Earth from Space - Image Description

STS085-501-116 Mojave Desert, California, USA August 1997
The highly reflective features are dry lakes that are found in the valleys between the assorted mountains and numerous hills that make up this northern part of the Mojave Desert. Specific identifiable features in this synoptic scene include Harper Lake at the southwest edge of the image; Searles Lake (the whitish looking area on the picture--bottom center); and Death Valley (elongated valley near the northeast edge of the frame). The Panamint Mountains are the massive, rugged looking structure between Searles Lake and Death Valley. This frame of photography overlaps with STS085-501-114 in the vicinity of Harper Lake.

This service is provided by the International Space Station program and the JSC Earth Science & Remote Sensing Unit, ARES Division, Exploration Integration Science Directorate.