{"id":590778,"date":"2026-11-04T16:01:00","date_gmt":"2026-11-04T05:01:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/before-the-dawn-in-americas-heartland\/"},"modified":"2026-11-04T16:01:00","modified_gmt":"2026-11-04T05:01:00","slug":"before-the-dawn-in-americas-heartland","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.vibewire.com.au\/?p=590778","title":{"rendered":"Before the Dawn in America\u2019s Heartland"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-secondary-navigation\">\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-wrapper z-top width-100 padding-0\">\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-secondary-navigation width-full border-bottom-1px text-center hds-color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-hdsnav\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"hds-secondary-nav-mobile-button display-flex tablet:display-flex desktop:display-none width-full flex-align-center bg-carbon-90 border-color-carbon-80 color-spacesuit-white\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"hds-secondary-nav-track\"><span>Earth Observatory<\/span><\/button><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-nav-track grid-container grid-container-extrawide padding-0 tablet:padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-2 hds-secondary-navigation-has-breadcrumbs\">\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-breadcrumbs display-none tablet:display-none desktop:display-flex flex-align-center\">\n<nav class=\"usa-breadcrumb\" aria-label=\"Breadcrumbs\">\n<ol class=\"usa-breadcrumb__list\">\n<li class=\"usa-breadcrumb__list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/\" class=\"usa-breadcrumb__link\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>Science<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-breadcrumb__list-item\"><a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\" class=\"usa-breadcrumb__link\" rel=\"noopener\"><span>Earth Observatory<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-breadcrumb__list-item usa-current\" aria-current=\"page\"><span>Before the Dawn in America\u2019s\u2026<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-menu-items\">\n<nav>\n<ul class=\"usa-nav__primary usa-accordion flex-justify-center margin-0\">\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\" rel=\"noopener\">Earth<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\" rel=\"noopener\">Earth Observatory<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/image-of-the-day\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Image of the Day<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/explorer\/\" rel=\"noopener\">EO Explorer<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"basic-nav-section-one\"><span>Topics<\/span><\/button>\n<ul id=\"basic-nav-section-one\" class=\"usa-nav__submenu\" hidden>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/topics\/\" rel=\"noopener\">All Topics<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/topics\/atmosphere\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Atmosphere<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/topics\/land\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Land<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/topics\/heat-radiation\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Heat &#038; 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(opens in a new tab)\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1440\" height=\"960\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/before-the-dawn-in-america%E2%80%99s-heartland\/ISS075-E-226709.jpg?w=1440&amp;h=960&amp;%23038;fit=clip&amp;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1440x960 size-1440x960\" alt=\"A nighttime photo taken from space shows a network of city lights in the U.S. Midwest, while colorful airglow and bright sunlight arc across Earth&apos;s curved horizon.\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">October 18, 2026<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The predawn hours brought clear skies over much of the eastern United States on October 18, 2026. An astronaut aboard the International Space Station seized the opportunity to capture this wide-angle photo at 4:54 a.m. Central Daylight Time (09:54 Universal Time), with illuminated cities large and small arrayed across the darkened landscape.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The U.S. Midwest\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Midwestern_United_States#Major_metropolitan_areas\" rel=\"noopener\">largest metropolitan areas<\/a>, such as Chicago, Illinois, and Detroit, Michigan, stand out as some of the brightest features. Mid-sized cities\u2014including Indianapolis, Indiana; Cincinnati, Ohio; and Louisville, Kentucky\u2014and their interconnections along state and interstate highways also shine brightly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Above the web of nighttime lights and Earth\u2019s lower atmosphere, a diffuse layer of green and orange is visible along the horizon to the left. This band of light is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/solar-system\/why-nasa-watches-airglow-the-colors-of-the-upper-atmospheric-wind\/\" rel=\"noopener\">airglow<\/a>, produced when sunlight strikes atoms and molecules in the upper atmosphere and causes them to eject <a href=\"https:\/\/www.energy.gov\/science\/doe-explainsphotons\" rel=\"noopener\">photons<\/a>. To the right, light from the Sun arcs across the horizon; sunrise was about an hour away on the East Coast and about two hours away in Chicago.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Astronaut photos and other <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/remote-sensing\/\" rel=\"noopener\">remote sensing<\/a> observations of nighttime lights are scientifically valuable for tracking changes in the built environment. For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/windy-city-of-lights-153622\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Chicago\u2019s lightscape<\/a> appears a homogeneous pale yellow in the wide view above. But in detailed photos, like the one below, a range of colors stemming from different types of lighting is discernible. Using NASA\u2019s extensive <a href=\"https:\/\/eol.jsc.