Pictures: Earth seen from space

The crew aboard the International Space Station has a window on Planet Earth. In this image an orbital sunrise beams across Earth's horizon revealing silhouetted clouds above the South China Sea. Every 24 hours, the space station makes 16 orbits of Earth, traveling through 16 sunrises and sunsets. — Earth from space

The dark side of the moon

This 2015 animation still shows the moon crossing the Earth. The camera aboard the Deep Space Climate Observatory (DSCOVR) satellite caught the dark side of the moon, a part that is never visible from Earth, in this perfect moment. While the photo looks close enough to touch, the satellite that took this photo is actually orbiting 1 million miles away.

(NASA Goddard // NASA)

Orbiting Earth

Astronauts on the International Space Station captured a series of incredible star trail images on Oct. 3, 2016, as they orbited at 17,500 miles per hour. (NASA)

In this image released by NASA, Comet Neowise, left, is seen in the eastern horizon above Earth in this image taken from the International Space Station on Sunday, July 5, 2020. — International Space Station

Toni Myers' new IMAX film "A Beautiful Planet" used sophisticated cameras to capture the aurora borealis at night above Earth, as seen from the International Space Station.

The International Space Station orbits Earth roughly once every 90 minutes.

Taken by astronaut William Anders from the Apollo 8 spacecraft, this December 1968 photo of the earth rising over the lunar surface would become one of the most famous images of the 20th century. — Earth from Space: Apollo 8

Sheared thunderstorms over the Philippine Sea seen from the International Space Station in 2016. — Earth from the ISS

This Dec.1972 photo released by NASA shows a view of the Earth as seen by the Apollo 17 crew traveling toward the Moon. The photograph extends from the Mediterranean Sea area, top, to the Antarctica South polar ice cap, made visible for the first time by the Apollo trajectory. Only two dozen men, those who traveled to the moon, have had the full Earth view. Most U.S. spaceflight has been in low orbit where only a piece of the Earth can be seen, a lesser but still impressive glimpse. — Earth from Space: Apollo 17

The Russian space station Mir is seen over the Pacific Ocean during rendezvous operations with the space shuttle Discovery on Feb. 6, 1995. The Mir station, the symbol of the once-glorious Soviet space program, is to be brought down for good around mid-March 2001. After months of shrugging off foreigners' protests that the Mir space station could come crashing down on a populated area, Russian officials said March 6,2001, that they are negotiating a $200 million insurance policy against any damage the orbiter could cause when it plunges to Earth. — MIR

A SpaceX Falcon 9 is seen in space after its launch from Kennedy Space Center on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2020 on a Starlink satellite mission. — SpaceX Falcon 9 Starlink launch

A SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station on Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2020 on a mission to deploy more Starlink satellites and three SkySats for the company Planet. — SpaceX Falcon 9 Starlink launch

SpaceX Starlink satellites released after a Falcon 9 launch. — SpaceX Starlink satellites

<p>This image of Hurricane Dorian, also from Sept. 2, 2019, was captured by NASA astronaut Christina Koch during a flyover more than 200 miles from Earth. Part of what made the Category 5 storm so devastating was it’s speed: Hurricane Dorian spent three days over the Bahamas, ratcheting up its death toll and damages.</p> — View of Hurricane Dorian from the International Space Station

A rendering provided by Axiom Space of the view looking at earth from a proposed space module. The company, run by a former manager of NASA’s part of the space station, has announced that it signed a contract with SpaceX for what might be the first fully private human spaceflight to orbit, which will have three seats for paying customers who are to spend 10 days in orbit floating inside the space station. (Axiom Space via The New York Times) — A rendering provided by Axiom Space of the view looking at earth from a proposed space module.

