Turquoise blue waters, coral reefs and sandy beaches were apparently on the
minds of International Space Station astronauts last week. As they passed over
the Florida Keys, they acquired a sequence of images from Key West eastward
along the outer keys. The detail of the images showcases the clarity of the
Caribbean waters, and allows for mapping of both land use and shallow marine
features. This image of Key West shows the intensive built-up area of the town,
the offshore sand flats and grassbeds surrounding Key West, the patterns of
natural tidal channels and artificially dredged channels that allow boat access
to the local marinas.
Astronaut photograph
ISS005-E-18039
was taken on October 22, 2002, and is provided by the Earth Sciences and Image
Analysis Laboratory at Johnson Space Center. Additional images taken by
astronauts and cosmonauts can be viewed at the NASA-JSC Gateway to Astronaut
Photography of Earth.