A spectacular picture of the Andes Mountains in southern Peru recorded by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station on May 31, 2023.
The icy landscape high in the Andes is dotted with vibrant glacial lakes and weathered rock.
While in orbit over the Andes Mountains in southern Peru, an astronaut aboard the < period class ="glossaryLink" aria-describedby ="tt" data-cmtooltip ="<div class=glossaryItemTitle>International Space Station</div><div class=glossaryItemBody>The International Space Station (ISS) is a large spacecraft in orbit around the Earth that serves as a research laboratory and spaceport for international collaboration in space exploration. It was launched in 1998 and has been continuously occupied by rotating crews of astronauts and cosmonauts from around the world since 2000. The ISS is a joint project of five space agencies: NASA (USA), Roscosmos (Russia), JAXA (Japan), ESA (Europe), and CSA (Canada). It orbits the Earth at an altitude of approximately 400 kilometers (250 miles), and provides a unique platform for scientific research, technological development, and human space exploration.</div>" data-gt-translate-attributes=" [{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" >International (******************************************************************************************** )Station( ISS) photographed theVilcanota range of mountains stressed with glaciers and alpine lakes.The variety hosts the second-largest glaciated mountain area in(************************************************************************************************************ ).
The dark blue shades ofLagunaSibinacocha contrast with brilliant ice and snow on the upper reaches of the mountains, while smaller sized glacial lakes, such asLagunas Singrenacocha andAmayuni, show light blue to blue-green tones.(******************************************************************************************************************* )mark the historic courses of glaciers that feed the lakes.LagunaSibinacocha extends roughly 18 kilometers (11 miles) at its longest, and its water eventually streams into the Amazon River.
The Allure of the Rainbow Mountains
Some of the “rainbow mountains,” recognizable by peaks that appear tinged red, can be seen in the bottom left of the image, south of NevadoAuzangate The differing shades of the mountains arise from countless years of disintegration and weathering. These mountains are culturally substantial to the regional population and have actually ended up being a popular traveler destination due to their special colors.
The Peculiarity of Tropical Glaciers
The ice-capped mountains and glaciers in this image are called low-latitude or tropical glaciers, formed at first throughout the last glacial epoch. Though situated in the tropics, these varieties maintain irreversible ice year-round due to the fact that of the low temperature levels at high elevations. The surrounding Quelccaya Ice Cap is the world’s biggest tropical ice cap.
Climate Impact on Glacial Features
Glaciers in the tropics are at danger of vanishing due to increasing temperature levels related to environment modification. Astronauts have actually gathered images of glaciers worldwide for years, recording modifications such as the economic downturn of glacial tongues.
Astronaut photos ISS069- E-16604–16613 were obtained on May 31, 2023, with a Nikon D5 digital cam utilizing a focal length of 400 millimeters. It is supplied by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Johnson SpaceCenter The image was taken by a member of the Expedition 69 team. The image has actually been cropped and boosted to enhance contrast, and lens artifacts have actually been gotten rid of. The International Space Station Program supports the lab as part of the ISS National Lab to assist astronauts take images of Earth that will be of the best worth to researchers and the general public, and to make those images easily readily available on theInternet Caption by Sara Schmidt, GeoControl Systems, JETS Contract at < period class ="glossaryLink" aria-describedby ="tt" data-cmtooltip ="<div class=glossaryItemTitle>NASA</div><div class=glossaryItemBody>Established in 1958, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is an independent agency of the United States Federal Government that succeeded the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA). It is responsible for the civilian space program, as well as aeronautics and aerospace research. Its vision is "To discover and expand knowledge for the benefit of humanity." Its core values are "safety, integrity, teamwork, excellence, and inclusion." NASA conducts research, develops technology and launches missions to explore and study Earth, the solar system, and the universe beyond. It also works to advance the state of knowledge in a wide range of scientific fields, including Earth and space science, planetary science, astrophysics, and heliophysics, and it collaborates with private companies and international partners to achieve its goals.</div>" data-gt-translate-attributes="[{"attribute":"data-cmtooltip", "format":"html"}]" > NASA – JSC.
