Thursday, 22 September 2016

Breathtaking photos from the International Space Station remind us of our common home

The International Space Station camera captures a nighttime view of the Strait of Gibraltar with a Russian Soyuz ... 

The International Space Station camera captures a nighttime view of the Strait of Gibraltar with a Russian Soyuz spacecraft (left) and Progress spacecraft in the foreground.

During the 50 years we have been able take photos of Earth from space, we have become somewhat blase about the little blue planet on which we live.

However, a new series of photos released by the International Space Station and the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration remind us just how beautiful our home really is.

From its vantage point 400 kilometres above the ground, four stunning images capture the Earth at night with breathtaking images of city lights, the reflected moon and thunderstorms forming over what looks like South-East Asia.

The southern tip of Italy as seen from the International Space Station.
The southern tip of Italy as seen from the International Space Station.

The photos were taken over three days from September 16.
One image clearly shows the Straits of Gibraltar where north Africa and Europe almost touch. In the foreground are a Soyuz and Progress spacecraft from Russia, docked with the space station.

READ MORE:
* International Space Station to pass over NZ
* International Space Station makes 100,000th orbit of Earth
* Nasa wants to bring enterprise to the International Space Station
* Nasa astronaut Scott Kelly on his year in space
* Capturing the capital from the International Space Station


 The International Space Station camera captures a nighttime view of the Strait of Gibraltar with a Russian Soyuz ...
The International Space Station camera captures a nighttime view of the Strait of Gibraltar with a Russian Soyuz spacecraft (left) and Progress spacecraft in the foreground.

Another image shows the boot tip of Italy, upside down, with the bright lights of Naples pushing through mottled cloud cover. Moonlight is shimmering off the Mediterranean with the spacecraft's solar panels obscuring the island of Sicily.
A third picture captures the lights clinging tightly to the Nile River valley with Cairo shining bright ahead of the great river's glittery delta. To the right are the lights of Israel and the Palestinian Occupied Territories.
The International Space Station flies approximately 400 kilometres over thunderstorms visible during a nighttime pass.
The International Space Station flies approximately 400 kilometres over thunderstorms visible during a nighttime pass.

The last image shows thunderstorms forming, with lightning flashing in one of the clouds. The area looks like South-East Asia, although this information was not provided by the ISS or NASA but gleaned from the delightful commentary on the space station's Facebook page.

This nighttime view of northern Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula was captured by the Expedition 49 crew on the ...
This nighttime view of northern Egypt and the Sinai Peninsula was captured by the Expedition 49 crew on the International Space Station.



 

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