Spring is popping within the northern hemisphere and the total flower moon joined in on the seasonal celebrations on Could 12. Skywatchers on the bottom have been handled to a glowing disk of sunshine. NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers loved the view from a distinct vantage level — approach up on the Worldwide Area Station.
Ayers shared three photos of the moon at full power.Â
“I am nonetheless in awe of our view of the world and past,” she stated on X. “Right now was the flower moon and it didn’t disappoint!”Â
This view from the ISS exhibits the total flower moon in perspective with Earth.
The primary picture options our blue planet dappled with clouds. The moon hovers within the nook with the darkish maria (Latin for “seas”) affect basins stretching like shadows throughout its floor. It is a poetic picture highlighting the shut relationship between Earth and its solely pure satellite tv for pc.
Elements of the Worldwide Area Station photobombed this scenic picture of Earth with the total moon showing as a tiny dot close to the middle.
Ayers’ subsequent picture tells a distinct story. The moon is a tiny dot under an upside-down Earth riddled with clouds. Elements of the area station poke out from the underside of the view.Â
It goes to indicate how path does not matter a lot on the ISS. Earth might be both above or under you relying in your chosen perspective in orbit.
That distance glow at the hours of darkness of area is the total flower moon. Earth’s water and clouds are under.
The ultimate shot is an ode to distance. The moon orbits at a median of about 239,000 miles from Earth. It seems to be each bit that distant within the picture. Our planet is a watery, cloudy hulk with the dainty full moon shining like a distant beacon.
Ayers is a part of the SpaceX Crew-10 mission that arrived on the ISS in March to alleviate the so-called “stranded astronauts” Sunita “Suni” Williams and Barry “Butch” Wilmore. That is Ayers’ first go to to the ISS.
Ayers has been dedicating a few of her public outreach efforts to astrophotography. The moon images showcase her creative eye.
 “These have been shot from just a few completely different lenses for perspective,” she stated. “I like how one can see the feel within the clouds and on the moon itself.”
The Could full moon is understood by the “flower moon” nickname.Â
“Many cultures confer with Could’s full moon because the flower moon because of the plentiful blooming that happens as spring will get going correctly,” the Royal Museums Greenwich stated in an explainer. “Different names embrace the hare moon, the corn planting moon and the milk moon.”
We won’t all be Katy Perry and catch a trip to area, however at the very least we have now Ayers’ views of the total moon to convey the astronaut’s perspective on the celestial present to us on Earth. It is a magnificence whether or not you are down on the bottom or up in orbit.
