.jpg 379-Gravity-Mind [379] Gravity Mind — A vast cosmic mind composed of organized black holes in the far distant future - painting by Don Dixon for Odyssey Magazine, digital, 1998 2026-04-15T20:00:48.611Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/398-trinary-black-hole-mass-transfer-stars-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/398-trinary-black-hole-mass-transfer-stars-dixon.jpg 398-Trinary-Black-Hole.jpg [398] Trinary Black Hole — A black hole rips apart two companion stars in this private commission. The cores of two red giant stars spiral toward destruction. Sputtering explosions of infalling gas are blasted into space as the three objects dance around their ever-shifting center of mass. The painting was created with acrylic and oil glazes on a 4'x6' canvas. 2026-04-15T20:01:58.872Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/402-magnetar-neutron-starquake-flare-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/402-magnetar-neutron-starquake-flare-dixon.jpg 402-Magnetar-B [402] Magnetar — Painted for the Feburary, 2003 issue of Scientific American, this digital painting shows the immense burst of magnetic energy and soft gamma radiation that is released when a highly magnetic neutron star experiences a "starquake" -- a vertical displacement of the surface perhaps smaller than a millimeter. The burst is tightly constrained to a thin belt by the intense magnetic field. 2026-04-15T20:02:49.135Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/403-magnetar-magnetic-reconnection-flare-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/403-magnetar-magnetic-reconnection-flare-dixon.jpg 403-Magnetar-Cover [403] Magnetar — An illustration by Don Dixon depicting a magnetar, a neutron star characterized by an extremely powerful magnetic field, undergoing a high-energy eruption. The scene visualizes the magnetar's fractured, incandescent crust and the resulting release of plasma and radiation into the surrounding magnetosphere, driven by magnetic reconnection events. This digital illustration was created for the February, 2003 issue of Scientific American 2026-04-15T20:22:39.906Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/408-black-hole-accretion-disk-stellar-companion-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/408-black-hole-accretion-disk-stellar-companion-dixon.jpg 408-Black-Hole-Disk [408] Black Hole Disk — This illustration provides a high-detail perspective of a stellar-mass black hole system. A companion star is shown undergoing significant Roche lobe overflow, with a distinct stream of stellar plasma being pulled into a massive, multi-layered accretion disk. The disk transitions from vibrant orange and red outer regions to a luminous, white-hot interior. A powerful relativistic jet of purple ionized matter is shown being ejected perpendicular to the disk from the vicinity of the event horizon, a hallmark of active high-mass X-ray binaries.. Digital, for Scientific American © 2005 by Don Dixon. 2026-04-15T20:24:17.767Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/412-ss433-microquasar-black-hole-jets-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/412-ss433-microquasar-black-hole-jets-dixon.jpg 412-ss433-BlackHole [412] SS 433 — An illustration by Don Dixon of the microquasar SS 433, a binary system containing a compact object—likely a stellar-mass black hole—and a massive donor star. The scene demonstrates high-rate mass transfer via Roche lobe overflow, fueling a super-critical accretion disk that emits oppositely directed, precessing relativistic jets of ionized gas. This digital illustration was created in 2004 to visualize the unique corkscrew-like precession of the system's jets. Digital, cover, February 2005 "Astronomy" magazine. (originally miscredited to the late, great Adolf Schaller). 2026-04-15T20:25:59.848Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/424-micro-black-hole-primordial-formation-detection-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/424-micro-black-hole-primordial-formation-detection-dixon.jpg 424-Micro-Black-Holes-Forming [424] Micro Black Holes — An illustration by Don Dixon presented as a diptych, conceptualizing the formation and detection of primordial or microscopic black holes. The left panel visualizes quantum fluctuations in the early high-density universe leading to the collapse of primordial matter into small-scale singularities. The right panel represents a theoretical detection scenario where a micro black hole interacts with Earth's atmosphere, producing a characteristic shower of secondary particles and radiation detectable by ground-based sensors. This digital composite was created in 2008 for scientific publications exploring dark matter candidates and high-energy particle physics. Digital diagram for Scientific American, 2005. © 2005 by Don Dixon. 2026-04-15T20:26:59.531Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/425-micro-black-hole-hawking-radiation-evaporation-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/425-micro-black-hole-hawking-radiation-evaporation-dixon.jpg 425-Micro-Black-Holes-Evolve [425] Micro Black Holes Evolving — An illustration by Don Dixon presented as a vertical infographic depicting the theoretical evolution and decay of a microscopic black hole via Hawking radiation. The five-stage sequence visualizes a singularity's transition from a stable gravitational state to a terminal explosive release of high-energy particles and gamma radiation. This digital illustration was created in 2008 and has been utilized in scientific media to explain particle physics concepts and the potential signatures of micro black hole evaporation. Digital diagram for Scientific American, 2005. © 2005 by Don Dixon. 