Astronaut Photography

Noirmoutier, France
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Noirmoutier, France

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

Published Sep 19, 2021

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A Meeting of Ice and Dunes
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A Meeting of Ice and Dunes

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

Published Sep 13, 2021

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Spotlight on the Galápagos Islands
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Spotlight on the Galápagos Islands

Sunglint helps tease out features that are not often visible.

Published Sep 5, 2021

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The Paraná Megafan
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The Paraná Megafan

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

Published Aug 29, 2021

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Turning on the Lights in Tokyo
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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

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A London Mosaic
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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

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The Valley of Fire
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The Valley of Fire

When the Sun sets, outcrops made of bright, rust-colored Aztec sandstone appear to be on fire.

Published Aug 8, 2021

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Clouds and Haze over Malay Peninsula
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Clouds and Haze over Malay Peninsula

Two monsoon seasons make space views of this area rare.

Published Aug 1, 2021

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Fire Island, Cabo Verde
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Fire Island, Cabo Verde

Fogo is part of an active stratovolcano with a turbulent history.

Published Jul 26, 2021

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Seeing Orange in the Kalahari
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Seeing Orange in the Kalahari

Sand dunes, ancient rocks, a solar power plant, and the Orange River stand out in this photo from South Africa.

Published Jul 18, 2021

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Lake Tana and the Ethiopian Highlands
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Lake Tana and the Ethiopian Highlands

The rugged volcanic terrain creates a temperate climate in a mostly dry place.

Published Jul 12, 2021

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The Avenues of America
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The Avenues of America

Wide, diagonal avenues radiate from the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., outward through the city.

Published Jul 4, 2021

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Banks Peninsula, New Zealand
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Banks Peninsula, New Zealand

The distinct nub protruding from the east coast of South Island includes remnants of extinct, eroded volcanoes.

Published Jun 27, 2021

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Sweet and Salty Sonora
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Sweet and Salty Sonora

Chocolate mountains and a salty lake highlight this desert landscape.

Published Jun 20, 2021

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An Entanglement of Land and Sea
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An Entanglement of Land and Sea

Sediment-rich water from the interior of Madagascar meets the sea in mangrove-fringed Loza Bay.

Published Jun 13, 2021

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Greater Delhi
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Greater Delhi

India’s largest conurbation stretches for 70 kilometers.

Published Jun 6, 2021

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Plumes Near Isla del Carmen
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Plumes Near Isla del Carmen

Circulation patterns stir up abundant sediment around the largest coastal lagoon on the Gulf Coast.

Published May 30, 2021

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One Night in Bangkok
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One Night in Bangkok

Thailand’s capital and most populous city lights up southeast Asia.

Published May 25, 2021

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The Bridges of Tampa Bay
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The Bridges of Tampa Bay

Bridges, piers, and developed keys add a distinct human geometry to this vast bay on Florida’s west coast.

Published May 16, 2021

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Ghana by the Sea
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Ghana by the Sea

The coast of the tropical Africa nation is shaped by a confluence of rivers, lagoons, and bays.

Published May 2, 2021

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A Clear Day Over San Francisco Bay
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A Clear Day Over San Francisco Bay

The Bay Area has several famous landmarks that stand out from the Space Station.

Published Apr 25, 2021

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Winter is Long in Orenburg
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Winter is Long in Orenburg

Snow cover highlights the details of this railroad hub and city at the south end of the Ural Mountains.

Published Apr 18, 2021

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Western Lake Trio
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Western Lake Trio

An astronaut captured this view of three basins—Tahoe, Walker, and Mono—straddling two different climates.

Published Apr 11, 2021

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Two Volcanic Peaks that are Far from Twins
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Two Volcanic Peaks that are Far from Twins

The active Colima and extinct Nevado de Colima are both andesitic stratovolcanoes in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt.

Published Apr 4, 2021

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Red Sea Rainforests
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Red Sea Rainforests

Coral reef ecosystems thrive off the coast of Saudi Arabia.

Published Mar 28, 2021

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Texas Gulf Coast
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Texas Gulf Coast

An astronaut captured this wide view from flat and humid coastal wetlands and barrier islands to rocky inland hills and woodlands.

Published Mar 21, 2021

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Picturing Earth: Eye of the Beholder
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Picturing Earth: Eye of the Beholder

We asked a space station team and an astronaut to share a few of their favorite views from above.

Published Mar 19, 2021

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Ol Doinyo Lengai
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Ol Doinyo Lengai

The symmetric “Mountain of God” in Tanzania is part of the East African Rift system.

Published Mar 15, 2021

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Fisheye Over Sinai
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Fisheye Over Sinai

Astronaut Andrew Morgan used a fisheye lens to capture the intersection of two continents.

Published Mar 7, 2021

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Stars in Motion
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Stars in Motion

A compilation of dozens of long-exposure photographs taken from space turns stars into stunning rings and city lights and fires into colorful streaks.

Published Mar 6, 2021

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