Holy men who met their unholy ends
The remarkable photographs captured in space by astronauts on board orbiting space shuttles and the International Space Station provide a fresh perspective of our planet. These images depict countries and continents with astonishing clarity, showcasing cities and natural marvels in sharp detail. Moreover, they offer a captivating glimpse into weather patterns and atmospheric phenomena, often revealing astonishing and occasionally unsettling features. And in addition to our own planet, these images unveil stunning close-ups of the sun and the moon.
Take a voyage through this gallery to explore a breathtaking assortment of photographs taken beyond the boundaries of our world.
A satellite image shows Hurricane Milton progressing before its expected landfall in Florida, in the Gulf of Mexico, in 2024.
The 2016 eruption of Mount Pavlof occurred in the Aleutian Range on the Alaska Peninsula, roughly 1,005 km (625 mi) southwest of Anchorage.
Ash spews out of El Salvador's Chaparrastique volcano during a 2013 eruption.
Seen after dark, the Iberian Peninsula simply sparkles, illuminating Spain and Portugal in high definition.
This NASA photo taken by the International Space Station (ISS) in 2016 captures a winter storm impacting the US East Coast.
Hawaii's Big Island is seen anchored in a deep blue Pacific Ocean.
The sun rises magnificently from beyond the Earth's horizon.
The northern lights, also called the aurora borealis, are caused by high-energy particles that are emitted from the sun in two ways: by a steady flow of solar wind; and as a result of coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which are the result of massive solar eruptions.
Typhoon Maysak is pictured in 2015 gaining strength to a frightening Category 5 hurricane.
The River Nile and Sinai Peninsula pictured in astonishing clarity.
A wide view capturing a significant portion of the Red Sea and a dust plume emerging from Egypt and moving towards Saudi Arabia.
In 2015 the coast of Mexico braced for the arrival of Hurricane Patricia, a Category 5 monster.
Lake Ontario colored by plankton blooms during the late summer of 2013.
A tell-tale plume of smoke emerges from Lower Manhattan, New York City, on September 11, 2001.
An ink-black crescent moon emerges over the cusp the Earth's atmosphere.
A huge expanse of ocean reflecting sunlight. About 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by water.
The International Space Station passed over Nebraska in 2012, to be met by the shimmering aurora borealis over the US Midwest.
The Earth is pictured as it transitions into the orange-hued troposphere. Lending perspective is the moon.
From this lofty elevation, Finger Lakes in New York appear as shredded paper.
The space shuttle Endeavour is pictured in 2011 docked with the International Space Station.
In 2012 the International Space Station appeared to make a spectacular flypast over the moon.
A shooting star is captured in a photograph taken by astronaut Ron Garan on the ISS in 2011.
Washington, D.C. is depicted in this photo, with Andrews Air Force Base visible in the lower left of the frame.
The International Space Station looms above the space shuttle Discovery, itself seen over Morocco's southwestern coast in this incredible 2011 image.
The Iranian city of Shiraz, situated in the southwest of the country.
The immensity of Siberia's Lake Baikal can be admired from this impressive point of view.
The unique beauty of a group of small islands and the meandering channels that separate them resembles abstract art.
A view of sunrise over our planet enjoyed by the crew of the International Space Station in 2016.
In 2011, the space shuttle Atlantis was captured in a photo above the Bahamas as it prepared to dock with the International Space Station. The image also includes part of the Russian Progress spacecraft, already docked with the station.
The silhouette of the International Space Station is visible as it passes in front of the sun, moving at approximately five miles per second.
In 2005, astronaut Stephen K. Robinson was secured by a foot restraint on the Canadarm2 of the International Space Station.
Earthrise. The iconic view of Earth emerging above the Lunar horizon as seen from the Apollo 11 Command Module as it approached the moon in 1969.
In 2017 NASA released a fantastic composite image showing the night sky in the entire western hemisphere.
See also: Mysterious moons of our solar system
Earth seen from space and other amazing celestial snapshots
Photographs captured by astronauts reveal incredible out of this world imagery
LIFESTYLE Earth
The remarkable photographs captured in space by astronauts on board orbiting space shuttles and the International Space Station provide a fresh perspective of our planet. These images depict countries and continents with astonishing clarity, showcasing cities and natural marvels in sharp detail. Moreover, they offer a captivating glimpse into weather patterns and atmospheric phenomena, often revealing astonishing and occasionally unsettling features. And in addition to our own planet, these images unveil stunning close-ups of the sun and the moon.
Take a voyage through this gallery to explore a breathtaking assortment of photographs taken beyond the boundaries of our world.