Forget the stars, I'm partial to space colony art of The High Frontier '70s variety.

https://settlement.arc.nasa.gov/70sArtHiRes/70sArt/art.html

Very neat, thanks for sharing.

> “Their work, painting places that were really out there—it started convincing people that these places are real...”

Definitely Bonestell. As a kid when I first saw (space) art depicting a landscape as though on the surface of another moon, I was startled.

I still remember an illustration of what Pluto was like from when I was a kid: icy forms under a dim sun and starry sky. But it turned out that in reality Pluto is far more interesting. Ice mountains, an atmosphere, and a large-appearing moon.

What's really out there is far more fantastic than our minds can conceive. But in the meantime, an art or two ain't bad.

If you like this, you may be interested in Megan Prelinger's book Another Science Fiction: Advertising the Space Race 1957–1962 (http://meganprelinger.com/book/another-science-fiction/). If you're near SF, I highly recommend visiting the private research library she runs with her husband: http://www.prelingerlibrary.org/home/ Has an interesting collection, including plenty of space art, since her research resources are there.

I remember cycles of fire my dad brought me from cap caneveral. Ever after, i wanted to visit those places, no matter the distance and danger.