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Astronaut Photography

Bahariya Oasis
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Bahariya Oasis

In the Western Desert of Egypt, date and olive groves stand out alongside an ancient settlement.

Published Jun 20, 2016

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Lake Tengiz
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Lake Tengiz

The salty lake in northern Kazakhstan is rich in natural and spaceflight history.

Published Jun 13, 2016

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Great Barrier Reef near Whitsunday Islands
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Great Barrier Reef near Whitsunday Islands

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest reef system on Earth, with more than 3,000 separate reefs and coral cays. It is also one of the most complex natural ecosystems.

Published May 31, 2016

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Cincinnati
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Cincinnati

Steep bluffs and curving bends give this stretch of the Ohio River a distinctive look.

Published May 23, 2016

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An Astronaut’s View of the Fort McMurray Fire
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An Astronaut’s View of the Fort McMurray Fire

An astronaut on the International Space Station took this photograph of smoke billowing from wildfires near Fort McMurray.

Published May 18, 2016

Fires Human Presence

Stargazing from the ISS
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Stargazing from the ISS

Lightning, airglow, and the Milky Way galaxy lit up the night sky as astronauts passed over Kiribati in the central Pacific.

Published May 16, 2016

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The Hamra River and El Aaiún
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The Hamra River and El Aaiún

In Western Sahara, an unusual river vanishes in a sand field before it reaches the sea. In the process, it provides water for the largest city in the country.

Published May 9, 2016

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Lagoa Mangueira
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Lagoa Mangueira

Sand spits and other wind- and wave-built patterns distinguish the south coast of Brazil.

Published May 2, 2016

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Santa Cruz, Bolivia
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Santa Cruz, Bolivia

The metropolitan area is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world.

Published Apr 25, 2016

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The Grandest of Canyons
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The Grandest of Canyons

Grand Canyon National Park spans 277 river miles and often stretches 10 miles wide. But the true wonder arises from its depth...or height, depending on where you stand.

Published Apr 24, 2016

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Lake Hinds, Western Australia
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Lake Hinds, Western Australia

Fresh rains partly fill a normally dry lake bed near Perth.

Published Apr 18, 2016

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Viewing a Spacecraft Launch from Space
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Viewing a Spacecraft Launch from Space

Astronauts observed the exhaust trails of the Cygnus resupply spacecraft and rocket.

Published Apr 11, 2016

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Dunes of the Grand Erg Oriental
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Dunes of the Grand Erg Oriental

Large linear dunes stretch across the Great Eastern Sand Sea of northern Algeria.

Published Apr 4, 2016

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Mount Fuji
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Mount Fuji

The highest peak in Japan is one of the nation’s most striking symbols.

Published Mar 28, 2016

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East Indonesia Island Chain
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East Indonesia Island Chain

On a rare tropical day with few clouds, the volcanic islands of Indonesia stand out from the sea.

Published Mar 21, 2016

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Gillette Coal Pits, Wyoming
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Gillette Coal Pits, Wyoming

Powder River Basin is a major source of low-sulfur coal, helping to make Wyoming one of the largest coal-producers in the United States.

Published Mar 14, 2016

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Haifa By Day and By Night
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Haifa By Day and By Night

Astronauts are taught to concentrate on the shapes of coastlines for a visual cue about where they are when circling the planet. The nose of Cape Karmel and the bay that protects Haifa are shapes that stand out.

Published Mar 7, 2016

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Crimean Peninsula
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Crimean Peninsula

Crimea is a small piece of the world with a large role in modern history.

Published Feb 29, 2016

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London at Night
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London at Night

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station take special care to acquire crisp night shots.

Published Feb 22, 2016

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Compelling Coastline along Roebuck Bay
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Compelling Coastline along Roebuck Bay

Unusual stream patterns in Western Australia seem to have origins inland and in the past.

Published Feb 15, 2016

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Elba and the Mediterranean at Night
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Elba and the Mediterranean at Night

The reflection of the Moon on the sea surface reveals highly complex patterns on the sea surface.

Published Feb 8, 2016

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Great Salt Lake, Oblique View
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Great Salt Lake, Oblique View

The lake and surrounding landscape are characterized by many flavors and mixtures of salt.

Published Feb 1, 2016

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Canada Panorama
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Canada Panorama

An astronaut aboard the International Space Station shot this photograph looking north into the snow-covered landscape of Canada’s Coast Mountains, the Canadian Rockies, and Vancouver Island.

Published Jan 25, 2016

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Kavir Desert
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Kavir Desert

An astronaut’s lens captures the diversity of textures in a central Iranian landscape.

Published Jan 19, 2016

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Eruption of San Miguel, El Salvador
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Eruption of San Miguel, El Salvador

Ash streamed from one of El Salvador’s most active volcanos in January 2016.

Published Jan 13, 2016

Atmosphere Volcanoes

San Antonio, Texas
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San Antonio, Texas

The convention facilities, missions, The Alamo, and the overall historical character of the city bring 26 million visitors every year.

Published Jan 11, 2016

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South Africa and Lesotho—A Panorama
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South Africa and Lesotho—A Panorama

The Witwatersrand and Vredefort impact crater stand out in this diverse landscape.

Published Jan 4, 2016

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United Arab Emirates, Persian Gulf
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United Arab Emirates, Persian Gulf

Crews aboard the International Space Station often look for signs of human activity along the coastlines of the Persian Gulf, where a growing Middle Eastern population has been moving.

Published Dec 28, 2015

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Bolshaya Ipelka and Opala
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Bolshaya Ipelka and Opala

Astronauts captured this view of two snow-covered volcanoes in southern Kamchatka, Russia.

Published Dec 21, 2015

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Saudi Arabia Canyonlands
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Saudi Arabia Canyonlands

A low sun angle add three-dimensional relief to a flat landscape in the desert.

Published Dec 14, 2015

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