Astronaut Photography

Black Mesas and Sand Dunes in Mauritania
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Black Mesas and Sand Dunes in Mauritania

Dunes formed on the slopes of dark mesas in this photo taken by an astronaut on the International Space Station.

Published Aug 13, 2023

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Nighttime in Antalya, Türkiye
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Nighttime in Antalya, Türkiye

Urban infrastructure and natural areas stand in sharp contrast at night on the Mediterranean coast.

Published Jul 30, 2023

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Port Stephens Bay
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Port Stephens Bay

Towns, beaches, bays, and forests are visible along this stretch of the southeast Australian coast.

Published Jul 23, 2023

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On This Day in 2011: Final Hook-Up
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On This Day in 2011: Final Hook-Up

Space Shuttle Atlantis approached the International Space Station for docking for the last time.

Published Jul 10, 2023

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On This Day in 2017: Dunes and Lagoons
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On This Day in 2017: Dunes and Lagoons

Strong winds blowing in from the Western Atlantic sculpt the sand along the coast of southern Brazil into distinctive crescent shapes.

Published Jul 9, 2023

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Linear and Star Dunes
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Linear and Star Dunes

A complex system of dunes displays an array of patterns in the Rub’ al Khali sand sea in southeast Saudi Arabia.

Published Jun 25, 2023

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The Strait of Gibraltar
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The Strait of Gibraltar

At the strait’s narrowest point, only 13 kilometers separate Europe and Africa.

Published Jun 18, 2023

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The Bolivian Lowlands
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The Bolivian Lowlands

The ecoregion displays an array of natural patterns, from meandering rivers to rectangle-shaped lakes.

Published Jun 11, 2023

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Hooked on Cape Cod
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Hooked on Cape Cod

Dunes, ponds, and wildlife habitat are found alongside urban areas on this iconic peninsula in Massachusetts.

Published Jun 4, 2023

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A Foggy Himalayan Morning
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A Foggy Himalayan Morning

Sunrise is an opportune time to photograph fog as it rolls through the mountain range.

Published May 28, 2023

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New Mexico’s White Sands
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New Mexico’s White Sands

A national park and a dune field occupy part of this bright-white desert landscape, which also has ties to the aerospace industry.

Published May 21, 2023

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Dunes Along the Yellow River
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Dunes Along the Yellow River

Dunes, crops, roads, and solar farms flank the river as it winds through China’s Inner Mongolia.

Published May 14, 2023

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Espíritu Santo Archipelago
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Espíritu Santo Archipelago

The island group off Mexico’s Baja California Sur has eroded slowly, preserving evidence of past human activity.

Published May 7, 2023

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Utah’s Dark Canyon Complex
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Utah’s Dark Canyon Complex

Petroglyphs, hanging gardens, and deep canyons make this remote landscape a notable part of Bears Ears National Monument.

Published May 3, 2023

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Mangroves on Eighty Mile Beach
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Mangroves on Eighty Mile Beach

Trees along this stretch of western Australia have an elongated root system that allows them to withstand high and low tides.

Published Apr 30, 2023

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Canadian Rockies
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Canadian Rockies

An astronaut aboard the International Space Station photographed the northern part of North America’s largest mountain range.

Published Apr 23, 2023

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Wave Clouds Over the Crozet Islands
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Wave Clouds Over the Crozet Islands

The mountainous islands in the South Indian Ocean disrupt the flow of air, which can have a ripple-like effect on the clouds.

Published Apr 16, 2023

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Silhouette of a Solomon Island
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Silhouette of a Solomon Island

The dark shape of Rennell Island, including its raised coral atoll, stands out amid the sunglint.

Published Apr 9, 2023

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A Plateau in the Heart of Texas
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A Plateau in the Heart of Texas

Tectonic uplift millions of years ago formed Edwards Plateau, a feature that influences how people now use the land.

Published Apr 2, 2023

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A Raging Fire in Spain
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A Raging Fire in Spain

The 2023 fire season got off to an early start with a major fire in the Castellon province.

Published Mar 29, 2023

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Lava and Snow in Hawai’i
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Lava and Snow in Hawai’i

A winter storm in December 2022 dropped snow over Mauna Kea and the recently erupted Mauna Loa.

Published Mar 26, 2023

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Evaporation from Laguna Ojo de Liebre
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Evaporation from Laguna Ojo de Liebre

An astronaut spotted colorful evaporation ponds in Mexico while in orbit over the Baja Peninsula.

Published Mar 19, 2023

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Muddy Water and a Wide Floodplain
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Muddy Water and a Wide Floodplain

The mighty Amazon River carries a huge amount of sediment and occasionally delivers muddy water to nearby lakes.

Published Mar 13, 2023

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New York and New Jersey
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New York and New Jersey

Shadows from skyscrapers and other city buildings give the photograph a 3D look.

Published Mar 5, 2023

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Northern Kalahari Desert Panorama
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Northern Kalahari Desert Panorama

Smoke and cumulus clouds dotted the sky when an astronaut photographed a remote part of Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, and Angola.

Published Feb 26, 2023

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South Padre Island
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South Padre Island

The barrier islands along the coast of Texas help sustain lagoon ecosystems and protect the mainland from damaging storms.

Published Feb 12, 2023

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Siling Lake
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Siling Lake

One of the largest water bodies on the Tibetan Plateau has been growing even larger in recent decades.

Published Feb 5, 2023

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Eighty Mile Beach
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Eighty Mile Beach

This stretch of coastline in Western Australia is a popular recreational site for people and an important stopover site for migratory birds.

Published Jan 29, 2023

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Chile’s Villarrica Sputters
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Chile’s Villarrica Sputters

An astronaut on the International Space Station captured this photograph of minor explosions from one of Chile’s most active volcanoes.

Published Jan 30, 2023

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Rio Grande, Meet the Gulf of Mexico
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Rio Grande, Meet the Gulf of Mexico

Colorful waterways and wetlands are visible along the river that defines a portion of the U.S.-Mexico border.

Published Jan 22, 2023

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