2026-04-15T20:27:51.661Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/443-gravitational-wave-spacetime-ripples-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/443-gravitational-wave-spacetime-ripples-dixon.jpg 443-gravity-wave [443] Gravity Wave — An illustration by Don Dixon conceptualizing a primordial gravity wave propagating through the early universe. The scene visualizes the distortion of spacetime as a series of rhythmic, undulating ripples that transition from a high-energy red state to a cooler blue cosmic structure. This digital illustration was created in 2008 and has been featured in scientific journals and documentaries to represent the gravitational wave background and the influence of inflation on the large-scale structure of the cosmos. Abstract representation, digital © 2007 Don Dixon/cosmographica.com 2026-04-15T20:28:31.249Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/449-black-hole-radiation-blowback-event-horizon-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/449-black-hole-radiation-blowback-event-horizon-dixon.jpg 449-Inside the Jet of a Galactic Black Hole [449] Black Hole Blowback — Gazing into the "throat" of a galactic jet. An illustration by Don Dixon depicting the "blowback" effect of an active black hole, where intense radiation pressure and powerful stellar winds from the accretion disk drive gas and dust out of the galactic center. The scene is rendered from an interior perspective within the outflow, showing concentric shells of glowing ionized gas and shock waves expanding away from a central luminosity that masks the singularity. Churning magnetic fields and acoustic waves ripple outward. Digital painting for special "Black Holes" edition of Scientific American. © 2007 Don Dixon/cosmographica.com 2026-04-15T20:29:25.924Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/450-black-hole-radiation-blowback-widescreen-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/450-black-hole-radiation-blowback-widescreen-dixon.jpg 450-black-hole-blowback-02 [450] Black Hole Blowback 02 — An illustration by Don Dixon depicting galactic feedback mechanisms driven by a central supermassive black hole. The scene visualizes the "blowback" effect, where intense radiation pressure and thermal energy from an active galactic nucleus clear the surrounding region of gas and dust, forming concentric shock fronts and shells of glowing plasma. This digital illustration was created in 2008 and has been featured in astrophysical media to illustrate the regulation of star formation and the mechanical influence of black hole outflows on host galaxies.We see one of the most energetic processes in nature as we look down the "throat" of a galactic jet. ADigital painting for special "Black Holes" edition of Scientific American. © 2007 Don Dixon/cosmogracosmcosmographica.com 2026-04-15T20:30:50.417Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/496-galactic-center-black-hole-gas-clouds-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/496-galactic-center-black-hole-gas-clouds-dixon.jpg 496-gas-clouds-black-hole-milky-way [496] Gas Clouds near the central Black Hole — Sagittarius-A ; Clouds of gas and dust swirl into the black hole at the core of the Milky Way galaxy. An illustration by Don Dixon depicting the complex environment surrounding a supermassive black hole at a galactic center, specifically highlighting the interaction between orbiting gas clouds and the central accretion disk. The scene illustrates gravitational capture and tidal disruption of molecular clouds, contributing to the fueling of the active galactic nucleus (AGN) and the generation of a powerful relativistic jet.digital, for Scientific American, 2013. copyright Don Dixon / cosmographica.com 2026-04-15T20:31:46.156Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/506-fast-radio-burst-frb-magnetar-starquake-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/506-fast-radio-burst-frb-magnetar-starquake-dixon.jpg Fast Radio Burst Magnetar [frb_fin_001] Fast Radio Burst (FRB) — This scene illustrates the "starquake" model of a magnetar, a type of neutron star with an ultra-strong magnetic field. The artwork depicts a rupture in the stellar crust, which triggers a catastrophic reconfiguration of magnetic field lines and the subsequent release of a Fast Radio Burst (FRB). The resulting emission is shown as a high-energy plume of radiation erupting from the fractured surface into the magnetosphere. Illustration by Don Dixon. [Publication History]: This illustration was prominently featured in the June 2019 issue of Astronomy magazine to accompany the article "Cosmic Firecrackers," which explores the origins of Fast Radio Bursts. It is also documented within the artist's "Exotic Stars" digital archive. 