ISS059-E-75342
| NASA Photo ID | ISS059-E-75342 |
| Focal Length | 58mm |
| Date taken | 2019.05.25 |
| Time taken | 18:49:18 GMT |
5568 x 3712 pixels 720 x 480 pixels 5568 x 3712 pixels 640 x 427 pixels
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Sun Elevation Angle: | -32° |
Sun Azimuth: | 73° |
Camera: | NIKON D5 S/N: 3502516 |
Focal Length: | 58mm |
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| Additional Information | |
| Width | Height | Annotated | Cropped | Purpose | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5568 pixels | 3712 pixels | No | No | NASA's Earth Observatory web site | Download Image |
| 720 pixels | 480 pixels | No | 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 |
Sunlight begins to spill over Earth's horizon, the prelude to a new day over the Pacific Ocean. The limb presents a stark contrast between dawn on Earth and the blackness of space. Orbiting Earth approximately every 90 minutes, astronauts living and working on the International Space Station (ISS) see sixteen sunrises and sunsets every 24 hours.
The astronaut who took this photograph was also interested in a bright spot beyond Earth's limb: our celestial neighbor, Venus. Note that the orientation of the image is presented as the astronaut observed it, with Earth on the upper right.
Besides the Moon, Venus is the brightest natural solar system body that can be observed in our night sky. Venus is visible near Earth's horizon as the "evening star" (around sunset) for a few months; passes in front of the Sun (from our perspective), obscuring it from view for several weeks; becomes the "morning star" (around sunrise) for a few months; and then passes behind the Sun for a bit - a circuit that takes 19 months.
From Earth's surface, we are able to see Venus with our naked eyes even in areas of high ambient light (such as urban centers) if the weather conditions are clear. On the ISS, cosmic views are not affected by Earth's atmospheric conditions or urban lighting. However, the station's trajectory, attitude, and structures such as solar panels or visiting spacecraft can hinder a clear line of sight.
In 2012, another astronaut onboard the Space Station took photos of the transit of Venus - when the planet crossed the face of the Sun from Earth's perspective. Such rare transits can only be viewed from Earth twice a century. The next viewing opportunity will occur in 2117.
