Beautiful Universe – Astrophotography exhibit
Beautiful Universe is a pop-up exhibit in collaboration with the UC Santa Cruz Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics that will be on display at the Santa Cruz Museum of Art and History from May 21-31, 2026.
In the 20+ photos, you will see galaxies, novae, supernovae, reflection and emission nebulae, and interstellar dust clouds that give birth to new stars and planets. They are artistic images filled with scientific information. The astrophotography exhibit bridges the gap that often exists in our minds between art and science.
Ask an astronomer! Astronomers will be on site at the Museum of Art and History in downtown Santa Cruz from 2pm-6pm on weekends (May 23, 24, 30, and 31) to answer your questions.
Images are by Steve Mandel and Bob Fera, Deep Space Remote Observatories, and once the pop-up exhibit concludes, the photos on display will be permanently installed on the UC Santa Cruz campus, courtesy of Steve Mandel, research associate for the UC Santa Cruz Department of Astronomy & Astrophysics and sponsor of the Mandel Lecture Series.