ISS044-E-18893

Browse image
Resolutions offered for this image:
1000 x 666 pixels 540 x 360 pixels 4928 x 3280 pixels 720 x 480 pixels 720 x 480 pixels 4928 x 3280 pixels 640 x 426 pixels
Cloud masks available for this image:
Binary Heatmap

Spacecraft nadir point: 23.9° N, 75.8° W

Photo center point: 23.5° N, 75.9° W

Photo center point by machine learning:

Nadir to Photo Center: South

Spacecraft Altitude: 216 nautical miles (400km)
Click for a map
Width Height Annotated Cropped Purpose Links
1000 pixels 666 pixels No No Earth From Space collection Download Image
540 pixels 360 pixels Yes No Earth From Space collection Download Image
4928 pixels 3280 pixels No No NASA's Earth Observatory web site Download Image
720 pixels 480 pixels Yes No NASA's Earth Observatory web site Download Image
720 pixels 480 pixels Yes Yes NASA's Earth Observatory web site Download Image
4928 pixels 3280 pixels No No Download Image
640 pixels 426 pixels No No Download Image
Other options available:
Download Packaged File
Download a Google Earth KML for this Image
View photo footprint information
Download a GeoTIFF for this photo
Georeferenced by human interaction - exported 2016-08-17-011051-UTC
Georeferenced by human interaction - exported 2016-08-24-020537-UTC
Georeferenced by human interaction - exported 2018-01-16-171852-UTC
An explanation of the georeference file(s) above
Image Caption: Great Exuma Island, Bahamas

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station took this detailed image of small island cays in the tropical waters of the Bahamas, with the prominent tidal channels cutting between them. The string of cays--14.24 km, 8.9 mi) shown in the image--extends west from Great Exuma Island (outside the image right). Great Exuma is known for being remote from the bigger islands of The Bahamas, with privately owned cays as celebrity get-aways, and real pirates such as Captain Kidd in its history.

Small tidal changes on the banks cause great quantities of water to flow daily through the narrow channels between the cays, first in one direction and then the other. The darker blue sections are the deepest parts of the channels where the water flow has cut through the rock ridge that makes the line of cays. The surrounding water is so shallow (less than 25 m, 80 feet) it appears as a light blue. For astronauts this is one of the most recognizable points on the planet.

The image is so detailed that a single aircraft can be seen in the high resolution image trailing twin condensation trails (arrow).