Astronaut Photography

Baikonur, Kazakhstan
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Baikonur, Kazakhstan

Situated along a major bend in the Syr Darya, the town is home to the Cosmodrome, launch site for many missions to the International Space Station.

Published Jul 18, 2016

Image of the Day Land Human Presence

Hayden Pass and Beaver Creek Fires in Colorado
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Hayden Pass and Beaver Creek Fires in Colorado

Colorado’s Beaver Creek and Hayden Pass fires continue to blaze.

Published Jul 14, 2016

Atmosphere Heat Land Fires

Paris at Night
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Paris at Night

Even in a sea of lights, certain landmarks stand out.

Published Jul 11, 2016

Image of the Day Land Human Presence

Bay of Fundy
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Bay of Fundy

One of the world’s most famous bays, these Canadian waters have the highest vertical tidal range on the planet.

Published Jul 3, 2016

Image of the Day Land Water Human Presence

A Gap in the Andes
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A Gap in the Andes

An astronaut on the International Space Station captured this view of the river valley that contains the famed Pan-American Highway.

Published Jun 27, 2016

Image of the Day Land Water Human Presence Snow and Ice

Bahariya Oasis
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Bahariya Oasis

In the Western Desert of Egypt, date and olive groves stand out alongside an ancient settlement.

Published Jun 20, 2016

Image of the Day Life Water Human Presence

Lake Tengiz
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Lake Tengiz

The salty lake in northern Kazakhstan is rich in natural and spaceflight history.

Published Jun 13, 2016

Image of the Day Water

Great Barrier Reef near Whitsunday Islands
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Great Barrier Reef near Whitsunday Islands

The Great Barrier Reef is the largest reef system on Earth, with more than 3,000 separate reefs and coral cays. It is also one of the most complex natural ecosystems.

Published May 31, 2016

Image of the Day Life Water

Cincinnati
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Cincinnati

Steep bluffs and curving bends give this stretch of the Ohio River a distinctive look.

Published May 23, 2016

Image of the Day Land Water Human Presence

An Astronaut’s View of the Fort McMurray Fire
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An Astronaut’s View of the Fort McMurray Fire

An astronaut on the International Space Station took this photograph of smoke billowing from wildfires near Fort McMurray.

Published May 18, 2016

Fires Human Presence

Stargazing from the ISS
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Stargazing from the ISS

Lightning, airglow, and the Milky Way galaxy lit up the night sky as astronauts passed over Kiribati in the central Pacific.

Published May 16, 2016

Image of the Day Atmosphere

The Hamra River and El Aaiún
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The Hamra River and El Aaiún

In Western Sahara, an unusual river vanishes in a sand field before it reaches the sea. In the process, it provides water for the largest city in the country.

Published May 9, 2016

Image of the Day Land Water Human Presence

Lagoa Mangueira
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Lagoa Mangueira

Sand spits and other wind- and wave-built patterns distinguish the south coast of Brazil.

Published May 2, 2016

Image of the Day Land Water

Santa Cruz, Bolivia
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Santa Cruz, Bolivia

The metropolitan area is one of the fastest-growing cities in the world.

Published Apr 25, 2016

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The Grandest of Canyons
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The Grandest of Canyons

Grand Canyon National Park spans 277 river miles and often stretches 10 miles wide. But the true wonder arises from its depth...or height, depending on where you stand.

Published Apr 24, 2016

Image of the Day Land Water

Lake Hinds, Western Australia
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Lake Hinds, Western Australia

Fresh rains partly fill a normally dry lake bed near Perth.

Published Apr 18, 2016

Image of the Day Water

Viewing a Spacecraft Launch from Space
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Viewing a Spacecraft Launch from Space

Astronauts observed the exhaust trails of the Cygnus resupply spacecraft and rocket.

Published Apr 11, 2016

Image of the Day Atmosphere Human Presence

Dunes of the Grand Erg Oriental
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Dunes of the Grand Erg Oriental

Large linear dunes stretch across the Great Eastern Sand Sea of northern Algeria.

Published Apr 4, 2016

Image of the Day Land

Mount Fuji
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Mount Fuji

The highest peak in Japan is one of the nation’s most striking symbols.

Published Mar 28, 2016

Image of the Day Land Snow and Ice

East Indonesia Island Chain
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East Indonesia Island Chain

On a rare tropical day with few clouds, the volcanic islands of Indonesia stand out from the sea.

Published Mar 21, 2016

Image of the Day Atmosphere Land

Gillette Coal Pits, Wyoming
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Gillette Coal Pits, Wyoming

Powder River Basin is a major source of low-sulfur coal, helping to make Wyoming one of the largest coal-producers in the United States.

Published Mar 14, 2016

Image of the Day Land Human Presence Snow and Ice

Haifa By Day and By Night
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Haifa By Day and By Night

Astronauts are taught to concentrate on the shapes of coastlines for a visual cue about where they are when circling the planet. The nose of Cape Karmel and the bay that protects Haifa are shapes that stand out.

Published Mar 7, 2016

Image of the Day Land Human Presence

Crimean Peninsula
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Crimean Peninsula

Crimea is a small piece of the world with a large role in modern history.

Published Feb 29, 2016

Image of the Day Land Water Human Presence

London at Night
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London at Night

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station take special care to acquire crisp night shots.

Published Feb 22, 2016

Image of the Day Human Presence

Compelling Coastline along Roebuck Bay
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Compelling Coastline along Roebuck Bay

Unusual stream patterns in Western Australia seem to have origins inland and in the past.

Published Feb 15, 2016

Image of the Day Land Water

Elba and the Mediterranean at Night
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Elba and the Mediterranean at Night

The reflection of the Moon on the sea surface reveals highly complex patterns on the sea surface.

Published Feb 8, 2016

Image of the Day Land Water Human Presence

Great Salt Lake, Oblique View
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Great Salt Lake, Oblique View

The lake and surrounding landscape are characterized by many flavors and mixtures of salt.

Published Feb 1, 2016

Image of the Day Land Water Human Presence

Canada Panorama
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Canada Panorama

An astronaut aboard the International Space Station shot this photograph looking north into the snow-covered landscape of Canada’s Coast Mountains, the Canadian Rockies, and Vancouver Island.

Published Jan 25, 2016

Image of the Day Atmosphere Land Water

Kavir Desert
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Kavir Desert

An astronaut’s lens captures the diversity of textures in a central Iranian landscape.

Published Jan 19, 2016

Image of the Day Heat Land

Eruption of San Miguel, El Salvador
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Eruption of San Miguel, El Salvador

Ash streamed from one of El Salvador’s most active volcanos in January 2016.

Published Jan 13, 2016

Atmosphere Volcanoes