Earth Day: Seeing Our Home Through an Astronaut’s Lens

Peeking through the scattered clouds over the North Pacific Ocean on September 19, 2014 are the eight major islands that comprise the archipelago of the Hawaiian Islands.

Peeking through the scattered clouds over the North Pacific Ocean on September 19, 2014 are the eight major islands that comprise the archipelago of the Hawaiian Islands.

Media Credit: Sally Ride EarthKAM

April 20, 2018 • By Libby, David

Our first of three Earth Day posts is contributed by guest author David Libby from TERC, which operates Windows on Earth. All images are courtesy of NASA.

“The first day or so we all pointed to our countries. The third or fourth day we were pointing to our continents. By the fifth day, we were aware of only one Earth.”

– Astronaut Sultan bin Salman Al-Saud

Orbiting the Earth once every 92 minutes at an altitude of 250 miles, the crew members onboard the International Space Station have a unique perspective of our home planet. They no longer see borders, but they do see the signs of humans on Earth.

They see Earth’s majesty,

I looked in awe and was rendered speechless by so much beauty.  Astronaut Reid Wiseman, ISS Expedition 40 41. Sicily and Italy at night.

“I looked in awe and was rendered speechless by so much beauty.” – Astronaut Reid Wiseman, ISS Expedition 40/41. Sicily and Italy at night.

Media Credit: Sally Ride EarthKAM

variety,

Oh my, tell me that doesnt look like a watercolor tray? The Earth surprises me with its beauty every day.  Astronaut Jack Fischer, ISS Expedition 51 52. Evaporation ponds in the Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA.

“Oh my, tell me that doesn’t look like a watercolor tray? The Earth surprises me with its beauty every day.” – Astronaut Jack Fischer, ISS Expedition 51/52. Evaporation ponds in the Great Salt Lake, Utah, USA.

Media Credit: Sally Ride EarthKAM

grandeur,

I know its naturebut put a frame on it and it wouldnt look out of place in an art gallery!  Astronaut Paolo Nespoli, ISS Expedition 52 53. Bechar Province, Algeria, Africa.

“I know it’s nature…but put a frame on it and it wouldn’t look out of place in an art gallery!” – Astronaut Paolo Nespoli, ISS Expedition 52/53. Bechar Province, Algeria, Africa.

Media Credit: Sally Ride EarthKAM

fragility,

Bahamas, the strokes of your watercolors are always a refreshing sight.  Astronaut Scott Kelly, ISS Expedition 43 44 45 46. Great Exuma Island, Bahamas. Zoom in on this photo to find an aircraft and its twin condensation trails.

“Bahamas, the strokes of your watercolors are always a refreshing sight.” – Astronaut Scott Kelly, ISS Expedition 43/44/45/46. Great Exuma Island, Bahamas. Zoom in on this photo to find an aircraft and its twin condensation trails.

Media Credit: Sally Ride EarthKAM

and subtlety.

The Ural Delta in the Caspian Sea looks like a tree leaf.  Astronaut Thomas Pesquet, ISS Expedition 50 51. Ural River Delta, Kazakhstan.

“The Ural Delta in the Caspian Sea looks like a tree leaf.” – Astronaut Thomas Pesquet, ISS Expedition 50/51. Ural River Delta, Kazakhstan.

Media Credit: Sally Ride EarthKAM

They see signs of humanity on the land . . .

Such a stark contrast between the dark desolate lifeless desert of northern Africa and the Nile River teeming with life along its shores. Doug Wheelock, ISS Expedition 24 25. The Nile River and Delta.

“Such a stark contrast between the dark desolate lifeless desert of northern Africa and the Nile River teeming with life along its shores.” Doug Wheelock, ISS Expedition 24/25. The Nile River and Delta.

Media Credit: Sally Ride EarthKAM

. . . and in the ocean.

A sea of green fishing boats lights up the night.  Astronaut Tim Peake, ISS Expedition 46 47. South China Sea.

“A sea of green fishing boats lights up the night.” – Astronaut Tim Peake, ISS Expedition 46/47. South China Sea.

Media Credit: Sally Ride EarthKAM

This Earth Day,

Let us remember the words of the first human to fly in space and treasure the gift we have been given.

“When I orbited the Earth in a spaceship, I saw for the first time how beautiful our planet is. Mankind, let us preserve and increase this beauty, and not destroy it!”

– Yuri Gregarin

The Atlas Mountains in North Africa.

The Atlas Mountains in North Africa.

Media Credit: Sally Ride EarthKAM