Starry Skies Rumble: Exploring the Universe

At the heart of all activities aboard the International Space Station is a continuous orbit around Earth, occurring sixteen times every day! In honor of Earth Day 2021, NASA presents an exclusive gift - a serene perspective of our beloved home, captured from 250 miles above, and presented in stunning ultra-high definition video. Simply press play, unwind, and savor the view. This breathtaking 4K footage was filmed during the period spanning from 2019 to 2020.

In 2023, the NASA Psyche mission is set to embark on its journey and reach the asteroid Psyche, positioned in orbit between Mars and Jupiter, by 2026. The spacecraft, bearing the same name as the asteroid, will dedicate 21 months to circling around Psyche, conducting detailed mapping and comprehensive studies of its characteristics. The mission is under the guidance of Principal Investigator Lindy Elkins-Tanton from Arizona State University. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory is overseeing the mission's overall management, system engineering, integration and testing, and mission operations. Maxar Technologies is contributing a high-power solar electric propulsion spacecraft chassis for the mission.

This provides a detailed account of the Moon's phase and libration throughout 2022, with updates every hour. Additionally, it incorporates accompanying visuals illustrating the Moon's orbital path, points of subsolar and sub-Earth illumination, and the Moon's accurate distance from Earth. Notably, it features labeled craters near the dividing line between light and dark, alongside identified Apollo landing sites and maria, as well as other reflective surface features illuminated by sunlight.

The Sun, depicted on the left side of the frame, forms a complete golden circle. Its hue is golden yellow, although it displays unevenness, marked by slender wisps of the same hue extending from its surface. Some parts exhibit intense brightness while others appear nearly black. The entire Sun revolves steadily, completing a full rotation in a 12-minute span, as shown in this time-lapse. Typically, only a few luminous areas are observable at any given time, their appearance shifting and flickering akin to small fires. From these regions, delicate loops extend upward, altering their shape and size swiftly. On the right side of the frame, two squares outlined in white showcase magnified views of intriguing sections of the Sun.

The people who get to see the Earth from space marvel at its beauty, the colors, the fragility they feel about the planet 250 miles below them. This footage was shot from the International Space Station.