Ellie Briskin
Image Citation:
Nemiroff, Robert, and Jerry Bonnel. Astronomy Picture of the Day. Digital image. APOD: 2010 June 23. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 Feb. 2014.
This is a photo of the sun setting through Earth’s atmosphere, taken from the International Space Station. It was captured by the ISS’s Expedition 23 Crew in May of 2010. The picture is not only a breathtakingly beautiful image of a sunset from a unique perspective, but from it we can also clearly distinguish the layers of the Earth’s atmosphere, as labeled in the picture. It makes me want to learn more about the differences between the layers, and why they look so dissimilar in color and constitution. It also forces me to think of a fairly ordinary, everyday occurrence in a totally new way. I never even knew the Earth’s sunset could be seen from space, but knowing that, I am given a tiny insight into life as an astronaut; one looks outside their window and instead of trees, sees fantastic astronomical sights. Will safe space travel ever become practical and accessible to the public, so more people can witness phenomenas such as this?
The contrast of colors in the photograph are breathtaking, as I was not aware of the distinguishable different colors of the sun. It is amazing that we have developed technology that enables us to take pictures so clearly and precisely, while also being able to withstand temperatures that can bring us closer to the sun in space. This picture gives us a new perspective of how intricate the sun is, since it consists of various layers of which contain different colors as it gets hotter. Because of this, I am prompted to discover more about the sun and its complexity.
ReplyDeleteIf this picture wasn't labeled as a sunset, I never would have guessed that it was one. It's amazing, just like you said, that the astronauts were able to see the sunset from space and take a stunning photograph of it.
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