





Space station's spectacular views of Earth

BY SPACEFLIGHT NOW

Posted: October 29, 2010



The Expedition 25 crew working aboard the International Space Station has used the outpost's seven-windowed cupola to take amazing nighttime pictures of planet Earth. The orbital observation deck offers panoramic views for the astronaut shutterbugs to wow the public in these photos of America, Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

Photo credit: NASA

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Above: Parts of Europe and Africa are very easily recognizable in this nighttime image from the International Space Station flying 220 miles above Earth on October 28. The view "looks" northward over Sicily and the "boot" of Italy, with the Mediterranean Sea representing most of the visible water in the view and the Adriatic Sea to the right of center. Tunisia is partially visible at left. Part of a docked Russian spacecraft and other components of the ISS are in the foreground.

Photo credit: NASA

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Above: From 220 miles above Earth, this nighttime photo features the bright lights of Cairo and Alexandria, Egypt on the Mediterranean coast. The Nile River and its delta stand out clearly as well. On the horizon, the airglow of the atmosphere is seen across the Mediterranean. The Sinai Peninsula, at right, is outlined with lights highlighting the Gulf of Suez and Gulf of Aqaba.

Photo credit: NASA

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Above: This nighttime image of the northern Gulf coast was taken from 220 miles up aboard the space station. Mobile Bay and the city of Mobile (top left, beneath one of the solar panels of a docked Russian Soyuz spacecraft), New Orleans and Houston are visible as the view "moves" southeastward. The Interstate Highway 20 cities of Jackson, Shreveport, Dallas and Fort Worth are also visible further inland. The view extends northward (left) to Little Rock and Oklahoma City.







Additional coverage for subscribers:

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VIDEO: SOYUZ TMA-01M DOCKS TO THE SPACE STATION PLAY



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VIDEO: PRE-LAUNCH INTERVIEW WITH OLEG SKRIPOCHKA PLAY



VIDEO: SOYUZ ROCKET ROLLED TO THE LAUNCH PAD PLAY

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VIDEO: ASSEMBLY OF SOYUZ COMPLETED IN THE HANGAR PLAY

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VIDEO: PRIME AND BACKUP CREWS MEET WITH REPORTERS PLAY



VIDEO: REMARKABLE VIDEO OF CREW EXITING CAPSULE PLAY

VIDEO: AERIAL FOOTAGE OF THE SOYUZ SAFELY LANDING PLAY

VIDEO: SOYUZ TMA-18 DEPARTS THE SPACE STATION PLAY

VIDEO: CREW BOARDS SOYUZ CAPSULE FOR DEPARTURE PLAY

VIDEO: SPACE STATION CHANGE OF COMMAND CEREMONY PLAY

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