Astronaut Photography

Utah’s Dark Canyon Complex
Image

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

Image of the Day Land

Mangroves on Eighty Mile Beach
Image

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

Image of the Day Land Water

Canadian Rockies
Image

Canadian Rockies

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

Published Apr 23, 2023

Image of the Day Snow and Ice

Wave Clouds Over the Crozet Islands
Image

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

Image of the Day Atmosphere

Silhouette of a Solomon Island
Image

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

Image of the Day Land Water

A Plateau in the Heart of Texas
Image

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

Image of the Day Land Human Presence

A Raging Fire in Spain
Image

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

Image of the Day Land Fires Human Presence

Lava and Snow in Hawai’i
Image

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

Image of the Day Land Water

Evaporation from Laguna Ojo de Liebre
Image

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

Image of the Day Land Water

Muddy Water and a Wide Floodplain
Image

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

Image of the Day Land Water

New York and New Jersey
Image

New York and New Jersey

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

Published Mar 5, 2023

Image of the Day Human Presence

Northern Kalahari Desert Panorama
Image

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

Image of the Day Land

South Padre Island
Image

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

Image of the Day Land Water Human Presence

Siling Lake
Image

Siling Lake

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

Published Feb 5, 2023

Image of the Day Snow and Ice

Eighty Mile Beach
Image

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

Image of the Day Land Water

Chile’s Villarrica Sputters
Image

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

Image of the Day Land

Rio Grande, Meet the Gulf of Mexico
Image

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

Image of the Day Land Water Human Presence

Great Britain and Ireland Show Their Colors
Image

Great Britain and Ireland Show Their Colors

Mountains, vegetation, and urban centers contribute to the islands’ colorful palette.

Published Jan 15, 2023

Image of the Day Land Human Presence

Ridges and Valleys of the Zagros Mountains
Image

Ridges and Valleys of the Zagros Mountains

This astronaut photograph illustrates the undulating geology of a segment of the mountain range in southern Iran.

Published Jan 8, 2023

Image of the Day Land

Kashmir Valley Haze
Image

Kashmir Valley Haze

A mixture of smog, smoke, and dust hung over the ancient lake basin surrounded by the Himalayas.

Published Dec 31, 2022

Image of the Day Land

China’s Celestial Mountains
Image

China’s Celestial Mountains

Glaciers on these heavenly mountains are a source of freshwater for farmers in Central Asia.

Published Dec 29, 2022

Image of the Day Water Snow and Ice

Great Lakes Dressed for Winter
Image

Great Lakes Dressed for Winter

Land and water were decorated with snow and ice when astronauts looked down on the region in February 2022.

Published Dec 30, 2022

Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Water Snow and Ice

South America’s West Coast Wonders
Image

South America’s West Coast Wonders

From volcanoes to salt flats, the mountainous region of Chile, Peru, and Bolivia is home to a range of compelling landscapes.

Published Dec 26, 2022

Image of the Day Land

Quartet of Snowy Cascade Volcanoes
Image

Quartet of Snowy Cascade Volcanoes

Four of the range’s prominent volcanoes—Rainier, St. Helens, Adams, and Hood—were on full display in February 2022.

Published Dec 25, 2022

Image of the Day Land Snow and Ice

Cold and Hot Yellowstone Lake
Image

Cold and Hot Yellowstone Lake

Beneath a layer of snow and ice, exceptionally hot fluids rise from the floor of Yellowstone Lake.  

Published Dec 27, 2022

Image of the Day Land Water Snow and Ice

Montreal Islands
Image

Montreal Islands

Canada’s second-most populous city occupies the largest of hundreds of islands within the Hochelaga Archipelago.

Published Dec 24, 2022

Image of the Day Land Human Presence Snow and Ice

Icy Lake Paiku
Image

Icy Lake Paiku

This deep lake on the southern Qinghai-Tibet Plateau freezes over during winter, curbing the large changes in lake level observed during other seasons.

Published Dec 23, 2022

Image of the Day Land Water

Snow Day in Delmarva
Image

Snow Day in Delmarva

The Mid-Atlantic coast occasionally sees snow, but rain has become increasingly common over time.

Published Dec 21, 2022

Image of the Day Land Water Snow and Ice

Strait of Messina
Image

Strait of Messina

Sunglint, waves, and ship wakes are visible on the waters between Italy’s Calabria region and Sicily.

Published Dec 18, 2022

Image of the Day Land Water

The Frozen Landscape of Isle Royale
Image

The Frozen Landscape of Isle Royale

The park is one of the most isolated natural areas in the continental United States and the site of long-running ecological studies.

Published Dec 11, 2022

Image of the Day Land Water Snow and Ice