Strings of light emanate from the Imperial Palace in the city’s center and follow the expressway system outward.
Image of the Day Human Presence
Twenty centuries after Londinium was founded, the capital city now includes 32 boroughs, numerous parks and bridges, and a rich history.
When the Sun sets, outcrops made of bright, rust-colored Aztec sandstone appear to be on fire.
Image of the Day Land
Two monsoon seasons make space views of this area rare.
Fogo is part of an active stratovolcano with a turbulent history.
Image of the Day Land Water
Sand dunes, ancient rocks, a solar power plant, and the Orange River stand out in this photo from South Africa.
Image of the Day Land Human Presence
The rugged volcanic terrain creates a temperate climate in a mostly dry place.
Wide, diagonal avenues radiate from the Capitol building in Washington, D.C., outward through the city.
The distinct nub protruding from the east coast of South Island includes remnants of extinct, eroded volcanoes.
Chocolate mountains and a salty lake highlight this desert landscape.
Sediment-rich water from the interior of Madagascar meets the sea in mangrove-fringed Loza Bay.
India’s largest conurbation stretches for 70 kilometers.
Circulation patterns stir up abundant sediment around the largest coastal lagoon on the Gulf Coast.
Image of the Day Water Human Presence
Thailand’s capital and most populous city lights up southeast Asia.
Bridges, piers, and developed keys add a distinct human geometry to this vast bay on Florida’s west coast.
The coast of the tropical Africa nation is shaped by a confluence of rivers, lagoons, and bays.
The Bay Area has several famous landmarks that stand out from the Space Station.
Image of the Day Land Water Human Presence
Snow cover highlights the details of this railroad hub and city at the south end of the Ural Mountains.
Image of the Day Land Human Presence Snow and Ice
An astronaut captured this view of three basins—Tahoe, Walker, and Mono—straddling two different climates.
The active Colima and extinct Nevado de Colima are both andesitic stratovolcanoes in the Trans-Mexican Volcanic Belt.
Coral reef ecosystems thrive off the coast of Saudi Arabia.
An astronaut captured this wide view from flat and humid coastal wetlands and barrier islands to rocky inland hills and woodlands.
We asked a space station team and an astronaut to share a few of their favorite views from above.
Image of the Day Human Presence Remote Sensing Videos
The symmetric “Mountain of God” in Tanzania is part of the East African Rift system.
Astronaut Andrew Morgan used a fisheye lens to capture the intersection of two continents.
A compilation of dozens of long-exposure photographs taken from space turns stars into stunning rings and city lights and fires into colorful streaks.
Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Human Presence
Two astronauts. Two clear days. Two gorgeous views around the roof of the world.
Image of the Day Land Snow and Ice
The contrast of the bright lights against the dark landscape makes this a favorite astronaut photo.
The modern oasis of Jubbah sits within the wind shadow of historic mountains and the basin of an ancient lakebed.
Astronauts have snapped numerous photos of the light show from their unique perch on the International Space Station.
Image of the Day Atmosphere