Earth illuminated by sunglint • Earth.com Earth illuminated by sunglint

Earth illuminated by sunglint

Today’s Image of the Day from NASA features a remarkable view of the Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) as it passed more than 250 miles above the North Atlantic Ocean.

The Gulf of St. Lawrence and its coastal Canadian states are lit up by sunglint, a phenomenon that happens when sunlight reflects off the surface of the ocean at the same angle as the satellite that is viewing the region. Earth illuminated by sunglint

The striking photo was captured from the ISS on April 2, 2019.

Earth is the third planet from the Sun and the only astronomical object known to harbor life. According to radiometric dating and other evidence, Earth formed over 4.5 billion years ago.

Earth’s gravity interacts with other objects in space, including the Moon, which is Earth’s only natural satellite. Earth orbits around the Sun in 365.256 days, a period known as an Earth sidereal year. During this time, Earth rotates about its axis about 366.256 times.

Earth’s axis of rotation is tilted with respect to its orbital plane, producing seasons on Earth. The gravitational interaction between Earth and the Moon causes tides, stabilizes Earth’s orientation on its axis, and gradually slows its rotation.

Earth is the densest planet in the Solar System and the largest and most massive of the four rocky planets.

By Chrissy Sexton, Earth.com Staff Writer

Image Credit: NASA

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