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NEW ORLEANS (WGNO) – The International Space Station (ISS) has provided us with some of the most breathtaking views of our planet due to its location in low-earth orbit. At an altitude of 249 miles, the ISS can show us the beauty in a simple thunderstorm or the progress of man through city lights.

NASA released four seemingly routine images yesterday showing thunderstorms and geographic features such as the Sinai Peninsula, Italian Peninsula and the Straight of Gibraltar. While routine for NASA, the beauty of these photos offers us a perspective of our planet the vast majority of us will never see in person. So sit back and enjoy our planet at night from an astronaut’s point of view.

Courtesy: NASA.gov
Nighttime Thunderstorms Seen from the ISS Courtesy: NASA.gov

 

Moon's Reflection off of the Italian Peninsula and the Mediterranean Sea Courtesy: NASA.gov
Moon’s Reflection off of the Italian Peninsula and the Mediterranean Sea
Courtesy: NASA.gov

 

Sinai Peninsula, Nile River and Israel from the ISS Courtesy: NASA.gov
Sinai Peninsula, Nile River and Israel from the ISS
Courtesy: NASA.gov
Straight of Gibraltar from the ISS Courtesy: NASA.gov
Straight of Gibraltar from the ISS
Courtesy: NASA.gov