One of the most recognizable points on the Earth for astronauts to photograph is the Bahamas. Randy Bresnik of NASA shared this Aug. 13 photo from the International Space Station, saying, “The stunning Bahamas were a real treat for us. The vivid turquoise of the water over the reef was absolutely captivating.” via NASA http://ift.tt/2x4Sg4W

On May 24, 2017, the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi NPP satellite captured a natural-color image of long, spiraling cloud patterns, or “von Kármán vortices,” on the lee side of Guadalupe Island. The volcanic island rises from the Pacific Ocean off the coast of Baja California, Mexico. via NASA http://ift.tt/2wbhbGA

The two-stage Falcon 9 launch vehicle lifts off Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kenney Space Center carrying the Dragon resupply spacecraft to the International Space Station. via NASA http://ift.tt/2uDQFGd

NASA’s Cassini spacecraft looks toward the night side of Saturn’s moon Titan in a view that highlights the extended, hazy nature of the moon’s atmosphere. via NASA http://ift.tt/2w6cbDc

Dwarf galaxy NGC 5949 sits at a distance of around 44 million light-years from us, placing it within the Milky Way’s cosmic neighborhood. via NASA http://ift.tt/2vVzjFb

More than a hundred years after Swift’s discovery of the “starburst” galaxy IC 10, astronomers are studying IC 10 with the most powerful telescopes of the 21st century. via NASA http://ift.tt/2wxOwt0

An astronaut aboard the International Space Station took this photograph of solar evaporation ponds outside the city of Moab, Utah. There are 23 colorful ponds spread across 400 acres. They are part of a large operation to mine potassium chloride—more commonly referred to as muriate of potash (MOP)—from ore buried underground. via NASA http://ift.tt/2uGPbGk

From his vantage point aboard the International Space Station, NASA astronaut Randy Bresnik pointed his camera toward the rising Moon and captured this beautiful image on August 3, 2017. Bresnik wrote, “Gorgeous moon rise! Such great detail when seen from space. Next full moon marks #Eclipse2017. We’ll be watching from @Space_Station.” via NASA http://ift.tt/2wELWk9

The thin sliver of Saturn’s moon Prometheus lurks near ghostly structures in Saturn’s narrow F ring in this view from NASA’s Cassini spacecraft. via NASA http://ift.tt/2wAP7cL

On July 5, 2017, NASA’s Solar Dynamics Observatory watched an active region — an area of intense and complex magnetic fields — rotate into view on the Sun. This image shows a blended view of the sunspot in visible and extreme ultraviolet light, revealing bright coils arcing over the active region — particles spiraling along magnetic field lines. via NASA http://ift.tt/2v43I2x