Geographic Images

Bloom season, already underway for several months, continued to dazzle in the productive South Atlantic waters off Argentina. Earlier, in austral spring 2024, satellites captured a clear image of a sizeable phytoplankton bloom along the Patagonian Shelf. Communities of the tiny aquatic organisms persisted into the long days of the Southern Hemisphere summer, painting surface waters in shades of green and blue into late December.

Riyadh, the capital of Saudi Arabia, has experienced remarkable growth over the past decades. Its population has surged from just 150,000 in 1960 to an estimated 5.4 million in 2012. This transformation is not only evident on the ground but also from space, where the city appears as a vibrant mosaic of lights in a nighttime astronaut photograph.

Dubai, the largest metropolitan area in the emirate of Dubai, is one of the most visually striking cities on Earth—especially when viewed from space. Known for its futuristic skyline, artificial islands, and extravagant architecture, the city is a favorite subject for astronaut photography. From the International Space Station (ISS), Dubai’s unique offshore developments, such as the Palm Jumeirah, become fully visible, revealing their intricate designs that can only be appreciated from above.

Geographers like night images of cities because you see immediately so much about the human landscape—things that are difficult or impossible to see in day images. You see where the cities are located and their shape; the brightest light clusters frequently indicate the city centers. In images with a large field of view, you can also see the position and size of cities relative to one another.