One of the perks of being an astronaut is being given the opportunity to capture breathtaking photos like this one. This was shot aboard the International Space Station (ISS) of the dragon-like Alabama River while orbiting over the southern United States.
We can see the river’s smooth water surface reflecting sunlight back toward the astronaut’s camera, producing an optical phenomenon known as sunglint. The latter basically occurs when sunlight reflects off a surface at the same angle that a sensor views it. Some may not know that in the 1960s, the Alabama River was dammed, creating Dannelly Reservoir, which can be observed as the large shining area at center left.
- Superior Optics: 400mm(f/5.7) focal length and 70mm aperture, fully coated optics glass lens with high transmission coatings creates stunning images...
- Magnification: Come with two replaceable eyepieces and one 3x Barlow lens.3x Barlow lens trebles the magnifying power of each eyepiece. 5x24 finder...
- Wireless Remote: This refractor telescope includes one smart phone adapter and one Wireless camera remote to explore the nature of the world easily...
These flooded zones are typical of floodplains—the low, flat areas immediately next to larger rivers. In this image, flooded zones appear as irregular, bright shapes extending away from the river, like at Gee’s Bend (center bottom),” said Monika Luabeya, NASA Web Editor.