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth<\/a> archive, researchers have <a href=\"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/technologies10040093\" rel=\"noopener\">developed a method<\/a> for distinguishing lighting types within the pixels of nighttime photos. Systematically quantifying urban lights\u2019 brightness, color, and extent can provide insight into <a href=\"https:\/\/earthobservatory.nasa.gov\/images\/149062\/shedding-light-on-urban-development\" rel=\"noopener\">how cities grow and evolve<\/a>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-media hds-module wp-block-image\">\n<div class=\"margin-left-auto margin-right-auto nasa-block-align-inline\">\n<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-fit \" style=\"--hds-image-contain-bg:#ffffff\"><a href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/imagerecords\/153000\/153622\/iss070e105097.jpg\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" aria-label=\"Windy City of Lights (opens in a new tab)\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"720\" height=\"480\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/imagerecords\/153000\/153622\/iss070e105097.jpg?w=720&amp;h=480&amp;%23038;fit=clip&amp;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-720x480 size-720x480\" alt=\"Windy City of Lights\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/a><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\">\n<div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">March 1, 2024<\/div>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Satellite sensors also observe changes to lighting. In particular, NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.earthdata.nasa.gov\/data\/projects\/black-marble\" rel=\"noopener\">Black Marble<\/a> nighttime lights product suite uses satellite observations to produce science-quality records of nighttime lights across the globe at daily, monthly, and yearly time scales. In the eastern U.S., scientists have used these data to track everything from power outages and restoration <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/isaias-dims-the-gulf-coast\/\" rel=\"noopener\">following major storms<\/a> to lighting changes associated with <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/observing-changes-in-nighttime-lights-91431\/\" rel=\"noopener\">new infrastructure<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/picturing-earth-in-a-new-light\/#:~:text=increased%20use%20of%20energy-efficient%20LEDs\" rel=\"noopener\">transitions to LED lighting<\/a> from older forms.<\/p>\n<div style=\"height:30px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><i>Astronaut photograph <\/i><a style=\"font-style: italic\" href=\"https:\/\/eol.jsc.nasa.gov\/SearchPhotos\/photo.pl?mission=ISS075&amp;roll=E&amp;%23038;frame=226709\" rel=\"noopener\">ISS075-E-226709<\/a><i> was acquired on October 18, 2026, with a Nikon Z9 digital camera using a focal length of 14 millimeters, and photograph <\/i><a style=\"font-style: italic\" href=\"https:\/\/eol.jsc.nasa.gov\/SearchPhotos\/photo.pl?mission=ISS070&amp;roll=E&amp;%23038;frame=105097\" rel=\"noopener\">ISS070-E-105097<\/a><i> was acquired on March 1, 2024, with a Nikon D5 digital camera using a focal length of 400 millimeters.\u00a0They are provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit at NASA Johnson Space Center. The images were taken by members of the <\/i><em style=\"font-style: italic\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/expedition-75\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Expedition 75<\/a> <\/em><em>and<\/em><i> <\/i><a style=\"font-style: italic\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission\/expedition-70\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Expedition 70<\/a><i>\u00a0crews, respectively. The images have been cropped and enhanced to improve contrast, and lens artifacts have been removed. The\u00a0<\/i><a style=\"font-style: italic\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/\" rel=\"noopener\">International Space Station Program<\/a><i>\u00a0supports the laboratory as part of the\u00a0<\/i><a style=\"font-style: italic\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/international-space-station\/space-station-research-and-technology\/iss-national-laboratory\/\" rel=\"noopener\">ISS National Lab<\/a><i>\u00a0to help astronauts take pictures of Earth that will be of the greatest value to scientists and the public, and to make those images freely available on the internet. Additional images taken by astronauts and cosmonauts can be viewed at the NASA\/JSC\u00a0<\/i><a style=\"font-style: italic\" href=\"https:\/\/eol.jsc.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth<\/a><i>. Story by Lindsey Doermann.<\/i><\/p>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-featured-file-list bg-spacesuit-white padding-x-2 tablet:padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-4 padding-y-5 desktop:padding-y-6 hds-module align wp-block-nasa-blocks-file-list\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block padding-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-row width-full margin-bottom-4\">\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-22\">\n\t\t\t\t\tDownloads\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6\">\n<div class=\"desktop:grid-col display-flex flex-align-center desktop:flex-justify-end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-row hds-file-list-row\">\n<div class=\"hds-list-thumbnail hds-file-list-thumbnail\">\n<div class=\"hds-list-thumbnail-inner hds-file-list-thumbnail-inner hds-cover-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"319\" height=\"319\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/before-the-dawn-in-america%E2%80%99s-heartland\/ISS075-E-226709_lrg.jpg\/jcr:content\/renditions\/cq5dam.thumbnail.319.319.png\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"A nighttime photo taken from space shows a network of city lights in the U.S. Midwest, while colorful airglow and bright sunlight arc across Earth&apos;s curved horizon.