Earth Observation

ISS040-E-081344 (26 July 2014) --- Orbital Sciences' Cygnus cargo carrier craft, in the grasp of the International Space Station's robot arm, is prominent in the foreground of this nighttime photo, taken by one of the Expedition 40 crew members aboard the orbital outpost, flying at an altitude of 225 nautical miles. Many European countries can be seen in the photo. Nearly all of Italy, from Turin (bottom left) to the island of Sicily (right center), is visible, as are the islands of Corsica and Sardinia in the Mediterranean in the center foreground. Looking across Italy over the Adriatic Sea, city lights in several other countries are visible. The 1/6 shutter speed allows for a large number of stars to be visible above the horizon.