2026-04-15T20:34:40.672Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/504-merging-black-holes-gravitational-waves-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Black%20Holes%2C%20Exotic%20Stars/slides/504-merging-black-holes-gravitational-waves-dixon.jpg 504 Gravity Waves radiate as black holes merge [504] Binary Black Hole Merger — An illustration by Don Dixon depicting the merger of two stellar-mass black holes and the resulting emission of gravitational waves. The scene visualizes the final stages of a binary inspiral, where the orbital decay of the singularities creates intense ripples in the fabric of spacetime, rendered as concentric, glowing blue and white distortions against a multi-colored nebular background. This digital has been utilized to represent the astrophysical events detected by laser interferometry. Interior painting for November, 2017 Astronomy Magazine shows the space-time distortions produced as two black holes merge. © Don Dixon / cosmographica.com 2026-04-20T20:00:31.084Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/index.html 2026-06-11T00:58:49.354Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/016-sunjammer-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/016-sunjammer-dixon.jpg 016-sunjammer-dixon – The pressure of sunlight on a solar sail carries tourists to the Earth from the moon, seen reflected in the sail. A technical concept painting depicting a massive, circular solar sail spacecraft navigating interplanetary space. The primary craft features a vast, lightweight reflecting sail structured with radial and concentric rigging, centered on a gold cylindrical payload module. Another, distant sailship is visible in the lower left quadrant against the black starfield. The crescent limb of the Moon is reflected in the sail along with the glaring sun, whose light pushes the craft. A full Earth is visible through a central hole in the sail. Oil on canvas panel, 24x36 inches, 1972. 2026-05-24T00:26:38.021Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/103-nuclear-pulse-rocket-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/103-nuclear-pulse-rocket-dixon.jpg 103-nuclear-pulse-rocket-dixon – a rocket detonates a succession of nuclear bombs to generate thrust ( Project Orion ) ; An architectural and propulsion concept depicting a spacecraft powered by nuclear pulse detonation in deep space. The vehicle is propelled by successive, expanding plasma fireballs generated behind a heavy pusher plate mechanism at its stern. In the foreground, a tracking dish antenna on a companion ship is illuminated by a cool green hue, observing the distant, high-energy departure against a sparse background starfield.; acrylic on board, 1979, digitally restored 2026 2026-05-24T00:43:04.763Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/418-cyclotron-diagram-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/418-cyclotron-diagram-dixon.jpg Cyclotron 418-cyclotron-diagram-dixon – In a cyclotron, or toroidal particle collider, such as the LHC in Geneva, streams of protons are accelerated in oppoisite directions by magnetic fields and then are deflected to collide head-on. A technical three-dimensional diagram illustrating subatomic particle acceleration within a circular ring accelerator or synchrotron. The cutaway view reveals two counter-rotating particle beams, represented by illuminated orange and blue trajectories, traveling through a toroidal vacuum chamber wrapped in electromagnetic focusing coils. The beams converge at a designated collision point surrounded by an array labeled "DETECTORS," where a high-energy particle impact event is visualized.The resulting burst of sub-atomic particles tells us much about the nature of the universe. Digital, for Scientific American, 2005. 2026-05-24T00:46:32.842Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/322-astro-mmu-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/322-astro-mmu-dixon.jpg 322-astro-mmu-dixon – A dramatic illustration depicting an astronaut operating a Manned Maneuvering Unit (MMU) backpack during an untethered spacewalk high above Earth. The Space Shuttle orbiter Challenger flies nearby with its payload bay doors fully open, silhouetted against a brilliant, flaring Sun that breaks across the orbital horizon. Below the spacecraft, a vast expanse of cloud formations casts deep shadows over the planet's blue surface, underscored by a glowing orange atmospheric limb. Hamilton Collection plate commemorating first free flying extra vehicular activity on shuttle mission. acrylic and gouache, 1994, digitally restored 2026 2026-05-24T01:08:12.961Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/321-apollo-soyuz-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/321-apollo-soyuz-dixon.jpg 321-apollo-soyuz-dixon – A commemorative historical montage celebrating the 1975 Apollo-Soyuz Test Project in Earth orbit. The lower half features the docked American Apollo command/service module and Soviet Soyuz spacecraft flying above a curved, cloud-draped Earth landscape illuminated by vibrant iridescent atmospheric hues. Merged into the dark space background above is an illustrative inset depicting the historic handshake between an American astronaut and a Soviet cosmonaut inside the open docking module hatch, framed by shimmering starlight and a colorful cosmic nebula. The arching stars commemorate astronauts who died on missions. Hamilton Collection plate, acrylic and gouache on board, 1994. 