Astronaut Photography
An Earth Observatory Collection
An astronaut photographed moonglint shimmering across the sea surface and the bright clusters of Florida’s cities at night.
In southeastern Libya, Jabal Arkanū’s concentric rock rings stand as relics of past geologic forces that churned beneath the desert.
An astronaut photographed the island’s striking mix of mountains, forests, and expanding urban areas.
A Gulf Coast storm followed by snowmelt in January 2025 temporarily increased the Mississippi River’s outflow, sending a surge of…
Sediment from the riverbed, especially during periods of higher flow, helps shape the surrounding beaches and sandbars.
Astronauts and much of Earth’s population had a chance to view a coppery “Blood Moon” during a total lunar eclipse…
The nighttime lightscape of Argentina’s largest metropolitan area reveals transportation corridors and variations in lighting types.
The glow of city lights, the aurora, and a rising Moon illuminate the night along the northwest coast of North…
An astronaut captured a moonrise—and much more—in a series of photos taken from the International Space Station.
The peninsula in eastern Siberia features rugged terrain with towering, snow-covered peaks and cloud-filled valleys stretching between the Pacific Ocean…
A subtle arc, formed by the bending of light through high-altitude ice crystals, cradles the Moon above the darkened Earth.
A long-exposure photo taken from low Earth orbit captured the brilliant illumination coming from airglow, lightning, and stars.
The lake in northwestern Utah displays striking red and green waters that contrast with the region’s surrounding desert, salt flats,…
Located on Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula, the peak’s lofty altitude and chilly latitude help it hang onto snow and glaciers all…
The volcano's long history of eruptions has influenced eastern Sicily's physical topography as well as how people interact with the…
Colorful salt ponds, rich mineral brines, and dust storm defenses meet on the Tibetan Plateau.
The optical phenomenon revealed features on and below the Peruvian lake’s surface, such as wind patterns, natural surface films, and…
Astronaut photos captured the aftermath of torrential rainfall in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil’s southernmost state.
Owens Lake, an arid playa tucked between the Inyo Mountains and the Sierra Nevada in California, is the site of…
An astronaut took this striking photo of a vast, freshwater lake in west-central Mexico, as well as the surrounding volcanic…
An astronaut photographed Alexandria’s coastal development, agricultural zones, harbors, and salt ponds.
