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Planet Earth Seen by Julie Payette
The Earth seen from space
The Earth looks very different when viewed from space. On her second trip into space, Canadian astronaut Julie Payette presents a selection of photographs taken of the Earth from space. From the astronaut's point of view, these images show not only the beauty of our planet, but also its fragility.
The Earth is absolutely magnificent when seen from space. It sparkles like a jewel against a background of infinite space. Its earth tones and blue and white colours take your breath away. When I saw the Earth from high up, I became more aware of how precious our planet is, that it supports seven billion human beings and countless plant and animal species, and that it is the only place we know of in the universe (at least for the time being) where such an abundance of life is possible. The Earth is the only known place in the universe that can support life. It is up to us to take care of it.
Everyone should have the chance to go up into space to see what the Earth looks like from up there and hopefully return with the intention of taking better care of this planet.
Julie Payette
Further Than the Blue Sky
A film by Valérie Winckler
Produced by Europimages in a co production with ARTE and in partnership with the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency.
Earth Images
Lesser Antilles
This photograph of Hurricane Frances was taken from the International Space Station as the hurricane was over the Atlantic Ocean at a distance of 1,300 kilometres (820 miles) from the Lesser Antilles.
Mission: Expedition 9
Date: August 27, 2004
Credit: NASA
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Italy
The International Space Station above Italy shortly after undocking from the space shuttle
Endeavour. This photograph was taken by a member of Mission STS-118 team, which included Canadian astronaut Dave Williams.
Mission: STS-118
Date: August 19, 2007
Credit: NASA
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Pyramids
The Egyptian pyramids are visible from space.
Mission: Expedition 1
Date: Fall 2000-Winter 2001
Credit: NASA
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Paris
The city of Paris seen from space. Even the traffic circle
at the Étoile and the city's ring road stand out.
Mission: Expedition 2
Date: Spring-Summer 2001
Credit: NASA
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New York
September 2001
New York City during the events of September 11, 2001. The photograph showing a column of smoke rising above the Manhattan area was taken by an astronaut on board the International Space Station.
Mission: Expedition 3
Date: September 11, 2001
Credit: NASA
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Istanbul
The city of Istanbul, Turkey, where Europe and Asia meet.
Mission: Expedition 8
Date: Fall 2003-Winter 2004
Credit: NASA
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Lake Maggiore
Lake Maggiore on the border between Switzerland and Italy.
When viewed from space, the Earth has no borders.
Credit: NASA
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La Manche
On the English Channel between Great Britain and France, it is possible to see the wakes left behind by large ocean-bound vessels. This photograph was taken during Canadian astronaut Julie Payette's first mission in 1999.
Mission: STS-96
Date: May-June 1999
Credit: NASA
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Sinai
The Sinai Peninsula and the eastern part of the Mediterranean Sea, seen from the spacecraft of Mission STS-96 with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Julie Payette on board.
Mission: STS-96
Date: May-June 1999
Credit: NASA
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Mount Everest
Mount Everest and its steep slopes. This photograph
was taken by a Mission STS-66 crewmember.
Mission: STS-66
Date: November 1994
Credit: NASA
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Pacific Ocean
Clouds floating above the Pacific Ocean. This photograph was taken by a crewmember of the Mission STS 96 spacecraft with Canadian Space Agency astronaut Julie Payette on board.
Mission: STS-96
Date: May-June 1999
Credit: NASA
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Gaspésie
Eastern Quebec and the Gaspé Peninsula seen from space
Mission: Expedition 6
Date: Winter 2003
Credit: NASA
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Mount Etna
Mount Etna in Sicily, Italy, during a volcanic eruption.
Mission: Expedition 2
Date: Spring-Summer 2001
Credit: NASA
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Kliuchevskoi volcano
Kliuchevskoi volcano in Russia during an eruption on September 30, 1994. The major eruption generated clouds rising to 18 kilometres (60,000 feet) above sea level, and winds carried the ash more than 1,000 kilometres (640 miles) to the southwest of the volcano.
Mission: STS-68
Date: September 30, 1994
Credit: NASA
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Pyrenees
The Pyrenees Mountains (on the border between France and Spain)
seen during Mission STS-51 in 1993
Mission: STS-51
Date: September 1993
Credit: NASA
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Red Sea
The Red Sea seen by the crew of Mission STS-121.
Mission: STS-121
Date: July 2006
Credit: NASA
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Himalaya
This photograph of the Himalayan mountain range was taken by a crewmember of Mission STS-41G with Canadian astronaut Marc Garneau on board. This mountain range extends across six countries: Afghanistan, Bhutan, China, India, Nepal and Pakistan.
Mission: STS-41G
Date: October 1984
Credit: NASA
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Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef to the east of Australia seen by the crew of Mission STS-49.
Mission: STS-49
Date: May 1992
Credit: NASA
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Namib Desert
Wind erosion in the Namib Desert in Namibia, Africa
Mission: Expedition 1
Date : Automne 2000 - Hiver 2001
Credit: NASA
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Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon, Arizona, United States, seen by the crew of Expedition 1.
Mission: Expedition 1
Date Fall 2000-Winter 2001
Credit: NASA
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Madagascar
This photograph of the Betsiboka River in Madagascar was taken by an Expedition 3 crewmember.
Mission: Expedition 3
Date: Summer-Fall 2001
Credit: NASA
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Mississippi
The Mississippi River delta in the United States seen during Mission STS-51.
Mission: STS-51
Date: July 1993
Credit: NASA
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Kilimandjaro
Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa, seen from space in 1984. This photograph was taken during Mission STS-41 with Canadian astronaut Marc Garneau on board.
Mission: STS-41
Date : October 1984
Credit: NASA
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Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania, Africa, seen from space in 2007. The photograph shows the melting of glaciers and the impact of climate change.
Mission: Expedition 14
Date: Fall 2006-Winter 2007
Credit: NASA
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Earth
This photograph of a an Earth crescent was taken during the Apollo 4 mission.
Mission: Apollo 4
Date: November 1967
Credit: NASA
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sunrise
A sunrise and the first glimmer of daylight peek above the Earth's horizon. Photograph taken during Mission STS 118 with Canadian astronaut Dave Williams.
Mission: STS-118
Date: August 19, 2007
Credit: NASA
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Northern lights
Northern lights seen from space. Photograph taken during Mission STS-85 with Canadian astronaut Bjarni Tryggvason on board.
Mission: STS-85
Date: August 1997
Credit: NASA
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