2026-05-24T01:41:12.056Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/316-spacestation-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/316-spacestation-dixon.jpg 316-spacestation-dixon – software cover featuring old design of International Space Station (known then as "Freedom"). A conceptual space art painting depicting an early configuration of a modular space station, resembling the International Space Station design, in low Earth orbit. A Space Shuttle orbiter is shown approaching from below, its payload bay empty as it prepares to dock with the sprawling complex of pressurized modules, radiators, and large solar array panels. The entire scene is dramatically backlit by an intense, rayed solar sunrise bursting over the curved blue horizon of the Earth, with a small gibbous Moon visible in the upper left quadrant. acrylic and gouache, 1994 2026-05-24T04:55:47.357Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/305-aircraft-montage-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/305-aircraft-montage-dixon.jpg 305-aircraft-montage-dixon – modern military craft for technology advertisement. An aviation montage illustration showcasing diverse military aircraft flying through a bright, sun-lit sky above an expanse of green terrain. The composition features a sleek, supersonic variable-sweep wing bomber in the center right foreground, flanked by a low-flying attack helicopter mid-frame and an F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet to the right. In the upper left, a pair of F-16 Fighting Falcons soar past cumulus cloud formations, leaving subtle vapor trails behind them. acrylic and gouache, 1995 2026-05-24T17:50:07.281Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/301-sub-chase-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/301-sub-chase-dixon.jpg 301-sub-chase-dixon – cover art for digital spinoff of the original Mattell game. A tactical naval montage illustrating a submarine engagement beneath and above the ocean surface. A large attack submarine dives diagonally through deep blue water illuminated by dramatic light rays, flanked by an overlaid glowing orange radar or sonar scope that establishes a target trajectory. To the right, a circular periscope reticle overlay shows a crosshair view of a surface naval vessel on a choppy horizon line, experiencing a bright explosion at its waterline. acrylic and gouache, around 1995 2026-05-24T18:03:41.739Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/300-shuttle-montage-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/300-shuttle-montage-dixon.jpg 300-shuttle-montage – Hamilton Collection commemorative plate showing stages of the maiden flight of Space Shuttle Colombia. A comprehensive operational montage illustrating the sequential flight phases of the Space Shuttle system. The composition showcases a vertical launch on the lower left, solid rocket booster separation and external tank jettison in the upper quadrant, a central orbiter with open payload bay doors in low Earth orbit, a glowing orange plasma sheath during atmospheric reentry on the right, and a final landing approach on a desert runway at the bottom. The various stages are arranged dynamically against a transitioning backdrop of blue atmosphere, the curved Earth limb, and a dark starfield. acrylic and gouache, 1994 2026-05-24T19:15:08.682Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/259-skylab-montage-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/259-skylab-montage-dixon.jpg 259-skylab-montage-dixon – A composite space illustration honoring America's Skylab space station program in low Earth orbit. The left side depicts the orbital workshop with its Apollo Telescope Mount solar arrays extended, flying above a vibrant, curved Earth limb experiencing an intense solar sunrise. On the right, an astronaut in an Apollo-era spacesuit conducts an extravehicular activity (EVA), framed by the geometric structural lines of an interior truss or observation platform. acrylic and gouache, 1994 2026-05-24T19:26:20.814Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/213-hst-over-earth-dixon-sternbach.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/213-hst-over-earth-dixon-sternbach.jpg 213-hst-over-earth-dixon-sternbach –A vertical space art composition featuring the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) operating in low Earth orbit with its main aperture door open. Below, a Space Shuttle orbiter flies over a highly detailed, snow-covered mountain range, illuminated by the low angle of a distant sun. A full Moon is visible near the planet's atmospheric limb, while the dark background sky is dominated by a sweeping, red emission nebula embedded with young stars. Painted in collaboration with Rick Sternbach, copyright Perkin-Elmer Corporation 1984 2026-05-24T20:05:40.899Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/207-return-to-earthport-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/207-return-to-earthport-dixon.jpg 207-return-to-earthport-dixon – a returning Mars expedition docks at a space station. Acrylic, 1987. 