Earth from Space - Image Description

The Many Faces of Mount Everest:
Space is a good place to ponder the world's extremes and nature's variability. For example, photographing the highest point on the planet is a favorite target (and a long-standing challenge) for astronauts orbiting the Earth. Despite Everest's planetary stature, it is not an easy peak to locate while zipping over the mountains at 7 kilometers per second.

Over the years, astronauts have used various viewing angles and lenses to capture the many faces of Everest. Differing seasons and illumination allow for very different, but always spectacular perspectives. The current astronauts on the International Space Station obtained this view of Mt. Everest in late November 2003.

This service is provided by the International Space Station program and the JSC Earth Science & Remote Sensing Unit, ARES Division, Exploration Integration Science Directorate.