Astronaut photograph of the Sun increasing above Earths horizon recorded from the International Space Station on September 29, 2023. Astronauts aboard the International Space Station are distinctively placed to capture striking images of the Sun and Earth.As the International Space Station orbited over the southern Indian Ocean, an astronaut looked eastward and recorded this photo of the Sun increasing above Earths horizon.The Layers of Earths AtmosphereThis edge-on photo of Earths limb exposes a number of climatic layers. The most affordable layer, called the troposphere, appears orange and red as these wavelengths of light are spread by particles of smog, dust, and smoke. Directly above the troposphere is the stratosphere. This blue layer is usually cloud-free and extends as much as 50 kilometers (30 miles) above Earths surface. The area directly above the stratosphere is understood as the mesosphere.NASAs Heliophysics Big YearThe Sun– the centerpiece in this image– is front and center in NASAs Heliophysics Big Year. This “big year” event began with the annular solar eclipse in October 2023 and continues with an overall solar eclipse in April 2024. It concludes with the Parker Solar Probes closest approach to the Sun in December 2024. Studying Eclipses and Their EffectsThe total solar eclipse in April 2024 will pass over Mexico, the United States, and Canada. In addition to placing on a remarkable program, the eclipse offers research study opportunities including the chance for researchers to study the Suns effect in the worlds ionosphere. This is the area spanning from about 80– 600 kilometers (50– 400 miles) above Earths surface, overlapping with the top of the environment and the start of space. It is where the spaceport station and other satellites in low Earth orbit hang out, and where radio and GPS signals bounce around.Astronauts Unique Perspective on Solar EventsDuring a solar eclipse, astronauts on the space station can sometimes see the Moons shadow passing over Earth. Views of daybreaks are far more typical, with astronauts experiencing as numerous as 16 daybreaks every 24 hours.Astronaut photo ISS070-E-1178 was obtained on September 29, 2023, with a Nikon D5 digital camera utilizing a focal length of 170 millimeters. The image was supplied by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit at Johnson Space. The image was taken by a member of the Expedition 70 team. It has actually been cropped and boosted to enhance contrast, and lens artifacts have been gotten rid of. The International Space Station Program supports the lab as part of the ISS National Lab to help astronauts take photos of Earth that will be of the biggest value to researchers and the general public and to make those images easily offered on the Internet.
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station are distinctively positioned to record striking pictures of the Sun and Earth.As the International Space Station orbited over the southern Indian Ocean, an astronaut looked eastward and captured this image of the Sun rising above Earths horizon.The Layers of Earths AtmosphereThis edge-on photo of Earths limb reveals a number of climatic layers. It is where the area station and other satellites in low Earth orbit hang out, and where radio and GPS signals bounce around.Astronauts Unique Perspective on Solar EventsDuring a solar eclipse, astronauts on the space station can in some cases see the Moons shadow passing over Earth. The image was offered by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit at Johnson Space.
