Space

Fifteen of the most breathtaking photos of Earth from the International Space Station

Massachusetts’ Cape Cod, in the US, has its foundations in glaciers from 20,000 years ago.
Massachusetts’ Cape Cod, in the US, has its foundations in glaciers from 20,000 years ago.
Image: Courtesy NASA
By
Thu-Huong Ha
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Nothing is quite as humbling as the sight of Earth from above. Viewed from the International Space Station, areas of disputed land shrink to tiny cracks, while entire nations are no bigger than quarters.

Take a look for yourself, in this collection of NASA’s favorite space photos from 2015, released last month (Dec. 28).

1. Thunderstorms, northwest Mexico

A red sprite above the white light of an active thunderstorm (image top left). Expedition 44: August 10, 2015
A red sprite above the white light of an active thunderstorm (image top left). Expedition 44: August 10, 2015
Image: Courtesy of NASA.

2. Aquaculture, northeast China

A grid pattern of fish farms on the coast of China’s northeast province of Liaoning. Expedition 44: September 6, 2015
A grid pattern of fish farms on the coast of China’s northeast province of Liaoning. Expedition 44: September 6, 2015
Image: Courtesy of NASA.

3. India-Pakistan border at night

Nighttime panorama looking north across Pakistan’s Indus River valley. Expedition 45: September 23, 2015
Nighttime panorama looking north across Pakistan’s Indus River valley. Expedition 45: September 23, 2015
Image: Courtesy of NASA.

4. Lake Chad and a Sahara dust plume

The arid landscapes of the Sahara and the darker vegetation of the wetter, semi-arid woodland known as the Sahel. Expedition 42: February 2, 2015.
The arid landscapes of the Sahara and the darker vegetation of the wetter, semi-arid woodland known as the Sahel. Expedition 42: February 2, 2015.
Image: Courtesy of NASA

5. Volcanoes and vortices, Hawaii

Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano (image left) with the long swirls of volcanic gases (top half of the image) wafting west from the volcano. Expedition 42: February 8, 2015.
Hawaii’s Kilauea volcano (image left) with the long swirls of volcanic gases (top half of the image) wafting west from the volcano. Expedition 42: February 8, 2015.
Image: Courtesy of NASA

6. Sierra Nevada de ​Santa Marta, Colombia

A dramatic view of the many peaks of Colombia’s Santa Marta massif. Expedition 42: February 27, 2015.
A dramatic view of the many peaks of Colombia’s Santa Marta massif. Expedition 42: February 27, 2015.
Image: Courtesy of NASA

7. Scandinavia at night

Southern Scandinavia just before midnight under a full moon. Expedition 43: April 3, 2015.
Southern Scandinavia just before midnight under a full moon. Expedition 43: April 3, 2015.
Image: Courtesy of NASA

8. Brown water, Argentina

The eye-catching delta and green swamps of the Paraná River (image left) on the Atlantic coast of Argentina. Expedition 43: April 6, 2015.
The eye-catching delta and green swamps of the Paraná River (image left) on the Atlantic coast of Argentina. Expedition 43: April 6, 2015.
Image: Courtesy of NASA

9. Rivers and snow in the Himalayas, China and India

The Himalaya range, near the China–India border, where peaks cast strong evening shadows on the snow. Expedition 43: April 8, 2015.
The Himalaya range, near the China–India border, where peaks cast strong evening shadows on the snow. Expedition 43: April 8, 2015.
Image: Courtesy of NASA

10. Laguna Colorada, Bolivia

The brightly colored Laguna Colorada, unique in this part of the Bolivian Andes Mountains. Expedition 43: April 16, 2015.
The brightly colored Laguna Colorada, unique in this part of the Bolivian Andes Mountains. Expedition 43: April 16, 2015.
Image: Courtesy of NASA.

11. Adele Island, northwest Australia

A tiny island with many concentric zones around it. Adele Island, off Australia’s north coast. Expedition 44: June 11, 2015.
A tiny island with many concentric zones around it. Adele Island, off Australia’s north coast. Expedition 44: June 11, 2015.
Image: Courtesy of NASA.

12. Salt Ponds, western Australia

Coastal lagoons with numerous rounded islands are typical of the Indian Ocean coastline of Western Australia. Expedition 44: June 11, 2015.
Coastal lagoons with numerous rounded islands are typical of the Indian Ocean coastline of Western Australia. Expedition 44: June 11, 2015.
Image: Courtesy of NASA.

13. Cape Cod, Massachusetts

The northern tip of Cape Cod—showing 8.5 miles (14 km) of its 65-mile (105 km) length. Expedition 44: June 13, 2015.
The northern tip of Cape Cod—showing 8.5 miles (14 km) of its 65-mile (105 km) length. Expedition 44: June 13, 2015.
Image: Courtesy of NASA.

14. The port of Sfax, Tunisia

The radiating street pattern of Tunisia’s second city and major port of Sfax (population ~900,000), which also hosts Tunisia’s largest fishing fleet. For scale the fishing port is 1.1 km long. Expedition 44: June 19, 2015.
The radiating street pattern of Tunisia’s second city and major port of Sfax (population ~900,000), which also hosts Tunisia’s largest fishing fleet. For scale the fishing port is 1.1 km long. Expedition 44: June 19, 2015.
Image: Courtesy of NASA.

15. Flooding on the Mekong River floodplain, Thailand and Laos

The Mekong River on the border between Thailand and Laos. Expedition 44: August 8, 2015.
The Mekong River on the border between Thailand and Laos. Expedition 44: August 8, 2015.
Image: Courtesy of NASA.