Lights, Snow, and Clouds: A View of Winter From Space

Tuesday - March 26 2024, 20:33 UTC - 8 months ago

An astronaut aboard the International Space Station captured a stunning image of a wintery scene in eastern Canada. This photo shows a unique perspective of our planet, featuring snow, clouds, and city lights.

Looking down on Earth from the International Space Station, an astronaut captured an amazing view of a wintery scene in the northern hemisphere. The image, taken on January 1, 2024, shows a perspective that few people have the opportunity to see.  .

From this vantage point, we can see parts of eastern Canada, with two provinces and a territory visible in the image. Thin clouds cover the Atlantic Ocean, while clearer skies prevail over the land. The lights from small settlements dot the landscape, and rivers flow towards the coast.  .

Toward the edge of Earth's horizon, the coast of Greenland can be seen, a reminder of the vastness of our planet. Beneath the clouds, we can see the lights of larger cities, such as Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador in Canada.  .

But the most striking aspect of this image is the winter weather. The ground is covered in a layer of white, as snow blankets the landscape. Above, the atmosphere is filled with thin layers of clouds, casting a soft glow over the Earth.  .

One standout feature in this image is Mistastin Lake, a body of water that sits in the depression of an impact crater. This location serves as a training site for astronauts, where they learn about geology and practice techniques for exploring other planets.  .

This photograph was taken with a digital camera by a member of the Expedition 70 crew on New Year's Day. The image was then enhanced and cropped to improve contrast and remove any lens artifacts. It is thanks to the ISS National Lab that these images can be shared with the public, allowing us to see our planet in a whole new light.  .