From their position on the International Space Station (ISS) , astronauts are treated to a unique view of our planet that most people will never have the chance to see.
The ISS orbits Earth at a height of around 250 miles, meaning the space station makes around 16 trips around Earth every single day.
Now, one NASA astronaut on board the ISS has snapped a stunning bird's-eye-view photo of the Amazon River.
Jessica Meir, an astronaut who is part of NASA’s Expedition 61 and 62, tweeted the stunning photo of the world’s largest river.
She wrote: “This year I am thankful for the extraordinary opportunity to see our precious planet Earth from above, and to all those on the ground that are striving to protect it. #HappyThanksgiving. Photo: The mighty Amazon River.”
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NASA astronaut snaps stunning photo of London from the International Space Station
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Ms Meir’s photo of the Amazon River comes just days after the astronaut tweeted a beautiful photo of London at night.
She wrote: “Behold the bright lights of fair London town! Views of city lights from above evoke images of spider webs, shattered glass, or fractal art.
“Many fond memories with my relatives and friends in this lovely city – thinking of you all from low Earth orbit.”
On clear nights, it’s actually possible to see the International Space Station pass overhead in the night sky.
NASA explained: “It is the third brightest object in the sky and easy to spot if you know when to look up.
“Visible to the naked eye, it looks like a fast-moving plane only much higher and traveling thousands of miles an hour faster!”
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