Layers of Earth’s atmosphere, brightly colored as the sun rises over central Asia, and Polar Mesospheric Clouds (also known as noctilucent clouds) are featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 17 crewmember on the International Space Station. The image was acquired in support of International Polar Year research.

Image credit: NASA

Read full caption:
spaceflight.nasa.gov/gallery/images/station/crew-17/html/…

More about the Crew Earth Observation experiment aboard the International Space Station:
www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/science/experiments/CE…

More about space station science:
www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/science/index.html

I’m starting a new Flickr group about Space Station Science. Please feel welcome to join! www.flickr.com/groups/stationscience/

By: NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center