IN SPACE - MAY 29: In this handout provided by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), back dropped by planet Earth the International Space Station (ISS) is seen from NASA space shuttle Endeavour after the station and shuttle began their post-undocking relative separation May 29, 2011 in space. After 20 years, 25 missions and more than 115 million miles in space, NASA space shuttle Endeavour is on the last leg of its final flight to the International Space Station before being retired and donated to the California Science Center in Los Angeles. Capt. Mark E. Kelly, U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords' (D-AZ) husband, has lead mission STS-134 as it delivered the Express Logistics Carrier-3 (ELC-3) and the Alpha Magnetic Spectrometer (AMS-2) to the International Space Station. (Photo by NASA via Getty Images)

The Canadarm 2 reaches out to capture the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft and prepare it to be pulled into its port on the International Space Station Friday April 17, 2015. The Canadarm2 robotic arm will maneuver Dragon to its installation position at the Earth-facing port of the Harmony module where it will reside for the next five weeks. (AP Photo/NASA) — The Canadarm 2 reaches out to capture the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft and prepare it to be pulled

In this handout image provided by NASA, backdropped by the blackness of space and Earth's horizon, the Japanese Kibo complex of the International Space Station is seen while space shuttle Discovery remains docked with the station February 26, 2011 in Space. Discovery, on its 39th and final flight, is carrying the Italian-built Permanent Multipurpose Module (PMM), Express Logistics Carrier 4 (ELC4) and Robonaut 2, the first humanoid robot in space to the International Space Station. — Space Shuttle Discovery

This image made from video provided by NASA shows part of the International Space Station with the Earth in the background on Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2015. (AP Photo/NASA)

Space shuttle Endeavour headed back to Earth yesterday from the international space station, where this image was taken. The shuttle is due back tomorrow.

In this July 25, 2009 photo provided by NASA, the limb of Earth intersects one of two Soyuz spacecraft that are docked with the International Space Station. (AP Photo/NASA)

In this image provided by NASA the space shuttle Endeavour intersects the thin line of Earth's atmosphere photographed by an crew member while Endeavour remains docked with the International Space Station Wednesday Feb. 17, 2010. (AP Photo/NASA)

The space shuttle Discovery is seen with Earth in the background as the shuttle approaches the International Space Station for docking in this February 26, 2011 photograph by an Expedition 26 crew member released by NASA. Shuttle Discovery astronauts worked alongside the International Space Station crew on Sunday to prepare the orbital outpost for life after the United States retires its three existing spaceships. — Discovery

SPACE-US-ISS-CYGNUS

This NASA image obtained November 20, 2018 is captioned "Captured Cygnus today with @Astro_AlexProud to have The SS John Young on-board!" tweeted astronaut Serena Auñón-Chancellor on November 19, 2018, as the International Space Station crew brought aboard the latest Northrop Grumman Cygnus cargo craft, loaded with close to 7,400 pounds of research and supplies. - The Cygnys spacecraft will spend about three months attached to the space station before departing in February 2019. After it leaves the station, the uncrewed spacecraft will deploy several cubesats before its fiery re-entry into Earths atmosphere. (Photo by HO / NASA / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / NASA/HANDOUT" - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTSHO/AFP/Getty Images ** OUTS - ELSENT, FPG, CM - OUTS * NM, PH, VA if sourced by CT, LA or MoD ** (NASA)

The images taken from the GOES16 satellite of the NOAA shows Hurricane Dorian over the Bahamas and east of Florida on Tuesday, Sept. 3, 2019. — Hurricane Dorian from space

50 spectacular images of Earth from space

Our fascination with space and the worlds beyond our own comes from a deep-seated human desire to better understand our place in the universe. From satellite launches and manned missions to stepping on the moon and planning a visit to mars, our obsession with space exploration seems to only grow. As modern science expands and evolves, so too does its investigation of the cosmos—including thousands of satellites that are now orbiting the Earth.

Russia launched the first satellite, Sputnik, in 1957. The U.S. quickly followed with its own launch of Explorer 1 in 1958. Since then, NASA has had more than 200 successful, manned spacecraft launches and sent out more than 1,000 unmanned satellites.

While expeditions to strange new worlds sound exciting, one of the most important aspects of space exploration is that it allows scientists to study our own planet. Images of the Earth captured by satellites not only help scientists map things like population density, but they also showcase the effects of climate change, natural disasters, and major weather fronts. Utilizing the data from satellite images also provides a wide range of information about the Earth, from measuring plant growth to chemical deviations in the atmosphere.

The first satellite images were captured back in 1947 when scientist John T. Mengel conducted experiments by launching rockets into orbit and placing cameras on them. Today’s satellite images are significantly more complex, and while they might look like simple photographs, they are actually the result of combining measurements of various light wavelengths.