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" data-video-loop=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-details\">\n<div class=\"hds-list-name hds-file-list-name\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-22\">October 18, 2026<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-meta\">\n<div class=\"hds-list-meta-item hds-list-date hds-file-list-date\">\n<p class=\"p-sm\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-meta-item hds-file-list-filetype\">\n<p class=\"p-sm\">JPEG (8.59 MB)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-cta hds-file-list-download\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a aria-label=\"Download October 18, 2026\" href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/before-the-dawn-in-america%E2%80%99s-heartland\/ISS075-E-226709_lrg.jpg\" download rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-row hds-file-list-row\">\n<div class=\"hds-list-thumbnail hds-file-list-thumbnail\">\n<div class=\"hds-list-thumbnail-inner hds-file-list-thumbnail-inner hds-cover-wrapper\">\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/imagerecords\/153000\/153622\/iss070e105097_lrg.jpg?w=150&amp;h=150&amp;%23038;fit=crop&amp;%23038;crop=faces,focalpoint\" class=\"attachment-thumbnail size-thumbnail\" alt=\"Windy City of Lights\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" data-video-loop=\"\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-details\">\n<div class=\"hds-list-name hds-file-list-name\">\n<h2 class=\"heading-22\">March 1, 2024<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-meta\">\n<div class=\"hds-list-meta-item hds-list-date hds-file-list-date\">\n<p class=\"p-sm\">\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-meta-item hds-file-list-filetype\">\n<p class=\"p-sm\">JPEG (21.81 MB)<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-list-cta hds-file-list-download\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a aria-label=\"Download March 1, 2024\" href=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/content\/dam\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/imagerecords\/153000\/153622\/iss070e105097_lrg.jpg\" download rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<p>\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>References &#038; Resources<\/strong><\/h2>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>NASA Earth Observatory (2026, May 15) <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/picturing-earth-in-a-new-light\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Picturing Earth in a New Light<\/a>. Accessed November 3, 2026.<\/li>\n<li>NASA Earth Observatory (2024, November 24) <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/windy-city-of-lights-153622\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Windy City of Lights<\/a>. Accessed November 3, 2026.<\/li>\n<li>NASA Earth Observatory (2017, December 27) <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/observing-changes-in-nighttime-lights-91431\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Observing Changes in Nighttime Lights<\/a>. Accessed November 3, 2026.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-content-lists-inner hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-content-lists\">\n<div id=\"content-list-a66a3b34-4322-45b3-8382-013d549eaa5a\" class=\"hds-content-lists margin-y-3 padding-x-0 bg-spacesuit-white width-full maxw-full\" data-starting-query=\"{\" data-current-query=\"{\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-widescreen padding-x-3\">\n<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-start margin-bottom-3\">\n<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<h2 class=\"section-heading-sm line-height-sm\">You may also be interested in:<\/h2>\n<p class=\"margin-top-0 margin-bottom-2 maxh-tablet\">Stay up-to-date with the latest content from NASA as we explore the universe and discover more about our home planet.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-container grid-container-block padding-0 margin-0 flex-justify-center\">\n<div class=\" grid-col-12\">\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-container grid-container-block padding-0\" style=\"display: block\">\n<div id=\"filter-tags\" class=\"grid-col-12 filter-tags-container\"><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"smd-orbit-loader\" role=\"status\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n<div class=\"orbit-plane\"><span class=\"orbit-dot\"><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"post-list-container\" class=\"hds-content-items hds-content-items-grid margin-top-2\" aria-live=\"polite\" data-rest-url=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/smd\/v1\/content-list\">\n<div class=\"hds-content-item content-list-item-post\">\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/an-epic-view-of-the-seasons\/\" class=\"hds-content-item-thumbnail\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  content-list-thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-no-id=\"true\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/an-epic-view-of-the-seasons\/equinox_epic_20240922_th.jpg?fit=clip&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&amp;%23038;w=300&amp;%23038;h=200\"><\/figure>\n<p>            <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item-inner\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/an-epic-view-of-the-seasons\/\" class=\"hds-content-item-heading\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-a11y-heading-22\">An Epic View of the Seasons<\/div>\n<p>            <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item-readtime label margin-bottom-1\">\n                    6 min read                <\/div>\n<p class=\"margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">The tilt in Earth\u2019s axis of rotation makes the apparent position of continents shift with the seasons in imagery from\u2026<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-auto\"><span>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item content-list-item-post\">\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/moon-like-madagascar\/\" class=\"hds-content-item-thumbnail\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  content-list-thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-no-id=\"true\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/moon-like-madagascar\/ISS075-E-85249_th.jpg?fit=clip&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&amp;%23038;w=300&amp;%23038;h=200\"><\/figure>\n<p>            <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item-inner\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/moon-like-madagascar\/\" class=\"hds-content-item-heading\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-a11y-heading-22\">Moon-Like