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Astronaut Photography

Salt Lake City at Night
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Salt Lake City at Night

It is the capital of Utah, headquarters of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and “the crossroads of the West.”

Published Jan 6, 2014

Image of the Day Human Presence

United Arab Emirates at Night
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United Arab Emirates at Night

The human landscape of Arabian cities stands out clearly when you see the lights.

Published Dec 30, 2013

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Earthrise Revisited
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Earthrise Revisited

You know the photo, but do you know the story behind it? A new video explains the circumstances that gave rise to the famous Apollo “Earthrise” photo while recreating the experience with modern data.

Published Dec 24, 2013

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Sollipulli Caldera, Chile and Argentina
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Sollipulli Caldera, Chile and Argentina

Though the volcano has not erupted for thousands of years, scientific evidence suggests it could become active again someday.

Published Dec 23, 2013

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Islands of the Four Mountains
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Islands of the Four Mountains

Four volcanoes double as islands in Alaska’s Aleutian chain.

Published Dec 16, 2013

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South Africa Tribute
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South Africa Tribute

Nelson Mandela took the long view of his country and world, as does this photo from the space station.

Published Dec 15, 2013

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Dune Movement Around Aorounga
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Dune Movement Around Aorounga

Photographs taken by astronauts on the ISS in 2003 and 2013 show the evolution of a dune field in Chad.

Published Dec 9, 2013

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Activity at Klyuchevskoy Volcano
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Activity at Klyuchevskoy Volcano

An astronaut captured this view of an eruption plume amidst a chain of volcanoes on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula.

Published Dec 2, 2013

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La Malinche Volcano
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La Malinche Volcano

Though there are no historical accounts, geologic evidence suggests an eruption about 3,100 years ago affected Pre-Columbian settlements in Mexico.

Published Nov 25, 2013

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Le Havre, France
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Le Havre, France

The second largest container port in France is also a World Heritage Site for its unique concrete buildings.

Published Nov 18, 2013

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Rio Tinto Borax Mine
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Rio Tinto Borax Mine

One of Earth’s richest borate deposits is at the center of the largest open-pit mine in California.

Published Nov 11, 2013

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Upsala Glacier Retreat
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Upsala Glacier Retreat

A photograph by an astronaut on the International Space Station shows a progressively shrinking glacier in the North Patagonian Icefield.

Published Nov 4, 2013

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Ruapehu Volcano and Tongariro Volcanic Complex
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Ruapehu Volcano and Tongariro Volcanic Complex

The largest and most active of several volcanic centers on New Zealand’s North Island is also the island’s highest mountain.

Published Oct 28, 2013

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San Francisco Region at Night
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San Francisco Region at Night

City lights reflect some of the landscape features that determine urban growth patterns in the region.

Published Oct 21, 2013

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Long Island Sound Region at Night
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Long Island Sound Region at Night

City lights trace one of the most densely populated portions of the United States.

Published Sep 30, 2013

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Samarkand, Uzbekistan
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Samarkand, Uzbekistan

A key city on the old Silk Road stands midway between Western Europe and China.

Published Sep 23, 2013

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Caldera Lakes to the North of Rome
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Caldera Lakes to the North of Rome

Ancient volcanoes collapsed back into the crust of Italy, allowing lakes to form.

Published Sep 16, 2013

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Cloud Swirls and Ripples, Guadalupe Island
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Cloud Swirls and Ripples, Guadalupe Island

Clouds trace out atmospheric eddies and vortices near Baja, California.

Published Sep 9, 2013

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Whiting Event, Lake Ontario
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Whiting Event, Lake Ontario

Calcium carbonate particles discolored nearly the entirely surface of one of the Great Lakes in August 2013.

Published Sep 2, 2013

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Flooding in Eastern Russia
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Flooding in Eastern Russia

Runoff chokes the swollen Amur River in this astronaut photograph taken on August 21, 2013.

Published Aug 28, 2013

Water Floods

Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia
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Hervey Bay, Queensland, Australia

The estuary is a haven for marine life and for tourists who come to observe that life.

Published Aug 26, 2013

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Fires in Montana and Idaho
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Fires in Montana and Idaho

Tens of thousands of acres in the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness have burned during the 2013 wildfire season.

Published Aug 23, 2013

Fires

Sunrise over the Aleutian Islands, with Noctilucent Clouds
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Sunrise over the Aleutian Islands, with Noctilucent Clouds

Some astronauts say these wispy, iridescent clouds are the most beautiful phenomena they see from orbit.

Published Aug 20, 2013

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Southwestern Saudi Arabia at Night
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Southwestern Saudi Arabia at Night

Coastal cities flourish amidst a more moderate climate along the Red Sea.

Published Aug 12, 2013

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Strait of Tiran, Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba
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Strait of Tiran, Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba

The narrow strait between Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula and Saudi Arabia is an important passage for ships trying to reach Israel and Jordan.

Published Aug 5, 2013

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Salton Trough
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Salton Trough

Along the border of Mexico and the U.S., a geologically and tectonically complex area serves as a visual reference point for astronauts on the International Space Station.

Published Jul 29, 2013

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Gravity Waves and Sunglint, Lake Superior
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Gravity Waves and Sunglint, Lake Superior

This astronaut view of blending air masses, wind fields, and light reflections is a combination of beauty and of insight about the environment.

Published Jul 22, 2013

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Damascus, Syria
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Damascus, Syria

It is one of the oldest cities in the Middle East, with evidence of human habitation extending back to 8,000–10,000 BC.

Published Jul 15, 2013

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Egyptian Dust Plume, Red Sea
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Egyptian Dust Plume, Red Sea

Airborne dust draws the eye to the place where Africa and Arabia once fit together.

Published Jul 8, 2013

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Deep in the Heart of Texas
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Deep in the Heart of Texas

This nighttime view from the International Space Station shows the state's four largest cities.

Published Jul 1, 2013

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