Ahead of Space Day May 1, Stacker has curated a gallery of some of the most intriguing and interesting images of Earth from space. Sourced from NASA’s various exploration programs via NASA’s image library, these satellite images, captured from millions of miles away, show an up-close and personal view of our ever-changing planet.

You may also like: Can you solve these real 'Jeopardy!' clues about the oceans?

Visit thestacker.com for similar lists and stories.

(NASA)

<p>The first photograph of the Earth was taken from the moon’s orbit on Aug. 23, 1966, by a NASA shuttle. Earlier photographs taken from space had captured only parts of the Earth, while the 1966 photo managed to get the whole globe in the shot.</p>

<p>You may also like: 30 breathtaking images from NASA's public library</p> — 1966: First full-Earth photo from the moon’s orbit

Earth is seen from the International Space Station. Many astronauts have spoken of the overview effect and how seeing the planet from space can change their perspective. MUST CREDIT: Scott Kelly, NASA — What does it mean to be a NASA astronaut in the celebrity space age of Elon Musk and Richard Branson?

Earth seen from Israeli moon lander Beresheet on its way to the moon. — Earth seen from Israeli moon lander Beresheet

Image of the Aurora Australis over Western Australia taken from the International Space Station in 2016. — Earth from space: Aurora Australis

Image of Mount Fuji taken from the International Space Station in 2016. — Earth from space: Mount Fuji

This NASA handout image received 31 July, 2007 shows the spectacular blue marble, the most detailed true-color image of the entire Earth to date. Using a collection of satellite-based observations, scientists and visualizers stitched together months of observations of the land surface, oceans, sea ice, and clouds into a seamless, true-color mosaic of every square kilometer (.386 square mile) of our planet. Much of the information contained in this image came from a single remote-sensing device-NASAs Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, or MODIS, Flying over 700 km above the Earth onboard the Terra satellite in 2002. — Earth from Space

This NASA handout image received July 31, 2007 shows the spectacular blue marble, the most detailed true-color image of the entire Earth to date. Using a collection of satellite-based observations, scientists and visualizers stitched together months of observations of the land surface, oceans, sea ice, and clouds into a seamless, true-color mosaic of every square kilometer (.386 square mile) of our planet. Much of the information contained in this image came from a single remote-sensing device-NASAs Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, or MODIS, Flying over 700 km above the Earth onboard the Terra satellite in 2002. — Earth from Space

Sochi's Olympic Park is seen at night in a NASA picture taken by an Expedition 38 crew member aboard the International Space Station February 8, 2014. The bright round area on the right is the 40,000-seat Fisht Olympic Stadium. — Sochi's Olympic Park is seen at night in a NASA picture taken from the International Space Station

This NOAA satellite image taken Tuesday, Oct. 4, 2016, at 12:45 a.m. EDT shows mostly clear skies for the eastern half of the United States as a ridge and high pressure crests over the region. Rain showers are slowly drifting northward off of the southeastern United States shoreline. Hurricane Matthew is also beginning to come into view as it moves northward at approximately 8 MPH, with the eye moving pretty closely in between Jamaica and Haiti. (Weather Underground via AP) — Hurricane Matthew

The earth rises over the horizon of the moon in this Dec. 24, 1968 file photo made by the astronauts on Apollo 8. — Earth from Space: Apollo 8

This image of Earth and the moon was acquired Oct. 3, 2007, by the HiRISE camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. — Another view from Mars

A human observer, if standing on Mars, could easily see Earth and the moon with the naked eye as two distinct, bright "evening stars." — Earth and moon from Mars

Eighty minutes after sunset, the Curiosity rover spots Earth shining in the night sky. — Earth from Mars

A full moon is visible in this February 24, 2005 view above Earth's horizon as photographed by an Expedition 10 crewmember on the International Space Station (ISS). — Earth from Space: International Space Station

earth, moon

A quarter moon is visible in this oblique view of Earth's horizon and airglow, recorded with a digital still camera on Jan. 26, 2003 aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia. The six Americans and one Israeli aboard Columbia marked their 12th day in space on Jan. 28, 2003. Their round-the-clock laboratory research mission, featuring more than 80 experiments, ended tragically with the shuttle being destroyed and all astronauts killed during their return to Earth. (NASA)