My Linux Wallpapers, Set 1: Space

Earlier this year, I returned to having a Linux desktop on my home PC. I installed Fedora 42 six months ago, and recently upgraded to Fedora 43. My PC can dual boot, with two separate and distinct SSDs each with their own operating system (read my linked article on the clean way to accomplish this). The primary SSD is still for Windows 11, and my secondary SSD runs Fedora. However, I almost always now boot into Fedora, and only go into Windows when I feel I must.

Over a stretch of about two months in the Summer, I created what I consider to be fun and playful desktop wallpaper images for my Fedora environment. It started with a single idea for a single image – insert Tux the Linux mascot into an image of space. My dual-boot system has my Windows install named “Monolith Moon” and the Fedora side named “Monolith Jupiter”, and it is this latter that inspired me to create my first desktop wallpaper starring Tux the penguin. As you shall see, in this and subsequent articles, my idea spawned over a dozen Linux Tux-inspired wallpapers now rotating on my desktop.

My first set of images to share are around the original theme of space. You will discover later the different direction I branched into for subsequent AI-generated wallpapers. In pseudo-open source spirit inspired by Linux, I am posting and providing these, for your use if you like them, or perhaps to inspire your own ideas for your own customized wallpapers.

I used Microsoft’s Copilot to generate all of my wallpapers. It’s hard to emphasize the amount of trial and error that went into every image, to get each just as I had imagined them, or at least as close as I felt reasonably possible to my vision for each. Sometimes, Copilot would get things completely wrong even though I felt the instruction clear. And when the prompt would go on for too long, most times Copilot’s image generator simply gave up and either ignored my adjustment requests or provided a result completely off-base from my request.

The first two images were done before I formally deemed to size them for wallpaper, and instead I use these for browser backgrounds, but are entirely suitable for the desktop as well.

My first image of Tux and the planet Jupiter:

Tux and Jupiter, part two:

Third and final image of Tux exploring the Jovian system, in his Jestons-inspired space car complete with Fedora hood ornament:

Tux exploring the planet Mars while searching for one of NASA’s rovers. Did Tux draw the Fedora “f” in the Martian sands, or was this left by someone else?

My final Tux space image, this time with our favorite Linux penguin exploring the Moon. This one took the longest to get just right, with the rover, Eagle-type lander, Earth in the lunar sky, Fedora flag, and Tux in his space helmet.

This completes my set of Linux space wallpapers. More wallpapers, featuring even more fantastical adventures with Tux, will be posted soon!