Twilight Over Earth's Surface Captured in Stunning ISS Image

A breathtaking vista of the planet from 251 miles above has been released by NASA ahead of its official posting on the website "Earth Now" and social media sites, providing a unique perspective on our home planet.

The photograph, taken by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station, shows the gradual transition from daylight to darkness as day gives way to night. The image captures the soft, warm tones of the sky at twilight, with clouds reflecting gentle sunlight filtered through a dusty layer of the troposphere.

The top surface of high altitude clouds can be seen above the dayside's upper edge, scattering blue light and fading into the inky blackness of space. This phenomenon is visible as a thin, icy-blue line, which gives the photograph an ethereal quality.

The Earth Now website, managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, allows users to explore high-resolution images of our planet captured throughout the year from various perspectives and with great detail.

Source: NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory