You didn't need a telescope to appreciate the cosmos in 2024. With stunning global auroras, prolific meteor showers and a total solar eclipse witnessed by tens of millions of people, space came to Earth in style this year.
But while many of us were stargazing, ambitious space exploration missions and astronomy campaigns looked far beyond Earth's atmosphere. From sublime views of deep space to intimate portraits of orbital debris, here are our favorite space photos of the year — and what made them so special.
