| ISS001 Earth Sciences and Image Analysis Photographic Highlights |
| TOP PICKS |
| Click here to view the complete online collection of astronaut photography of Earth >> |
| ISS001-E-5316 |
 ISS001-E-5316 Click the photo number to access all resolutions available and the database record. |
| Popocatepetl from the Space Station: Popocatépetl, or Popo,
the active volcano located about 70 km southeast of Mexico City,
sends a plume south on January 23, 2001. The astronaut crew on the
International Space Station Alpha observed and recorded this image as
they orbited to the northeast of the volcano. Popo has been
frequently active for six years. On this day, the eruption plume
reportedly rose to more than 9 km above sea level [for reference,
Popo’s summit elevation is 5426 m (17,800 feet)]. Note the smaller
ash plume below the main plume. The perspective from the ISS allowed
the astronauts this unique 3 dimensional view. Popo is situated between two large population centers: Mexico City (more than 18 million people, and just off the image to the right) and Puebla (about 1.2 million people). The region’s dense population provides the potential for extreme impacts from volcanic hazards. Recent eruptions have been frequent, and have resulted in evacuations around the mountain. |
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This service is provided by the International Space Station program and the JSC Astromaterials Research & Exploration Science Directorate. Recommended Citation: Image Science and Analysis Laboratory, NASA-Johnson Space Center. "The Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth." . |
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