At 2:23 am Eastern time on March 19, 2025, an astronaut aboard the International Space station (ISS) captured a striking nighttime view of Earth, where shimmering moonlight dances across dark ocean waters while clusters of city lights outline the Florida Peninsula, the Caribbean, and parts of Central America.

Dense clusters of illumination trace major population centers, including the bright corridor from Miami to Fort Lauderdale along Florida's southeastern coast, the Tampa–St. Petersburg area on the Gulf Coast, and the Orlando metropolitan region near the center of the peninsula. Smaller but still discernible patterns of light mark the Florida Keys, Nassau in the Bahamas, and Havana and other cities across Cuba.

What is it?

Besides the stunning city lights, what sets this image apart is the presence of moonglint, the nighttime counterpart to sunglint. Much like sunlight reflecting off the ocean's surface during the day, moonglint occurs when moonlight reflects off water at just the right angle to reach the observer.

In this case, the observer was a crewmember on the ISS, orbiting hundreds of miles above Earth. At the time, the moon was in a waning phase and about 78% illuminated, bright enough to produce a concentrated reflection across the sea, especially near the Florida Keys and Cuba.

The photograph was taken using a Nikon Z9 digital camera with a 28-millimeter lens, giving a wide field of view similar to that of the human eye. This perspective allows viewers to appreciate the curvature of the planet, accentuated by a thin, faint green layer of airglow along the horizon, a reminder of Earth's atmosphere glowing softly against the darkness of space.

Where is it?

This photo was taken aboard the ISS, around 248 miles (400 kilometers) above Earth.

Why is it amazing?

Nighttime images of Earth reveal patterns of human settlement, infrastructure, and land use that are difficult to capture during the day. Scientists use such observations to study urban growth, energy consumption, and light pollution, while also tracking how human activity intersects with natural environments.

The appearance of moonglint is especially valuable for researchers. Reflections of moonlight off the ocean can help scientists study sea-surface conditions, such as roughness and wave patterns, even at night. When combined with other data sources, these observations improve understanding of ocean–atmosphere interactions and refine models used in climate and environmental research.

Want to learn more?

You can learn more about airglow and the International Space Station

Food has long played a special role on the International Space Station (ISS), where crews from around the world bring pieces of their culinary heritage to share with one another. Beyond the standard menu of thermostabilized entrées and rehydratable snacks, astronauts can request "bonus food" items from their home countries, turning mealtime into a community experience and a way to maintain ties with Earth.

What is it?

As a Korean-American astronaut — and one of NASA's most accomplished, with careers as a Navy SEAL, Harvard-trained physician and now spaceflyer — Jonny Kim often speaks about honoring his heritage.

Sharing Korean cuisine in orbit isn't just a treat; it's a symbol of representation aboard an international laboratory where culture and science blend daily. These moments also highlight the importance of food in astronaut well-being. Familiar flavors help reduce stress, combat homesickness and create a sense of normalcy during months-long missions.

Where is it?

This image was taken aboard the ISS in low Earth orbit.

Why is it amazing?

While NASA's research into space nutrition focuses on health, caloric needs and long-duration mission planning, meals like Kim's remind us that food is also about humanity. Each dish carries memories, identity and comfort, qualities that matter just as much 250 miles (400 kilometers) above Earth as they do at home.

In showcasing Korean and American foods side by side, Kim shows the core spirit of the ISS: many cultures, working — and sharing meals — together in orbit.

Want to learn more?

You can learn more about space food and the International Space Station.

Since 2000, the International Space Station (ISS) has continuously hosted astronauts from countries including the United States, Russia, Japan, Canada and parts of Europe. The station serves as a unique platform for research in fields ranging from physics to human health.

Even though they're far from home, astronauts on the ISS still have normal routines — including getting regular haircuts.

What is it?

Living aboard the ISS means living in microgravity, a state where everything is in continuous free fall. To astronauts, this feels like weightlessness, making everything just a bit more complicated, including basic hygiene.

There are no showers on the orbital lab. Instead, astronauts take a sort of "sponge bath" with no-rinse shampoo. Something as simple as trimming nails or cutting hair also takes on new challenges, as without gravity, every tiny clipping would drift around, potentially clogging equipment or entering astronauts' eyes or lungs.

Where is it?

The ISS is located at an average altitude of 248 miles (400 kilometers) above Earth.

Why is it amazing?

During long stays aboard the ISS, astronauts' hair grows just as it does on Earth. This means regular haircuts are essential for multiple reasons. Here, JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui uses a razor with a vacuum hose to shave NASA astronaut Mike Fincke's hair, with the hose collecting the hair.

Regular haircuts are beneficial for an astronaut's overall health (it can be uncomfortable or a safety hazard if it's too long) and for the crew's morale (bringing people together for a common goal).

Want to learn more?

You can read more about the International Space Station and astronauts living on the ISS.

In the microgravity environment aboard the International Space Station (ISS), even simple meals require meticulous preparation: foods are vacuum-sealed, utensils are magnetic and spoons or forks are tethered down to prevent them from floating away.

Despite these constraints, astronauts on the ISS use their creativity to prepare some familiar and favorite dishes, making them feel more at home.

What is it?

Recently, the crew aboard the ISS made space sushi using everyday station ingredients: rice, spam, fish, crackers and condiments. One plate included shrimp with wheat crackers, which was held down on the plate thanks to the weight of the condiments.

The other plate included sushi with seaweed, rice, tuna and spam that adhered to the plate thanks to its moisture creating surface tension, according to NASA. Both plates were attached to the table using Velcro strips.

Where is it?

