Astronaut Photography

Rings of Rock in the Sahara
Image

Rings of Rock in the Sahara

In southeastern Libya, Jabal Arkanū’s concentric rock rings stand as relics of past geologic forces that churned beneath the desert.

Published Nov 28, 2025

Image of the Day Land

Puerto Rico From Above
Image

Puerto Rico From Above

An astronaut photographed the island’s striking mix of mountains, forests, and expanding urban areas.

Published Nov 14, 2025

Image of the Day Land

Winter Transforms the Mississippi River Delta
Image

Winter Transforms the Mississippi River Delta

A Gulf Coast storm followed by snowmelt in January 2025 temporarily increased the Mississippi River’s outflow, sending a surge of sediment through the delta and into gulf waters.

Published Sep 28, 2025

Image of the Day Land Water Human Presence

By the Warm Light of the Moon
Image

By the Warm Light of the Moon

Astronauts and much of Earth’s population had a chance to view a coppery “Blood Moon” during a total lunar eclipse in September 2025.

Published Sep 20, 2025

Image of the Day Atmosphere

Mozambique’s Rio Lúrio
Image

Mozambique’s Rio Lúrio

Sediment from the riverbed, especially during periods of higher flow, helps shape the surrounding beaches and sandbars.

Published Sep 21, 2025

Image of the Day Land

Traversing Buenos Aires at Night
Image

Traversing Buenos Aires at Night

The nighttime lightscape of Argentina’s largest metropolitan area reveals transportation corridors and variations in lighting types.

Published Sep 14, 2025

Image of the Day Human Presence

A Northwest Night Awash in Light
Image

A Northwest Night Awash in Light

The glow of city lights, the aurora, and a rising Moon illuminate the night along the northwest coast of North America.

Published Sep 7, 2025

Image of the Day Atmosphere

Five Minutes in Orbit
Image

Five Minutes in Orbit

An astronaut captured a moonrise—and much more—in a series of photos taken from the International Space Station.

Published Aug 29, 2025

Image of the Day Atmosphere

Kamchatka Peaks Pierce the Clouds
Image

Kamchatka Peaks Pierce the Clouds

The peninsula in eastern Siberia features rugged terrain with towering, snow-covered peaks and cloud-filled valleys stretching between the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Okhotsk.

Published Aug 24, 2025

Image of the Day Land

A Halo Above the Horizon
Image

A Halo Above the Horizon

A subtle arc, formed by the bending of light through high-altitude ice crystals, cradles the Moon above the darkened Earth.

Published Aug 17, 2025

Image of the Day Atmosphere

Nighttime Over the Eastern Pacific
Image

Nighttime Over the Eastern Pacific

A long-exposure photo taken from low Earth orbit captured the brilliant illumination coming from airglow, lightning, and stars.

Published Aug 10, 2025

Image of the Day Atmosphere

Sweeping Vistas Above the Great Salt Lake
Image

Sweeping Vistas Above the Great Salt Lake

The lake in northwestern Utah displays striking red and green waters that contrast with the region’s surrounding desert, salt flats, and mountainous terrain.

Published Aug 3, 2025

Image of the Day Land Water

Mutnovsky Volcano
Image

Mutnovsky Volcano

Located on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, the peak’s lofty altitude and chilly latitude help it hang onto snow and glaciers all year long.

Published Jul 27, 2025

Image of the Day Land

Italy’s Majestic Mount Etna
Image

Italy’s Majestic Mount Etna

The volcano’s long history of eruptions has influenced eastern Sicily’s physical topography as well as how people interact with the land.

Published Jul 20, 2025

Image of the Day Atmosphere Land

The Salty Lake of Gas Hure
Image

The Salty Lake of Gas Hure

Colorful salt ponds, rich mineral brines, and dust storm defenses meet on the Tibetan Plateau.

Published Jul 13, 2025

Image of the Day Land

Lake Titicaca in Sunglint
Image

Lake Titicaca in Sunglint

The optical phenomenon revealed features on and below the Peruvian lake’s surface, such as wind patterns, natural surface films, and boat wakes.

Published Jul 7, 2025

Image of the Day Water

Flooding Along the Uruguay and Ibicuí Rivers
Image

Flooding Along the Uruguay and Ibicuí Rivers

Astronaut photos captured the aftermath of torrential rainfall in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil’s southernmost state.

Published Jul 2, 2025

Image of the Day Water Floods

A Dusty Vestige of the Old West
Image

A Dusty Vestige of the Old West

Owens Lake, an arid playa tucked between the Inyo Mountains and the Sierra Nevada in California, is the site of dust mitigation efforts.

Published Jun 29, 2025

Image of the Day Land

Lake Chapala
Image

Lake Chapala

An astronaut took this striking photo of a vast, freshwater lake in west-central Mexico, as well as the surrounding volcanic and urban landscapes.

Published Jun 22, 2025

Image of the Day Water

Egypt’s Mediterranean Coast
Image

Egypt’s Mediterranean Coast

An astronaut photographed Alexandria’s coastal development, agricultural zones, harbors, and salt ponds.

Published Jun 15, 2025

Image of the Day Human Presence

Lake Chad’s Water, Wetlands, and Dunes
Image

Lake Chad’s Water, Wetlands, and Dunes

Astronauts have photographed the diminishing lake in Central Africa for decades, most recently in January 2025, as its area remained just a fraction of its past size.

Published Jun 8, 2025

Image of the Day Water

Meandering Through Baton Rouge
Image

Meandering Through Baton Rouge

The Mississippi River has shaped the landscape in southeastern Louisiana, supporting agriculture and connecting the region with vital trade and navigation routes.

Published Jun 1, 2025

Image of the Day Land

Waterlogged Lake Gregory
Image

Waterlogged Lake Gregory

A network of brackish lakes and associated wetlands in northwestern Australia held more water than usual in October 2024 following an especially intense wet season.

Published May 25, 2025

Image of the Day Water

Capital of the Blue Ridge
Image

Capital of the Blue Ridge

Roanoke, Virginia, is the largest city in the Blue Ridge Mountains and a stopover along a historic, scenic road.

Published May 18, 2025

Image of the Day Human Presence

Lights of Southeast Asia
Image

Lights of Southeast Asia

On a night with little to no moonlight, other sources of nighttime lights were on vivid display in parts of Burma, Thailand, and Laos.

Published May 11, 2025

Image of the Day Atmosphere Human Presence

Salty Emi Koussi
Image

Salty Emi Koussi

In northern Chad, the tallest peak in the Sahara Desert is topped with a patch of salt, not snow.

Published May 4, 2025

Image of the Day Land

Istanbul: A Turkish Delight
Image

Istanbul: A Turkish Delight

The large metropolis, fringed by scenic coastline, stretches across two continents.

Published Apr 20, 2025

Image of the Day Land

Singapore and Malaysia at Night
Image

Singapore and Malaysia at Night

An astronaut orbiting over Southeast Asia captured a colorful photo of the lights from boats, ports, and other lit infrastructure.

Published Apr 13, 2025

Image of the Day Land Human Presence

Gleaming Waters in the Sahel  
Image

Gleaming Waters in the Sahel  

Sunglint brightened river and lake water in this photograph of southeastern Chad.  

Published Apr 6, 2025

Image of the Day Land

National Parks Under Snow
Image

National Parks Under Snow

Gateway towns in Wyoming and Montana flank the Rocky Mountains and provide an access point to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks.

Published Mar 30, 2025

Image of the Day Land Snow and Ice