2026-05-24T20:52:25.916Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/206-shuttle-and-comet-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/206-shuttle-and-comet-dixon.jpg 206-shuttle-and-comet-dixon – Shuttle And Comet - Spacelab mission during apparition of Halley's Comet (mission never flown). A stunning space illustration depicting a Space Shuttle orbiter carrying an ESA Spacelab module in its payload bay, maneuvers in Earth orbit. The spacecraft flies along a glowing orange and yellow atmospheric horizon line that splits the blue planet from deep space. In the dark starfield background, there is a brilliant comet with a prominent ice-blue plasma and dust tail, creating a striking cosmic juxtaposition. acrylic and gouache, 1985. digitally remastered, 2026 2026-05-24T21:11:44.793Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/205-orbital-factory-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/205-orbital-factory-dixon.jpg 205-orbital-factory-dixon – A sophisticated technological concept painting depicting a massive industrial orbital manufacturing facility in low Earth orbit. The intricately detailed vessel features glowing green optical apertures, dense structural scaffolding, and a prominent cylindrical docking port at its bow. A mass driver delivers exotic new products and materials to other habitats. Below the installation, the curved horizon of a blue, cloud-swept Earth stretches across the lower frame, backlit by a brilliant, glaring Sun situated in the upper right quadrant of the deep starfield. Acrylic and gouache, 1984 2026-05-24T22:46:43.524Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/204-gravitational-lens-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/204-gravitational-lens-dixon.jpg 204-gravitational-lens-dixon – one-tenth of a light year out, a giant detector captures photons refracted by the sun's gravity to image distant galaxies. acrylic and gouache, 1983 2026-05-24T22:58:24.291Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/200-planetenteleskop-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/200-planetenteleskop-dixon.jpg 200-planetenteleskop-dixon - German space telescope orbits high above the earth. A painting depicting a space telescope optimized for planetary observation operating in deep space. The spacecraft features a gold foil-wrapped central bus, extended rectangular solar panel arrays on open metal frameworks, a dark open primary aperture, and a cone-shaped sunshield pointing away from its targets. Earth and Moon are in the background,l set against a dense starfield and a sweeping band of the Milky Way galaxy. acrylic and gouache, 1987 2026-05-25T00:37:25.245Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/112-island-one-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/112-island-one-dixon.jpg 112-island-one-dixon – A grand space habitat concept painting depicting an"Island One" colony, floating in deep space. The station features a massive rotating toroidal hull connected by spokes to a central axis dock, designed to provide artificial gravity for inhabitants. A large, separate circular solar collector mirror array hovers above the structure to reflect sunlight into the interior, while a thin crescent Earth is visible at the bottom of the dense background starfield. acrylic, 1980 2026-05-25T03:10:19.057Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/110-tacking-sunward-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/110-tacking-sunward-dixon.jpg 110-tacking-sunward-dixon – An astronomical concept painting depicting an advanced solar sail spacecraft navigating byond the Moon. The large, reflective golden sail is configured in a segmented hexagonal structure with adjustable outer trim vanes for steering. Earth and Moon are in the background ; acrylic on board, 1980 2026-05-25T03:29:52.119Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/109-project-cyclops-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/109-project-cyclops-dixon.jpg Project Cyclops 109-project-cyclops-dixon - an enormous metalized balloon shields a giant radiotelescope from earth's radio interference, in a search for alien signals ; cover painting for "Science Digest", acrylic on masonite, 1978 2026-05-25T03:33:18.431Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/101-solar-sailor-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/101-solar-sailor-dixon.jpg 101-solar-sailor-dixon– An astronautical concept illustration featuring a large solar sail spacecraft navigating another solar system. The vessel is designed with a curved, crescent-shaped golden sail structural frame segmented into panels to collect solar radiation pressure, with a small instrument payload attached at its center. Below the spacecraft, a massive terrestrial planet marked by sweeping desert canyons, intricate rust-colored surface fractures, and a thin blue atmospheric haze dominates the lower left frame, while two small, heavily cratered rocky moons are visible in the deep background starfield. ; acrylic on board, 1979 2026-05-25T22:19:57.284Z https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/560-space-colony-cover-dixon.html https://www.cosmographica.com/spaceart/Technology/slides/560-space-colony-cover-dixon.jpg 560-space-colony-cover-dixon - The interior landscape of a massive, rotating cylindrical space colony arches upward into the background, showcasing a curved overhead sky dominated by the linear streaks of a starlight window and a central structural column. Lush green, terraced hillsides on the left feature modern, stilt-supported residential modules, while a woman in a red gown tends to hanging plants on a balcony in the immediate foreground. In the distant center and right, an organized urban layout with modular architecture extends along the cylinder’s interior curve beneath a bright, reflected solar source. cover painting for Colonies in Space by T.A. Heppenheimer, 1977, acrylic and gouache on board. 2026-05-25T22:50:30.944Z