NASA. LARGE FORMAT. Spectacular sunset over the Indian Ocean - Lot 286

NASA. LARGE FORMAT. Spectacular sunset over the Indian Ocean photographed by the crew of the International Space Station (ISS). The curvature of the Earth is visible along the horizon line that stretches across the image. Above the Earth's dark surface, a brilliant sequence of colors indicates several layers of the atmosphere. Deep oranges and yellows are visible in the troposphere, which extends from the Earth's surface to 6-20 kilometers above. This layer contains over 80% of the atmosphere's mass and almost all the water vapour, clouds and precipitation - several layers of dark clouds are visible in this layer. Color variations are mainly due to varying concentrations of clouds or aerosols (airborne particles or droplets). The pink to white region above the clouds appears to be the stratosphere; this atmospheric layer generally has few or no clouds and extends up to about 50 kilometers above the Earth's surface. Above the stratosphere, the blue layers mark the upper atmosphere (including the mesosphere, thermosphere, ionosphere and exosphere) as it gradually fades into the blackness of space. The ISS was located over the southern Indian Ocean when this image was taken, with the observer looking west. Crew members aboard the space station see 16 sunrises and sunsets a day, due to their high orbital speed (in excess of 28,000 kilometers per hour). The multiple chances to photograph a sunrise are a daily chance, because at this speed, each sunrise or sunset lasts only a few seconds. 2010. Vintage chromogenic print. Numbering in the margin on the front. Legend on label on back. 40.6 x 40.6CM with margins.