Images Dated 5th September 2002

Moon

The Moon, showing part of its far side, photographed from the departing Apollo 15 spacecraft in August 1971, after its Moon landing. The dark patches at centre right are some of the lunar seas (maria) which are characteristic of the face it presents to Earth. The heavily-cratered region at centre left is on the far side of the Moon, which is never seen from Earth. The Moon always presents the same face to Earth, as it rotates on its axis in the same time that it orbits around Earth. Such gravitational locking of an orbit is common amongst satellites

© NASA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Shuttle photograph of the Middle East

Shuttle photograph of the Middle East taken from the earth-orbiting Atlantis in early April 1991 during mission STS-37. The eastern Mediterranean Sea is at upper left, while the northern Red Sea is at right. The River Nile is visible meandering through the dark band of fertile land which runs across Egypt, the landmass in the lower portion of the frame. Separated from the rest of Egypt by the Gulf of Suez is the Sinai Peninsula, with Mount Sinai itself prominent in the rocky mass on the right hand tip. The Gulf of Aquaba separates Sinai from Saudi Arabia at upper right. The Dead Sea which lies on the Israeli/Jordanian border is visible just above the centre of the frame

© NASA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

Bald Eagle Head showing protective Eye Covering (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), Homer, AK

© Bennett, Darren / Animals Animals/Earth Scenes

Adult, Animal, Bald Eagle, Close Up, Darren Bennett, Face, Haliaeetus Leucocephalus, Head, Homer, Nictating Membrane