Photography: Visions of the Universe proves just how awe-inspiringly beautiful outer space is

There’s nothing like a photograph of outer space to remind you not to sweat the small stuff, and these ones from the Visions of the Universe exhibition, opening at the National Maritime Museum today, are particularly spectacular. Your flatmate used the last of your milk? Check out this photographic evidence of ancient water on Mars. You lost your travel-card? Here’s a picture of the butterfly nebula to soothe the pain.

Mindblowingly beautiful, the images on display illustrate our fascination with space, while simultaneously extolling the technological advances which have allowed our exploration of it. Taking many sights which would be impossible for the human eye to see alone, this exhibition uses space photography for the best possible purpose – to remind us just how enormously, unbelievably cool the universe is.

Visions of the Universe is at the National Maritime Museum from June 7 until September 15.