When planet Earth looks like art

By Matilda Battersby

Monday 29 November 2010

Print
A A A
Latest in Science
Supervolcanoes that could destroy humanity 'may explode sooner than scientists thought'
Dragon spacecraft completes test flight with splashdown
Humans 'can smell people's age'
Women lead way on office hygiene
Stem cell hope for hip replacement procedure
Steve Connor: Opponents of this crop trial are blind to the food crisis
Heavy police presence thwarts anti-GM protest
Astronauts snare SpaceX Dragon capsule in historic first for private craft
Feeding a hungry world – or meddling with laws of nature?
Male contraceptive pill is a step closer after gene discovery
News in pictures
News in pictures
From the blogs

Panorama: Stadiums of Hate – a Polish fan’s response from the stands

Crossing the line is a tough thing to do, even if you step on someone’s foot or make a mistake that ...

Nick Clegg: Charity tax U-turn means ordinary taxpayers will subsidise rich people’s donations

Clang. Another budget u-turn drops. All charity donations will now be exempt from the clampdown on t...

Heard the one about the ladyboy? Media jokes about trans people are not acceptable.

“Transsexual” has become shorthand for someone ridiculous, someone unnamed, someone that nice, middl...

Today’s Ireland vote begs the question: Will the EU be the death of democracy?

With Ireland going to the vote today and Greece on June the 17th, David Bowden argues that those who...

view gallery VIEW GALLERY
Related articles
Suggested Topics

NASA has a wonderful collection of photographs of planet Earth taken by satellites circling the atmosphere.

The beguiling pictures are not of the familiar watery globe which usually represents our world.

They are instead vast landscapes, deserts, oceans and mountain ranges snapped from so far away that they resemble artistic daubings and not familiar landmarks

We've collected a few of the most interesting and beautiful images from their huge online gallery collection.

Click here or on the image to view our favourites

For more information and pictures visit earthasart.gsfc.nasa.gov

Comments

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus
SPONSORED FEATURES

Experience the Heineken Hub

Get free wi-fi and exclusive i content while you enjoy a tasty pint of Heineken at participating pubs.

Teaching jobs Find a home Networking 2012
Prizes & offers Business videos

Can you imagine a career in teaching?

Be inspired to teach - let real teachers show you how rewarding the job can be.

Heineken Hub Find a home Networking 2012
Prizes & offers Business videos

A home to be proud of with Halifax

Download the Halifax's brilliant, free new Home Finder app, and take all the pain out of finding your dream home

Heineken Hub Teaching jobs Networking 2012
Prizes & offers Business videos

Playing a game-changing role during the Games

Cisco is providing the solutions for London 2012's complex IT needs.

Heineken Hub Teaching jobs Find a home
Prizes & offers Business videos

Enter the latest Independent competitions

Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.

Heineken Hub Teaching jobs Find a home
Networking 2012 Business videos

Business videos from commercial thought leaders

Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.

Heineken Hub Teaching jobs Find a home
Networking 2012 Prizes & offers
Career Services

Day In a Page

Countdown's rudest ever moments

Yesterday a contestant spelt the word 'minge'.
Special report: Tamil asylum-seekers to be forcibly deported

Special report

Tamil asylum-seekers to be forcibly deported
The problem with social mobility

The problem with social mobility

Politicians who say they want to break down Britain's social barriers have been told to unlock closed-shop professions – starting in their own backyard
France's sixth biggest city* goes to the polls (*that's London, by the way)

France's sixth biggest city* goes to the polls (*that's London, btw)

Next month expats in the stronghold of South Kensington will have a big say in who is returned as the first French overseas MP
Aftershock: How Haiti's quake hit the whole of Hispaniola

Aftershock: How Haiti's quake hit the whole of Hispaniola

Two years on from the disaster that shook the Caribbean state, its eastern neighbour, the Dominican Republic, fears a new wave of illegal immigrants could hurt its economy
Mean streets at the movies

Mean streets at the movies

Plan B's new film explores the urban tensions that led to last summer's riots – and he's not the only one finding cinematic inspiration in social unrest
Romney hits the magic number, but his smartphone app fails crucial spelling test

Romney hits the magic number...

... but his smartphone app fails crucial spelling test
Car-crash TV: Ferrari quits news after gaffes, rows and poor ratings

Car-crash TV: Ferrari quits news after gaffes, rows and poor ratings

Weeks after the demise of Sarkozy, the TF1 star he's said to have dated finds herself out of office too
Meet your doctor (please don't unplug it)

Meet your doctor (please don't unplug it)

Can a network of hi-tech terminals and online medics make the connection?
The 10 Best cycling gear

The 10 Best cycling gear

It’s summer, it's sunny... it’s the perfect time to get on your bike.
Song of the suicide bomber: How 'Babur in London' negotiated a cultural minefield

Song of the suicide bomber

Daring new opera 'Babur in London' features British terrorists planning an attack.
The school that brought the International Baccalaureate to the East End

Bringing the IB to the East End

The International Baccalaureate is not just for pupils in leafy suburbs.
England must beware brilliant Belgium

England must beware brilliant Belgium

They may have missed out on the Euros but the Belgians have a rash of young players who, thanks to the unifying skills of their coach, look to have a bright future
James Lawton: Liverpool must show new man the respect he needs to do the job

James Lawton

Liverpool must show new man the respect he needs to do the job
2012: the year when England's support decided to stay at home

2012: the year when England's support decided to stay at home

Three Lions will play their Euro 2012 games in front of only a few thousand of their fans