An astronaut at the Global House Station took this {photograph} on November 25, 2024, whilst orbiting over Quebec, Canada. As an alternative of taking a look directly down on the province, the astronaut pointed the digital camera towards the Moon.
On the time, daylight illuminated 27 p.c of the waning crescent Moon. That’s the similar lunar section visual that day to other folks on Earth’s floor. Those views are equivalent for the reason that house station’s distance from Earth is negligible in comparison to its distance from the Moon.
On the other hand, there are some notable variations between ground- and station-based observations of the Moon. For the reason that house station orbits Earth at a fast 28,200 kilometers (17,500 miles) consistent with hour, astronauts witness many extra moonrises and moonsets (and sunrises and sunsets)—16 of each and every in a 24-hour length.
Additionally, astronauts see the Moon with out the obvious shape- and color-changing results of Earth’s surroundings and with out clouds to doubtlessly block the view. At the day that this photograph was once taken, clouds lined a lot of Quebec, together with the bottom without delay underneath the station.
Because the time of this symbol, the Moon has finished an orbit round Earth and entered a waxing crescent section by way of New 12 months’s Day 2025. In combination, the Moon and Earth start every other adventure across the Solar.
Astronaut {photograph} ISS072-E-277954 was once bought on November 25, 2024, with a Nikon Z9 virtual digital camera the usage of a focal duration of 500 millimeters. It’s supplied by way of the ISS Group Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Far off Sensing Unit, Johnson House Middle. The picture was once taken by way of a member of the Expedition 72 team. The picture has been cropped and enhanced to beef up distinction, and lens artifacts were got rid of. The Global House Station Program helps the laboratory as a part of the ISS Nationwide Lab to assist astronauts take photos of Earth that will probably be of the best price to scientists and the general public, and to make the ones pictures freely to be had at the Web. Further pictures taken by way of astronauts and cosmonauts can also be seen on the NASA/JSC Gateway to Astronaut Images of Earth. Tale by way of Kathryn Hansen.