Madagascar<\/div>\n<p>            <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item-readtime label margin-bottom-1\">\n                    3 min read                <\/div>\n<p class=\"margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">A bright lens of anorthosite, a rock type prevalent on the lunar surface, is cradled within sheared rocks in the\u2026<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-auto\"><span>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item content-list-item-post\">\n                    <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/the-world-cup-from-250-miles-up\/\" class=\"hds-content-item-thumbnail\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  content-list-thumbnail\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" data-no-id=\"true\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/2026\/an-orbital-view-of-world-cup-stadiums\/ISS067-E-202213_th.jpg?fit=clip&amp;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint&amp;%23038;w=300&amp;%23038;h=200\"><\/figure>\n<p>            <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item-inner\">\n            <a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/the-world-cup-from-250-miles-up\/\" class=\"hds-content-item-heading\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-a11y-heading-22\">The World Cup From 250 Miles Up<\/div>\n<p>            <\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-content-item-readtime label margin-bottom-1\">\n                    4 min read                <\/div>\n<p class=\"margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">Over the years, astronauts aboard the International Space Station have photographed several of the cities hosting the 2026 FIFA World\u2026<\/p>\n<div class=\"display-flex flex-align-center label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-auto\"><span>Article<\/span><\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"pagination-container\" class=\"pagination\">\n<nav class=\"hds-pagination hds-pagination--content-lists\" role=\"navigation\" aria-label=\"Pagination Navigation\" data-mid-size=\"2\" data-end-size=\"1\" data-max-pages=\"4\">\n<span aria-current=\"page\" class=\"page-numbers current\" aria-label=\"Current Page, Page 1\" data-page-number=\"1\"><br \/>\n<span>1<\/span><\/span><br \/>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/before-the-dawn-in-americas-heartland\/#\" aria-label=\"Goto Page 2\" data-page-number=\"2\"><br \/>\n<span>2<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/before-the-dawn-in-americas-heartland\/#\" aria-label=\"Goto Page 3\" data-page-number=\"3\"><br \/>\n<span>3<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a class=\"page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/before-the-dawn-in-americas-heartland\/#\" aria-label=\"Goto Page 4\" data-page-number=\"4\"><br \/>\n<span>4<\/span><\/a><br \/>\n<a class=\"next page-numbers\" href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/before-the-dawn-in-americas-heartland\/#\" aria-label=\"Goto Next Page\" data-page-number=\"2\">Next<\/a><br \/>\n<\/nav>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full alignfull wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\n<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Discover More from NASA Earth Science<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/subscribe\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Subscribe to Earth Observatory Newsletters<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">Subscribe to the Earth Observatory and get the Earth in your inbox.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"585\" height=\"425\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/about\/NASA-EO-Logo-mediumBlue2016-stacked-mark.png?w=585&amp;h=425&amp;%23038;fit=clip&amp;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-585x425 size-585x425\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/earth-observatory\/image-of-the-day\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Earth Observatory Image of the Day<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">NASA&#8217;s Earth Observatory brings you the Earth, every day, with in-depth stories and stunning imagery.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"864\" src=\"https:\/\/assets.science.nasa.gov\/dynamicimage\/assets\/science\/esd\/eo\/images\/iotd\/iotd-banner.jpg?w=1536&amp;h=864&amp;%23038;fit=clip&amp;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x864 size-1536x864\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/explore\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Explore Earth Science<\/span><\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1536\" src=\"https:\/\/images-assets.nasa.gov\/image\/NHQ202212160009\/NHQ202212160009~large.jpg?w=1536&amp;h=1536&amp;%23038;fit=clip&amp;%23038;crop=faces%2Cfocalpoint\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a><br \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/earth\/data\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\" rel=\"noopener\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n<div>\n<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Earth Science Data<\/span><\/p>\n<\/h3>\n<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">Open access to NASA\u2019s archive of Earth science data<\/p>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/science.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/10\/biosphere-sea-2008-lrg.png?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x768 size-1536x768\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1);transform-origin: 50% 50%;object-position: 50% 50%;object-fit: cover\" loading=\"lazy\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>With hardly a cloud in sight, astronauts had a sweeping view of nighttime lights in the U.S. Midwest.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[16994],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-590778","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-earth-observatory"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t<!-- All in One SEO Pro 5.0.5 - aioseo.com -->\n\t<meta name=\"description\" content=\"With hardly a cloud in sight, astronauts had a 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