ISS066-E-98996
| NASA Photo ID | ISS066-E-98996 |
| Focal Length | 78mm |
| Date taken | 2021.12.29 |
| Time taken | 16:13:27 GMT |
5568 x 3712 pixels 720 x 480 pixels 5568 x 3712 pixels 640 x 427 pixels
Photo center point: 48.5° N, 123.0° W
Photo center point by machine learning:
Country or Geographic Name: | USA-WASHINGTON |
Features: | OLYMPIC NATIONAL PARK, VICTORIA, VANCOUVER, ANACORTES, SAN JUAN ISLAND, LOPEZ ISLAND, ORCAS ISLAND, BELLINGHAM |
| Features Found Using Machine Learning: | |
Cloud Cover Percentage: | 25 (11-25)% |
Sun Elevation Angle: | 2° |
Sun Azimuth: | 128° |
Camera: | Nikon D5 Electronic Still Camera |
Focal Length: | 78mm |
Camera Tilt: | 32 degrees |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5568 pixels | 3712 pixels | No | No | Download Image | |
| 720 pixels | 480 pixels | Yes | No | Download Image | |
| 5568 pixels | 3712 pixels | No | No | Download Image | |
| 640 pixels | 427 pixels | No | No | Download Image |
While the people of the Pacific Northwest were waking up to freshly fallen snow, an astronaut photographed this sunrise view of the state of Washington (United States) and the province of British Columbia (Canada). Cities, towns, and islands around the Salish Sea were blanketed in snow. Clouds and mountain peaks were illuminated by the rising Sun's warm hues.
Winter had officially arrived that week in the Pacific Northwest, with temperatures in some areas dipping to 17 degrees Fahrenheit (-8.3 degrees Celsius) and setting new record lows. The blast of cold and snow followed several rainy fall months.
In the photo, various hues of grey and white provide an outline for the rivers, city grid structures, and coastlines. The Olympic and Coast Mountains bracket the urbanized area, with darker mountain valleys standing out against the snow.
Haro Strait acts as a boundary between Washington's San Juan Islands and the mostly cloud-covered Vancouver Island of Canada. This major shipping channel connects the Strait of Georgia and Strait of Juan de Fuca, both of which are part of the Salish Sea. Puget Sound leads south to the Seattle area (just out of the frame). These water bodies help support local and international economies by providing trading access for various goods and tourist attractions such as whale watching.
