< ISS027-E-9771 >
| NASA Photo ID | ISS027-E-9771 |
| Focal Length | 800mm |
| Date taken | 2011.04.02 |
| Time taken | 10:31:47 GMT |
Resolutions offered for this image:
1000 x 664 pixels 540 x 359 pixels 720 x 480 pixels 4288 x 2929 pixels 640 x 437 pixels
1000 x 664 pixels 540 x 359 pixels 720 x 480 pixels 4288 x 2929 pixels 640 x 437 pixels
Spacecraft nadir point: 24.2° S, 42.0° E
Photo center point: 21.5° S, 39.7° E
Photo center point by machine learning:
Photo center point: 21.5° S, 39.7° E
Photo center point by machine learning:
Nadir to Photo Center: Northwest
Spacecraft Altitude: 192 nautical miles (356km)
Country or Geographic Name: | INDIAN OCEAN I(S). |
Features: | BASSAS DA INDIA, SUNGLINT, ATOLL |
| Features Found Using Machine Learning: | |
Cloud Cover Percentage: | 10 (1-10)% |
Sun Elevation Angle: | 56° |
Sun Azimuth: | 325° |
Camera: | Nikon D2Xs Electronic Still Camera |
Focal Length: | 800mm |
Camera Tilt: | 48 degrees |
Format: | 4288E: 4288 x 2848 pixel CMOS sensor, RGBG imager color filter |
Film Exposure: | |
| Additional Information | |
| Width | Height | Annotated | Cropped | Purpose | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 pixels | 664 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 | No | NASA's Earth Observatory web site | Download Image |
| 4288 pixels | 2929 pixels | No | No | Download Image | |
| 640 pixels | 437 pixels | No | No | Download Image |
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No GeoTIFF is available for this photo.Image Caption: Bassas da India in Sunglint, Indian Ocean
The vantage point of astronauts on board the International Space Station provides many dramatic views of the Earth's surface. Occasionally those views become spectacular. This detailed astronaut photograph of the Bassas da India, an uninhabited atoll in the Indian Ocean (between the Mozambique coast of Africa and the island of Madagascar) has an almost surreal quality due to varying degrees of sunglint. Sunglint is an optical phenomena caused by light reflecting off of a water surface directly back towards the observer.
Variations in the roughness of the water surface--presence or absence of waves due to wind and water currents-- will cause differences in the intensity of the sunglint. The presence of other materials, such as oils or surfactants, can also change the properties of the water surface. Here the presence of currents is highlighted as darker patches or streaks (image left, image upper right). In contrast, shallow water in the lagoon (image center) presents a more uniform, mirror-like appearance in sunglint suggesting that there are no subsurface currents present. Wave crests visible around the atoll are likely the result of both surface winds and subsurface currents.
The Bassas da India atoll is part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands. It is uninhabited due to its complete submergence during high tide - there is no vegetation established on the atoll for the same reason. The atoll is approximately 10 km in diameter, and covers an area (including the lagoon) of approximately 80 square kilometers.
The vantage point of astronauts on board the International Space Station provides many dramatic views of the Earth's surface. Occasionally those views become spectacular. This detailed astronaut photograph of the Bassas da India, an uninhabited atoll in the Indian Ocean (between the Mozambique coast of Africa and the island of Madagascar) has an almost surreal quality due to varying degrees of sunglint. Sunglint is an optical phenomena caused by light reflecting off of a water surface directly back towards the observer.
Variations in the roughness of the water surface--presence or absence of waves due to wind and water currents-- will cause differences in the intensity of the sunglint. The presence of other materials, such as oils or surfactants, can also change the properties of the water surface. Here the presence of currents is highlighted as darker patches or streaks (image left, image upper right). In contrast, shallow water in the lagoon (image center) presents a more uniform, mirror-like appearance in sunglint suggesting that there are no subsurface currents present. Wave crests visible around the atoll are likely the result of both surface winds and subsurface currents.
The Bassas da India atoll is part of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands. It is uninhabited due to its complete submergence during high tide - there is no vegetation established on the atoll for the same reason. The atoll is approximately 10 km in diameter, and covers an area (including the lagoon) of approximately 80 square kilometers.
