A sharp contrast in nighttime lights distinguishes the sparsely populated Tibetan Plateau from the fertile and densely inhabited Indo-Gangetic plain.
Published Dec 6, 2020From their perch on the space station, astronauts have spent 20 years sharing a story about Earth as they see it from above. Like the directors of a film, those astronaut storytellers have a crew working behind the scenes to help them tell the story. Meet the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit.
Published Dec 1, 2020A plume of mineral-rich dust filled the skies over Cyprus and the Mediterranean on a summer’s day.
Published Nov 25, 2020A towering thunder cloud stands at the intersection of moist tropical air and dry, dusty plumes.
Published Nov 22, 2020Kaheawa Wind Power facilities provide 10 to 15 percent of this Hawaiian island’s electric power.
Published Nov 14, 2020This island’s rugged topography and dense rainforest has led most of its inhabitants to live along the coastline.
Published Nov 7, 2020From their home on the International Space Station, astronauts have a view unlike anything most of us will ever see. Over 20 years, they have shot millions of photographs of Earth, and it is not just a hobby. It is an important scientific job, and one they need to be trained to do. Learn more about the challenges of watching Earth from above.
Published Nov 2, 2020Trees have long been cherished here for timber and for the colors they bring to “the Fall Rhapsody.”
Published Oct 24, 2020Through Italy’s Smart Road Decree, the city was chosen as a test site for autonomous driving vehicles.
Published Oct 18, 2020An astronaut captured distant and overhead views of a long plume blowing from Iraq across the Middle East.
Published Oct 11, 2020The diffuse orange and green bands of light are caused by molecules in the atmosphere that have been energized by absorbing ultraviolet radiation from the Sun.
Published Oct 8, 2020Colorful, mineral-rich salt flats are nestled between the Promontory Mountains and the Great Salt Lake.
Published Oct 4, 2020The smallest country in mainland Africa hugs its namesake river.
Published Sep 27, 2020Clouds trace the islands and color variations trace the seafloor.
Published Sep 20, 2020Carved out by ancient glaciers, this portion of the coastal Andes is rich with glacial fjords, complex shorelines, active volcanoes, and marine life.
Published Sep 13, 2020The inland sea in central Asia has a distinct circulation.
Published Sep 6, 2020Nestled in a river valley in the Allegheny Mountains, the city first attracted weary travelers, who then stayed for the salt, trees, and coal.
Published Aug 30, 2020This marine wonder off of Belize is rich with mystery and biodiversity.
Published Aug 23, 2020The colors and altitude are often the same, but the atmospheric processes are different.
Published Aug 16, 2020Bright lights of these coastal cities of China are sandwiched between mountains and the sea.
Published Aug 9, 2020The combination of stable, ancient dunes and water channels displaying both braided and cross-connecting patterns make this region a planetary analogue for Mars.
Published Aug 2, 2020The area is known for its extreme dryness and dangerous heat records. However, traces on the land indicate that water sometimes flows here.
Published Jul 26, 2020In July 2020, sky gazers on Earth and on the International Space Station had a front row seat to one of the brightest comets in decades.
Published Jul 18, 2020The wandering river is a boon to farming, but it has no interest in state borders.
Published Jul 19, 2020One of the smaller lakes of the East African Rift is rich with mud, fish, and geologic beauty.
Published Jul 12, 2020The Olympic Peninsula, Cascade Mountains, and Salish Sea caught the eye of an astronaut on the space station.
Published Jul 4, 2020Bright shades of white and yellow light up the geographic and political heart of Turkey.
Published Jun 28, 2020An astronaut aboard the International Space Station shot a photograph of the Moon’s shadow crossing the Earth on June 21, 2020.
Published Jun 23, 2020An array of sandy colors paint the landscape around the capital and port city.
Published Jun 21, 2020