Photo #: ISS003-E-5120 Date: Aug. 2001 Geographic Region: EGYPT Feature: GIZA, PYRAMIDS |
Space Station view of the Pyramids at Giza One of the world's most famous archaeological sites has been photographed in amazing detail by the astronauts onboard Space Station Alpha. This image, taken 15 August, 2001, represents the greatest detail of the Giza plateau captured from a human-occupied spacecraft (approximate 7 m resolution). Afternoon sun casts shadows that help the eye make out the large pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure. Sets of three smaller queens' pyramids can be seen to the east of the Pyramid of Khufu and south of the Pyramid of Menkaure. The light-colored causeway stretching from the Mortuary Temple at the Pyramid of Khafre to the Valley Temple near the Sphinx (arrow) can also be seen. Because it is not tall enough to cast a deep shadow, the Sphinx itself cannot readily be distinguished. Although some commercial satellites, such as IKONOS, have imaged the Pyramids at Giza in greater detail (1 m resolution), this image highlights the potential of the International Space Station as a remote sensing platform. A commercial digital camera without space modifications was used to obtain this picture. Similarly, a variety of remote sensing instruments developed for use on aircraft can potentially be used from the Space Station. |
Images: | All Available Images Low-Resolution 37k |
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Mission: | ISS003 |
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Roll - Frame: | E - 5120 |
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Geographical Name: | EGYPT |
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Features: | GIZA, PYRAMIDS |
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Center Lat x Lon: | 30.0N x 31.0E |
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Film Exposure: | N=Normal exposure, U=Under exposed, O=Over exposed, F=out of Focus |
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Percentage of Cloud Cover-CLDP: | 10 |
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Camera:: | E2 |
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Camera Tilt: | LO=Low Oblique, HO=High Oblique, NV=Near Vertical |
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Camera Focal Length: | 800 |
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Nadir to Photo Center Direction: | The direction from the nadir to the center point, N=North, S=South, E=East, W=West |
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Stereo?: | Y=Yes there is an adjacent picture of the same area, N=No there isn't |
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Orbit Number: | 3636 |
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Date: | 20010815 | YYYYMMDD |
Time: | 12____ | GMT HHMMSS |
Nadir Lat: | N |
Latitude of suborbital point of spacecraft |
Nadir Lon: | E |
Longitude of suborbital point of spacecraft |
Sun Azimuth: | 248 | Clockwise angle in degrees from north to the sun measured at the nadir point |
Space Craft Altitude: | 205 | nautical miles |
Sun Elevation: | 57 | Angle in degrees between the horizon and the sun, measured at the nadir point |
Land Views: | PLATEAU |
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Water Views: | |
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Atmosphere Views: | |
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Man Made Views: | PYRAMID |
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City Views: | |
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Photo is not associated with any sequences |
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