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Astronaut Photography

Ouarkziz Impact Crater, Algeria
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Ouarkziz Impact Crater, Algeria

The crater was formed by a meteor impact less than 70 million years ago, during the “Age of Dinosaurs.”

Published May 7, 2012

Image of the Day Land

White Sands Dust Storm
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White Sands Dust Storm

Astronauts on the International Space Station observed an intense winter dust storm in White Sands National Monument, New Mexico.

Published Apr 30, 2012

Image of the Day Land Dust and Haze

Ice Floes Along the Kamchatka Coastline
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Ice Floes Along the Kamchatka Coastline

The irregular coastline of Kamchatka provokes large, circular eddies to spin off from the main southwestward-flowing Kamchatka current. Three such eddies are highlighted by surface ice floe patterns.

Published Apr 9, 2012

Image of the Day Water Snow and Ice

East African Rift Valley, Kenya
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East African Rift Valley, Kenya

It is one of the great tectonic features of Africa—caused by fracturing of the Earth’s crust—and includes the classical geologic structures associated with a rift valley.

Published Apr 2, 2012

Image of the Day Land

Pagan Island, Northern Marianas
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Pagan Island, Northern Marianas

The island sits along the tectonic boundary where the old, cold Pacific plate is being subducted at the Marianas trench.

Published Mar 26, 2012

Image of the Day Land Water Volcanoes

Paraná River Floodplain, Brazil
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Paraná River Floodplain, Brazil

Merging rivers paint the landscape with muddy sediment.

Published Mar 19, 2012

Image of the Day Land

City Lights of Dubai, United Arab Emirates
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City Lights of Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The city is a favorite subject for astronaut photography.

Published Mar 9, 2012

Image of the Day Land Human Presence

Agricultural Fields, Wadi As-Sirhan Basin, Saudi Arabia
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Agricultural Fields, Wadi As-Sirhan Basin, Saudi Arabia

This photograph from the International Space Station presents an almost surreal view of abundant green fields in the midst of a barren desert.

Published Mar 5, 2012

Image of the Day Land Human Presence

What did John Glenn see?
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What did John Glenn see?

Fifty years ago today, the first American to orbit the planet took this photo of home.

Published Feb 21, 2012

Image of the Day Human Presence Remote Sensing

Lake Fitri, Chad
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Lake Fitri, Chad

In the desert, a lake shows a long fight between water, wind, and climate.

Published Feb 20, 2012

Image of the Day Land

Southeastern USA at Night
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Southeastern USA at Night

Atlanta, Jacksonville, and Charlotte fill the darkness with light.

Published Feb 13, 2012

Image of the Day Land Human Presence

Majorca, Spain
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Majorca, Spain

With mountains and coastline in close proximity, the island is a popular holiday destination for Europeans.

Published Feb 6, 2012

Image of the Day Land Human Presence

Payún Matru Volcanic Field, Argentina
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Payún Matru Volcanic Field, Argentina

East of the Andes, the volcanic field is a product of complex geological processes.

Published Jan 30, 2012

Image of the Day Land

Agricultural Patterns, Quebec
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Agricultural Patterns, Quebec

Is that a tapestry or an agricultural scene from Canada?

Published Jan 23, 2012

Image of the Day Land Human Presence

Two Earth Satellites Viewed From Houston
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Two Earth Satellites Viewed From Houston

The Moon and the International Space Station appear as neighbors, though they are 384,400 kilometers miles apart.

Published Jan 16, 2012

Image of the Day Atmosphere Human Presence

Emi Koussi and Aorounga, Chad
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Emi Koussi and Aorounga, Chad

Two neighboring craters in Africa had very different origins.

Published Jan 9, 2012

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Menindee Lakes, New South Wales, Australia
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Menindee Lakes, New South Wales, Australia

Ephemeral lakes grow with a fresh pulse of water in December 2011.

Published Jan 2, 2012

Image of the Day Land

Love and Joy for the New Year
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Love and Joy for the New Year

A comet rises into view from the east around the December solstice.

Published Jan 1, 2012

Image of the Day Atmosphere

Iberian Peninsula at Night
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Iberian Peninsula at Night

After dark, a fiesta of lights provides the outline for Spain and Portugal.

Published Dec 26, 2011

Image of the Day Land Human Presence

Do You See What They See
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Do You See What They See

Astronauts and Santa Claus have a similar view of the planet.

Published Dec 24, 2011

Image of the Day Remote Sensing

Lake Eyre Floods, South Australia
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Lake Eyre Floods, South Australia

Lake Eyre did something in 2011 that it doesn’t do very often: it took on new water.

Published Dec 19, 2011

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Dust Plume over the Bahia Blanca
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Dust Plume over the Bahia Blanca

Northwestern and central Argentina are subject to frequent dust storms, such as this one viewed in November 2011 from the ISS over South America.

Published Dec 12, 2011

Image of the Day Land Water Dust and Haze

South Shetland Islands and Antarctica
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South Shetland Islands and Antarctica

Astronauts on the ISS captured an unusual, airplane-like view of the Antarctic Peninsula and nearby islands.

Published Dec 5, 2011

Image of the Day Land Water

Snowfall on the Selenga River Delta, Russia
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Snowfall on the Selenga River Delta, Russia

The Selenga River Delta, which stretches out into Russia’s Lake Baikal, is carved by an intricate network of channels and levees and surrounded by marshlands.

Published Nov 28, 2011

Image of the Day Land Snow and Ice

Hovering on the Horizon
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Hovering on the Horizon

The limb of the Earth is a work of awesome beauty and a gift to science.

Published Nov 26, 2011

Image of the Day Atmosphere Remote Sensing

Israel-Egypt-Gaza border region
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Israel-Egypt-Gaza border region

A clearly visible line marks about 50 kilometers of the international border between Egypt and Israel.

Published Nov 21, 2011

Image of the Day Land Human Presence

Re-entry of Progress Spacecraft 42P
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Re-entry of Progress Spacecraft 42P

Astronauts captured this view of a Progress supply ship streaking across the sky as it re-enters Earth’s atmosphere.

Published Nov 14, 2011

Image of the Day Atmosphere Human Presence

Rowley Shoals, Timor Sea
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Rowley Shoals, Timor Sea

Rowley Shoals, a series of atolls off northwestern Australia, are popular with divers and fisherman interested in the hundreds of marine species.

Published Nov 7, 2011

Image of the Day Water

Crepuscular Rays, India
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Crepuscular Rays, India

Crepuscular rays stream through the clouds over India, providing scientific and spiritual inspiration.

Published Oct 31, 2011

Image of the Day Atmosphere

Midwestern USA at Night with Aurora Borealis
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Midwestern USA at Night with Aurora Borealis

When viewed from the International Space Station, the night skies are illuminated with light from many sources.

Published Oct 24, 2011

Image of the Day Atmosphere Human Presence

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