ISS034-E-24622
| NASA Photo ID | ISS034-E-24622 |
| Focal Length | 400mm |
| Date taken | 2013.01.05 |
| Time taken | 10:20:38 GMT |
Resolutions offered for this image:
1000 x 665 pixels 540 x 359 pixels 1443 x 960 pixels 720 x 480 pixels 4256 x 2832 pixels 640 x 426 pixels
1000 x 665 pixels 540 x 359 pixels 1443 x 960 pixels 720 x 480 pixels 4256 x 2832 pixels 640 x 426 pixels
Cloud masks available for this image:
Spacecraft nadir point: 51.4° S, 163.3° W
Photo center point:
Photo center point by machine learning:
Photo center point:
Photo center point by machine learning:
Nadir to Photo Center:
Spacecraft Altitude: 229 nautical miles (424km)
Country or Geographic Name: | PACIFIC OCEAN |
Features: | NOCTILUCENT CLOUDS, ATMOSPHERE LIMB |
| Features Found Using Machine Learning: | PAN- |
Cloud Cover Percentage: | 75 (51-75)% |
Sun Elevation Angle: | -16° |
Sun Azimuth: | 189° |
Camera: | Nikon D3S Electronic Still Camera |
Focal Length: | 400mm |
Camera Tilt: | High Oblique |
Format: | 4256E: 4256 x 2832 pixel CMOS sensor, 36.0mm x 23.9mm, total pixels: 12.87 million, Nikon FX format |
Film Exposure: | |
| Additional Information | |
| Width | Height | Annotated | Cropped | Purpose | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1000 pixels | 665 pixels | No | Yes | Earth From Space collection | Download Image |
| 540 pixels | 359 pixels | No | Yes | Earth From Space collection | Download Image |
| 1443 pixels | 960 pixels | No | Yes | NASA's Earth Observatory web site | Download Image |
| 720 pixels | 480 pixels | No | No | NASA's Earth Observatory web site | Download Image |
| 4256 pixels | 2832 pixels | No | No | Download Image | |
| 640 pixels | 426 pixels | No | No | Download Image |
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Image Caption: Polar Mesospheric Clouds, South Pacific Ocean
Polar mesospheric clouds--also known as noctilucent, or "night shining" clouds--are formed 76 to 85 kilometers above the Earth's surface near the mesosphere-thermosphere boundary of the atmosphere, a region known as the mesopause. At these altitudes, water vapor can freeze into clouds of ice crystals. When the Sun is below the horizon such that the ground is in darkness, these high clouds may still be illuminated--lending them their ethereal, "night shining" qualities.
Noctilucent clouds have been observed from all human vantage points in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres - from the surface, in aircraft, and in orbit from the International Space Station (ISS)--and tend to be most visible during the late spring and early summer seasons. Polar mesospheric clouds also are of interest to scientists studying the atmosphere. While some scientists seek to understand their mechanisms of formation, others have identified them as potential indicators of atmospheric changes resulting from increases in greenhouse gas concentrations.
This astronaut photograph was taken when the ISS was over the Pacific Ocean south of French Polynesia. While most polar mesospheric cloud images are taken from the ISS with relatively short focal length lens to maximize the field of view, this image was taken with a long lens (400 mm) allowing for additional detail of the cloud forms to be seen. Below the brightly-lit noctilucent clouds in the center of the image, the pale orange band indicates the stratosphere.
Polar mesospheric clouds--also known as noctilucent, or "night shining" clouds--are formed 76 to 85 kilometers above the Earth's surface near the mesosphere-thermosphere boundary of the atmosphere, a region known as the mesopause. At these altitudes, water vapor can freeze into clouds of ice crystals. When the Sun is below the horizon such that the ground is in darkness, these high clouds may still be illuminated--lending them their ethereal, "night shining" qualities.
Noctilucent clouds have been observed from all human vantage points in both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres - from the surface, in aircraft, and in orbit from the International Space Station (ISS)--and tend to be most visible during the late spring and early summer seasons. Polar mesospheric clouds also are of interest to scientists studying the atmosphere. While some scientists seek to understand their mechanisms of formation, others have identified them as potential indicators of atmospheric changes resulting from increases in greenhouse gas concentrations.
This astronaut photograph was taken when the ISS was over the Pacific Ocean south of French Polynesia. While most polar mesospheric cloud images are taken from the ISS with relatively short focal length lens to maximize the field of view, this image was taken with a long lens (400 mm) allowing for additional detail of the cloud forms to be seen. Below the brightly-lit noctilucent clouds in the center of the image, the pale orange band indicates the stratosphere.