The space sushi was served inside the galley of the International Space Station's Unity module.

Why is it amazing?

Space sushi has been a popular choice aboard the ISS for more than a decade. In February 2010, Japanese astronaut Soichi Noguchi brought raw seafood and shared with his crewmates, introducing the cuisine into orbit. In the isolating and highly regimented life aboard the ISS, a shared meal-making experience can help boost morale, foster community and remind crews of home.

Want to learn more?

You can read more about food on the ISS and cultural cuisines in space.

Sitting in low Earth orbit, the International Space Station offers astronauts aboard some spectacular views, including this one of Lake Titicaca in Peru.

What is it?

At 3,200 square miles (8,300 square kilometers), Lake Titicaca is the largest freshwater lake in South America. Thought to be around three million years old, the lake is one of just a handful of ancient lakes remaining around the globe. Over 25 different rivers dump into the lake, feeding into its large size. Ancient structures and artifacts show that humans have lived around Lake Titicaca since before colonial times and continue to live there today.

Where is it?

Lake Titicaca lies between ranges of the Andes Mountains in a basin that's part of the Altiplano (high plateau) of the northern Andes in Peru. At 2.36 miles (3.81 km) above sea level, the lake is the highest in the world.

Why is it amazing?

This photo, taken by an astronaut aboard the ISS in October 2024, shows a stunning example of sunglint reflecting from the surface of the waters of Lake Titicaca.

Sunglint is an optical phenomenon that happens when sunlight reflects off a body of water directly into the camera, creating silvery bright patches, especially over smooth surfaces. Sunglint can help reveal subtle details in the water that may be invisible under ordinary lighting, including any oils or films created by algae, wind patterns and boat wakes.

Here, several V-shaped patterns show boat wakes, while two subtle arcs in the top left show internal waves. These features can help scientists better study hard-to-access areas of Lake Titicaca, learning more about the unique ecosystems it provides.

Want to learn more?

You can read more about studying Earth from space and monitoring bodies of water like Lake Titicaca.

NASA astronaut Nichole "Vapor" Ayers, currently serving as a flight engineer on Expedition 73 aboard the International Space Station (ISS), is one of a handful of astronauts testing various experiments at the station.

As the ISS sits in low Earth orbit, its microgravity setting allows researchers like Ayers to try a variety of studies, from growing plants to creating miso paste to monitoring bone density changes to watching weird weather from space.

What is it?

Ayers recently completed a set of experiments inside the Microgravity Science Glovebox. There she carried out the Ring Sheared Drop investigation, an experiment that looks at protein-based liquids in microgravity without the liquid being contained to a specific space. By allowing droplets to move freely, the study explores how surface tension, viscosity and other forces affect fluid dynamics in microgravity.

Where is it?

The Microgravity Science Glovebox is located in the Destiny laboratory module on the ISS.

Why is it amazing?

Ayers' recent experiment could have big implications for drug manufacturing, potentially helping researchers design more stable drugs. The experiment could also reveal insights about 3D printing in space, as the process uses liquids to create custom-made objects.

Ayers is part of NASA's Expedition 73, a seven-person mission that began on April 19, 2025 and will end in November when the crew returns to Earth. During that time, the Expedition 73 team has welcomed visitors from the private Axiom-4 mission, which is running dozens of experiments in the two weeks the four astronauts will be at the space station.

Want to learn more?

You can read more about the International Space Station and the many experiments happening there.

NEW YORK — Astronauts paid a virtual visit to former President Bill Clinton from the International Space Station on Wednesday (Sept. 24) to share their perspectives on Earth as it appears from their orbital home.

NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman and European Space Agency astronaut Alexander Gerst, part of the station's current Expedition 41 crew, beamed down by video to the Clinton Global Initiative, a gathering world leaders here aiming to develop solutions to major world problems. Joining Clinton on Earth was NASA astronaut Cady Coleman, who visited the station during its Expedition 26/27 mission.

The astronauts spoke of the unique perspective afforded by the International Space Station an orbiting laboratory built through an international effort. They also showed off a few somersaults in zero gravity. [Watch Bill Clinton Talk Space with Astronauts (Video)]

"I want everyone to know what a unique and amazing place we have here [on the station]," Wiseman told Clinton and the conference audience.

Aboard the station, the astronauts are engaged in experiments on the effects of life in zero gravity. For example, the progressive bone disease osteoporosis proceeds 10 times faster in a typical astronaut in space than it does in a 70-year-old woman on Earth, Coleman said. By measuring the physiological changes that happen to astronauts, scientists can study the effects of aging in space.

The space station also provides a unique vantage point from which to view and appreciate Earth, the astronauts said.

"There are no words to describe that first glance when you look back on your planet," Wiseman said. Earth is a "beautiful living organism," he added.

With astronauts from United States, Russia, Brazil, Canada and Japan, as well as members of the European Space Agency, the space station is an exercise in global collaboration. When you're up in space, "it's hard to feel you're from any particular country," Coleman said.

As operators of the ISS, Wiseman and his colleagues have become good friends, he said. "We want to get the job done, and we want to have fun doing it," he said.

In response, Clinton joked that maybe the best way to get rid of the political gridlock in the U.S. Congress may be to send politicians to space.

Last week, NASA awarded contracts to The Boeing Company and SpaceX to transport U.S. crews to and from the space station. NASA aims to end the United States' reliance on Russia for space transportation in 2017.

People can argue about what the priorities in space ought to be, but they can't argue that humanity ought to go there, Clinton said.

"If we're going places as a planet, I think we'll have to take the trip together," he said.

Follow Tanya Lewis on Twitter and Google+.Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com.