The wreck of the famous ocean liner R.M.S. Titanic was rediscovered by oceanographer and National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Robert Ballard and photographer Emory Kristof on September 1, 1985. Last Wednesday marked the 25th anniversary of the find. New high-resolution pictures of the wreckage mark the anniversary.

The photographs were taken as part of Expedition Titanic. This expedition is using technology such as sonar imaging to virtually preserve the ship as it is now, and to estimate how long the wreck might last. In these pictures, people can get a good look at the decay of the wreck from “rusticles” and time.

See more pictures and learn about the wreck of the Titanic on National Geographic News.

Get to know Robert Ballard in this interview on National Geographic Kids.

Photograph courtesy Premier Exhibitions, Inc. and Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution