ISS061-E-92131

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NASA Photo ID

ISS061-E-92131

Focal Length

500mm

Date taken

2019.12.16

Time taken

11:16:06 GMT

Resolutions offered for this image:
720 x 480 pixels 5568 x 3712 pixels 640 x 427 pixels

Cloud masks available for this image:
Binary Heatmap

Map Location
Image Details
Camera Information
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Spacecraft nadir point: 28.9° N, 78.1° E

Photo center point: 27.7° N, 88.1° E

Photo center point by machine learning:

Nadir to Photo Center: East

Spacecraft Altitude: 223 nautical miles (413km)

Country or Geographic Name:

NEPAL

Features:

KANGCHENJUNGA, LELEP, YALUNG GLACIER

Features Found Using Machine Learning:

Cloud Cover Percentage:

50 (26-50)%

Sun Elevation Angle:

6°

Sun Azimuth:

239°

Camera:

Nikon D5 Electronic Still Camera

Focal Length:

500mm

Camera Tilt:

High Oblique

Format:

5568E: 5568 x 3712 pixel CMOS sensor, 35.9 x 23.9 mm, total pixels: 21.33 million, Nikon FX format

Film Exposure:

Additional Information

Width	Height	Annotated	Cropped	Purpose	Links
720 pixels	480 pixels	Yes	Yes	NASA's Earth Observatory web site	Download Image
5568 pixels	3712 pixels	No	No		Download Image
640 pixels	427 pixels	No	No		Download Image

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Image Caption: Sunlit Peaks in the Himalayas

As the International Space Station (ISS) was traveling over India towards the day-night terminator, an astronaut shot this photograph of Earth's third-highest summit, Kangchenjunga, and its surrounding peaks warmly lit by the setting Sun. With the Sun low in the sky, the light was passing through more atmosphere, which scatters it towards the red end of the visible spectrum.

Kangchenjunga rises more than 8500 meters (28,000 feet) above sea level. It stands in eastern Nepal near the border with India and about 120 kilometers (75 miles) east-southeast of Mount Everest. The apex of Kangchenjunga is surrounded by valley glaciers, some of which (like Yalung) are discernible in the shadows of this image. Just out of reach of the Sun's rays, a deck of low-lying clouds lingers over the valley floors.

Thirteen other mountain peaks on Earth rise higher than 8000 meters (26,000 feet). These are known by mountaineers and climbers as the "eight-thousanders." Oblique views such as this one give the dauntingly dangerous terrain a three-dimensional appearance and depth.