“The heavens declare the glory of God.” Psalm 19.1

Indeed they do.

Below are 31 mind blowing photos of the vast universe God has created, interspersed with quotations from Scripture.

Consider spending some time meditating on what these images mean about our human existence, particularly in light of the Scripture included. You may even experience your own “Overview Effect.”

All of these pictures are real. You can click on any picture to enlarge it.

1) Over 5,000 galaxies in one photo, some so distant you’re seeing them when the universe was 5% its current age

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

2) Two merging galaxies

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

3) Messier 104, known as the “Sombrero Galaxy”

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

4) A group of galaxies

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. (Genesis 1.3-4)

5) A galaxy with a “halo” of dust

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

6) That pale blue dot in the middle of the right most stripe? That’s Earth, photographed by the spacecraft Voyager 1 about 4 billion miles away

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

7) A stellar jet in the Carina Nebula

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

8) The star-crowded center of the Milky Way galaxy

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

He determines the number of the stars; he gives to all of them their names. (Psalm 147.4)

9) In the center is the remnant of a supernova (exploding star)

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

10) The galaxy Messier 77

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

11) A dwarf galaxy (only a few billion stars, rather than a few hundred billion, as in our galaxy)

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

12) A star-forming region

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

For by Jesus Christ all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. (Colossians 1.16-17)

13) The “Antennae Galaxies” (two galaxies interacting with each other)

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

14) A “flocculent spiral galaxy” (lacking well defined arms)

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

15) Messier 82, a “star burst” galaxy

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

16) The death of a star that was five times the size of our Sun

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

God’s invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. (Romans 1.20)

17) A group of gigantic stars

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

18) Two interacting galaxies

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

19) A massive cluster of galaxies

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

20) With Saturn in the foreground, that little blue dot is Earth

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth? Tell me, if you have understanding. (Job 38.4)

21) The Orion Nebula

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

22) A pillar of dust in the Eagle Nebula

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

23) Another star-forming region, in a nearby galaxy

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

24) A dust cloud in our galaxy

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1.1-3)

25) A massive group of stars and dust

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

26) Part of the Tarantula Nebula

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

27) The Ring Nebula

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

28) Two star clusters (the big one in the middle, and a smaller on in the bottom right)

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

Bless the Lord, stars of heaven; sing praise to him and highly exalt him forever. (Daniel 3.63)

29) The Monkey Head Nebula

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

30) The Hourglass Nebula

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

31) A polar ring galaxy

NASA / Public Domain
NASA / Public Domain

Praise the Lord!

Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights!

Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts!

Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars!

Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens!

Let them praise the name of the Lord!

For he commanded and they were created. And he established them forever and ever; he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away. (Psalm 148.1-6)

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