Astronaut Photography

Maiao Atoll, Polynesia
Image

Maiao Atoll, Polynesia

The tiny Society Islands stand out as land oases amid the largest expanse of water on Earth.

Published Feb 6, 2022

Image of the Day Land Human Presence

Yellow Sea Night Lights
Image

Yellow Sea Night Lights

Aggregations of fishing boats can make it seem like there are cities in the water.

Published Jan 30, 2022

Image of the Day Water Human Presence

Winter on the Roof of the World
Image

Winter on the Roof of the World

With an average elevation of 4500 meters above sea level, the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau is one of Earth’s highest geographic features.

Published Jan 23, 2022

Image of the Day Land

Two Decades of Change at Toshka Lakes
Image

Two Decades of Change at Toshka Lakes

The rise and fall of these basins depend on fluctuations in the flow of the Nile River.

Published Jan 18, 2022

Image of the Day Land Water

Snowy Scene Surrounding the Salish Sea
Image

Snowy Scene Surrounding the Salish Sea

After a rainy autumn, winter weather arrived in the Pacific Northwest.

Published Jan 7, 2022

Image of the Day Land Water Severe Storms Human Presence

Lunar Views and Beyond
Image

Lunar Views and Beyond

Astronauts traveling within Earth’s largest artificial satellite can capture unique shots of the planet’s only natural satellite.

Published Dec 31, 2021

Image of the Day Atmosphere

Otherworldly Earth
Image

Otherworldly Earth

The Libyan Desert is often cited as a Mars analogue.

Published Dec 26, 2021

Image of the Day Land

The Braided Paraná
Image

The Braided Paraná

South America’s second-longest river forms part of the border between Argentina and Paraguay.

Published Dec 19, 2021

Image of the Day Land Water

North Patagonia Icefield, Southern Andes
Image

North Patagonia Icefield, Southern Andes

The mountain peaks here reach high enough and temperatures remain cold enough year-round that permanent ice persists amid a warming world.

Published Dec 12, 2021

Image of the Day Land Water Snow and Ice

Lake Berryessa
Image

Lake Berryessa

The reservoir provides water for Napa wine country and for cities in Northern California.

Published Dec 5, 2021

Image of the Day Land Water

Indonesia’s Twin Peaks
Image

Indonesia’s Twin Peaks

Mount Sundoro and Mount Sumbing are symmetrical, cone-shaped peaks in Central Java.

Published Nov 27, 2021

Image of the Day Land

Paleozoic Plymouths
Image

Paleozoic Plymouths

Plymouth, Massachusetts, and Plymouth, England, share a historical connection even older than the first Thanksgiving.

Published Nov 25, 2021

Image of the Day Land

An Ice Tongue Reaching for Land
Image

An Ice Tongue Reaching for Land

Perito Moreno is one of the few glaciers on Earth that are not retreating.

Published Nov 21, 2021

Image of the Day Land Water Snow and Ice

Rocking the Isles of Scilly
Image

Rocking the Isles of Scilly

Shallow rock formations and sandbars allow people to occasionally walk between the islands.

Published Nov 14, 2021

Image of the Day Land Water Human Presence

Shedding Light on Urban Development
Image

Shedding Light on Urban Development

Cities seem to follow similar growth processes no matter where they are.

Published Nov 15, 2021

Image of the Day Human Presence

Cloudscapes over Sumatra
Image

Cloudscapes over Sumatra

Moist ocean air and steady winds pile up thunderheads and anvil clouds around Indonesia.

Published Nov 7, 2021

Image of the Day Atmosphere

Western Coastline of Greece
Image

Western Coastline of Greece

Rugged mountains and islands stand out in this tectonically active region.

Published Oct 30, 2021

Image of the Day Land Water

Palma, Mallorca
Image

Palma, Mallorca

The city has a rich history that has been influenced by the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, and the Moors.

Published Oct 24, 2021

Image of the Day Land Human Presence

Folds of the Bighorn Basin
Image

Folds of the Bighorn Basin

Red rocks and complex geology are distinctive features of this physiographic region in Wyoming and Montana.

Published Oct 17, 2021

Image of the Day Land

Eruption Continues at La Palma
Image

Eruption Continues at La Palma

Cumbre Vieja volcano is making its presence felt from above and below.

Published Oct 9, 2021

Image of the Day Atmosphere Heat Land Volcanoes Human Presence Remote Sensing

The Fish Farms of Hainan Island
Image

The Fish Farms of Hainan Island

The southern coasts of this Chinese island are lined with tropical beaches, while the inner bays are lined with floating fishing villages.

Published Oct 9, 2021

Image of the Day Land Water Human Presence

Hurricane Sam
Image

Hurricane Sam

The category-4 storm spun over the Atlantic Ocean, accompanied by Tropical Storm Victor and Saharan dust to the southeast.

Published Oct 1, 2021

Image of the Day Atmosphere Severe Storms

Lakes Pueyrredón and Posadas
Image

Lakes Pueyrredón and Posadas

Glacial ice, rivers, and fierce winds have sculpted two spectacular lakes and several deltas in this part of Patagonia.

Published Oct 3, 2021

Image of the Day Water Snow and Ice

A Moving and Falling Target
Image

A Moving and Falling Target

Shadows accentuate the depth of the canyon that the Niagara River has carved over the past 12,000 years.

Published Sep 26, 2021

Image of the Day Water Human Presence

Noirmoutier, France
Image

Noirmoutier, France

The small tidal island provides a bounty of oysters and salt.

Published Sep 19, 2021

Image of the Day Land Water Human Presence

A Meeting of Ice and Dunes
Image

A Meeting of Ice and Dunes

Shadows accentuate the topography in and around Ulaagchinii Khar Nuur in Mongolia.

Published Sep 13, 2021

Image of the Day Land Snow and Ice

Spotlight on the Galápagos Islands
Image

Spotlight on the Galápagos Islands

Sunglint helps tease out features that are not often visible.

Published Sep 5, 2021

Image of the Day Land Water

The Paraná Megafan
Image

The Paraná Megafan

Though 36 years old, this photo remains one of the best for demonstrating vast inland delta landscapes.

Published Aug 29, 2021

Image of the Day Land Water

Turning on the Lights in Tokyo
Image

Turning on the Lights in Tokyo

Strings of light emanate from the Imperial Palace in the city’s center and follow the expressway system outward.

Published Aug 23, 2021

Image of the Day Human Presence

A London Mosaic
Image

A London Mosaic

Twenty centuries after Londinium was founded, the capital city now includes 32 boroughs, numerous parks and bridges, and a rich history.

Published Aug 15, 2021

Image of the Day Human Presence