Over the Moon

The Moon has long captivated artists, inspiring serene moonlit landscapes, detailed surface studies of its craters and seas, and innovative photographic experiments. Featuring Open Access and Open Content images of collection objects generously shared by museums across the country, this digital exhibition showcases the Moon in all its scientific, picturesque, and mysterious glory.

These lunar visions reveal how an enduring fascination with the Moon has influenced both human creativity and scientific exploration, shaping our understanding of our closest celestial neighbor.

Listen to the Introduction

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EXHIBITION HIGHLIGHTS

Carleton Watkins, Solar Eclipse, 1880, albumen silver print. The J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles. Digital image courtesy of Getty’s Open Content Program

OBJECT IN FOCUS: SOLAR ECLIPSE

AUGUST 12, 2026
GALLERY 207 AT 2 PM

Join us on Wednesday, August 12, 2026, the day of the next solar eclipse, to explore how and why photographers sought to capture these events.

All images displayed in this digital exhibition are Open Access or Open Content.

We’re always grateful for Open Access and Open Content images and to the museums and organizations

that make so many of their collection images available for use.