Image Credit: NASA - Originally published at http://www.nasa.gov/image-feature/watching-meteors-from-the-space-station
Our hometown space agency NASA reports that the annual Perseid Meteor Shower is expected to produce quite a show this year and will peak tonight (Aug. 11, 2016) and tomorrow night (Aug. 12, 2016). While photographers throughout the world will undoubtedly capture phenomenal photographs of the event, very few can capture the types of images NASA will take from the International Space Station and other extraterrestrial locations.
So, how can you use these images when your camera equipment isn't mounted to a rocket? NASA makes it easy! As an agency of the federal government, NASA produces quite a bit of content that is not copyrighted (See U.S. Government Works on USA.gov). As such, beautiful photos and video of outer space, celestial events, and sleek spacecraft are available for use free of charge and without prior permission - especially for educational use - at NASA.gov! However, there are a few caveats to keep in mind:
- Be sure to follow the Media Usage Guidelines, which include giving NASA credit for the content the agency has produced.
- Some of the content on NASA.gov is copyrighted by third parties, so you may have to get permission to use that content from the copyright holder even if you find it on NASA.gov.
- The NASA Logo is protected under laws other than copyright and non-NASA entities are prohibited from using it without express permission under 14 C.F.R. § 1221.
Enjoy the Perseid Meteor Shower and visit the Law Library throughout the month of August for Space Law Month!
