This is what Earth looks like

This oblique nighttime view of Western Europe and the well-lit coasts (from left) of Spain, France and Italy was taken from the International Space Station as it orbited 256 miles above the Mediterranean Sea on 13 May 2019. Photo: Flickr/NASA Johnson.

This is what Earth looks like from the International Space Station [photos]

Every day, scientists living and working aboard the International Space Station take in remarkable views of our home planet. Here’s a look at Earth, as seen from 402 km above

This is what Earth looks like

This oblique nighttime view of Western Europe and the well-lit coasts (from left) of Spain, France and Italy was taken from the International Space Station as it orbited 256 miles above the Mediterranean Sea on 13 May 2019. Photo: Flickr/NASA Johnson.

NASA Astronauts Nick Hague and Scott Kelly – whom I follow on Instagram – started a trend by taking photos from the International Space Station (ISS) and sharing it on social media.

Today, Kelly has more than 1.1m followers, and Hague more than 52 000 followers. Many other astronauts have followed their example and are sharing the most beautiful snapshots of space and Earth on social media.

Cameras outside the International Space Station captured a stark and sobering view of Hurricane Florence the morning of 12 September as it churned across the Atlantic in a west-northwesterly direction with winds of 130 miles an hour. The National Hurricane Center forecasts additional strengthening for Florence before it reaches the coastline of North Carolina and South Carolina early Friday, 14 September. Photo: Flickr/NASA Johnson.

If you need a list of how to follow – other than Hague and Kelly – you should definitely also follow self-proclaimed ‘space nerd in paradise Kjell Lindgren, as well as Leland Melvin and the second man to set foot on the moon, Buzz Aldrin.

You can also follow the official ISS Instagram account, as well as Christina Hammock Koch, a NASA Astronaut currently living onboard the International Space Station.

Expedition 60 began their mission onboard the ISS in June 2019. The expedition ends in October 2019.

Their research will focus on investigations pertaining to biology, Earth science, physical sciences and technology development.

The ISS, a unique functioning science laboratory, is in regular orbit around the Earth.

It also serves as a home away from home to the crew members who are stationed there for extended periods of time.

The International Space Station was orbiting about 256 miles above South Australia when a camera on board the orbital complex captured this celestial view of Earth’s atmospheric glow and the Milky Way on 7 October 2018. Photo: Flickr/NASA Johnson.

The natural beauty of landmarks like the Grand Canyon are unmissable, and at night the biggest cities sparkle like the stars above.

The ISS circles Earth at roughly 402 km above, and travels at approximately 27 580 km/h. That’s about 7,66 kilometres per second! In addition, the ISS also orbits Earth every 90 minutes.

A portion of Green River and its tributary canyons in the state of Utah were pictured as the International Space Station orbited 255 miles above North America on 22 October 2018. Photo: Flickr/NASA Johnson.

It takes about six hours for a spacecraft from Earth to reach the ISS, and more than 350 000 sensors onboard the ISS monitor the crew’s health. Furthermore, it can host more than 20 different research payloads outside the station.

A portion of the International Space Station’s solar arrays caps this nighttime view of the Earth’s limb with an aurora as the orbital complex orbited 258 miles above Ukraine and Russia on 19 January 2019. Photo: Flickr/NASA Johnson.

Hague, Drew Morgan, Koch, Luca Parmitano and Aleksandr Skvortsov are Flight Engineers, while Alexey Ovchinin is the Commander. According to NASA, their work includes:

“During Expedition 60, researchers will 3D print organ-like tissues in microgravity, examine the physical interactions of liquid, rocks and microorganisms, evaluate the creation of novel silica forms and structures, and analyze the spreading and penetration of a liquid on a porous surface.”

The International Space Station was 258 miles above Canada when an Expedition 59 crewmember photographed the Gulf of St. Lawrence and portions of Quebec, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island on 11 April 2019. Photo: Flickr/NASA Johnson.
The International Space Station was orbiting 255 miles above the Mediterranean Sea when an Expedition 59 crewmember looking northwest took this photograph of Italy and its island Sicily on 9 June 2019. Photo: Flickr/NASA Johnson.
Boston, Massachusetts, Logan International Airport and Massachusetts Bay figure prominently in this photograph taken 255 miles above the Atlantic Ocean from the International Space Station on 17 June 2019. Photo: Flickr/NASA Johnson.
The International Space Station was orbiting off the coast of California when an Expedition 60 crewmember photographed San Francisco Bay, Treasure Island, Oakland and a cloud-covered San Francisco on 4 July 2019. Photo: Flickr/NASA Johnson.
Lake Isabella in California, pictured as the International Space Station orbited 256 miles above the Golden State, is a reservoir formed in 1953 when the Kern River was dammed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on 4 July 2019. Photo: Flickr/NASA Johnson.
The Orange River separates the nations of Namibia and South Africa as it flows into Alexander Bay on the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The International Space Station was on a southeastern orbital trek 262 miles above the African continent when an Expedition 60 crew member captured this Earth observation. 10 July 2019. Photo: Flickr/NASA Johnson.
The Canadarm2 robotic arm is positioned for upcoming training activities ahead of the arrival and capture of the SpaceX Dragon cargo craft. The International Space Station was orbiting 257 miles over Mongolia when an Expedition 60 crew member took this photograph on 12 July 2019. Photo: Flickr/NASA Johnson.
The Mediterranean coasts of Tunisia and Libya and the Italian island of Sicily across the sea are pictured as the International Space Station orbited 260 miles above north Africa. 26 July 2019. Photo: Flickr/NASA Johnson.

Also read – NASA’s new goal is to fill low Earth orbit with space habitats