Operation Dominic nuclear tests This is a shot taken during Operation Dominic - a series of 31 different nuclear weapons tests carried out by the US during the height of the Cold War. This photo was taken on 11 May 1962 and shows the detonation of Swordfish. This particular test involved anti-submarine missiles and W44 nuclear depth charges designed to deal a blow to Soviet submarines.

The World Trade Center under construction The construction of the famous World Trade Center building began in 1966 and wasn't finished until 1973. In the meantime, this brilliant view of the towers was captured with sunlight shining through the middle. It's an awesome tribute to a place where many lost their lives tragically in 2001.

Niagara Falls frozen

This photo from sometime in the early 1900s shows the Niagra Falls waterfall frozen over. Quite a spectacular sight, but something that actually happens quite regularly it seems, though not many get to see it in this full glory.

The first rocket from Cape Canaveral This image from NASA shows the first rocket to be launched from Cape Canaveral in the 1950s.

The first rocket from Cape Canaveral This image from NASA shows the first rocket to be launched from Cape Canaveral in the 1950s. The rocket would reach new record heights for the time and higher than the current orbit of the International Space Station. Bumper II would be the first of many rockets to launch from this spot and this is a brilliant photo to signify its importance.

A selfie from Mars The human race might well be selfie-obsessed, but NASA would have us believe robots are too. This snap was taken by NASA's Curiosity rover on the surface of Mars. An amazing, if slightly dusty view of another planet and a brilliant historic photograph.

Buzz Aldrin's space selfie You might know Buzz Aldrin as one of the first men on the Moon, but that wasn't all he did. He also took one of the first space selfies when in 1966 he took this image of himself with the pilot's hatch of the spacecraft open and Earth in the background.

The Sun in ultraviolet

This is an image of our Sun shown in ultraviolet light where energetic jets and flares can be seen bursting from its surface. Beautiful and incredibly deadly.