ISS027-E-6501

Browse image
Resolutions offered for this image:
1000 x 665 pixels 540 x 359 pixels 720 x 480 pixels 4256 x 2913 pixels 640 x 438 pixels
Cloud masks available for this image:
Binary Heatmap

Spacecraft nadir point: 29.6° N, 130.4° W

Photo center point: 36.0° N, 134.0° W

Photo center point by machine learning:

Nadir to Photo Center: Northwest

Spacecraft Altitude: 188 nautical miles (348km)
Click for a map
Width Height Annotated Cropped Purpose Links
1000 pixels 665 pixels No Yes Earth From Space collection Download Image
540 pixels 359 pixels Yes Yes Earth From Space collection Download Image
720 pixels 480 pixels Yes Yes NASA's Earth Observatory web site Download Image
4256 pixels 2913 pixels No No Download Image
640 pixels 438 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
Image Caption: Low Pressure System in View, Eastern North Pacific

From one of the six trapezoidal windows in the International Space Station (ISS) cupola, the astronauts have a field of view covering an area equal to the length of California, and as wide as from the California coast to central Colorado. The cyclonic vortex visible in this image from the cupola occurred within a large area of low pressure over the eastern north Pacific extending along the entire coast of California to Vancouver Island, Canada.

This vigorous low pressure system is located to the south of a weaker system (see image ISS027-E-6500), and has started to occlude--a process associated with separation of warm air from the cyclone's center at the Earth's surface. This image shows the arc of strong convection beyond the center of the low pressure, formed as the low occludes when the cold front overtakes the warm front. This occurs around more mature low pressure areas, later in the process of the system's life-cycle.

The cupola is a panoramic control center for the ISS; it is a dome-shaped module with windows designed for observing and guiding robotic operations outside of the Station. Part of one of the ISS solar panel arrays is visible outside the cupola at image upper left. The 360 degree view not only provides viewing for operating the robotic workstation but also for observing the Earth and celestial bodies.