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Mount Pavlof eruption -

The 2016 eruption of Mount Pavlof occurred in the Aleutian Range on the Alaska Peninsula, roughly 1,005 km (625 mi) southwest of Anchorage.

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Chaparrastique volcano -

Ash spews out of El Salvador's Chaparrastique volcano during a 2013 eruption. 

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Nightfall over Iberia -

Seen after dark, the Iberian Peninsula simply sparkles, illuminating Spain and Portugal in high definition. 

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Winter climate -

This NASA photo taken by the International Space Station (ISS) in 2016 captures a winter storm impacting the US East Coast.

© Reuters

Hawaii -

Hawaii's Big Island is seen anchored in a deep blue Pacific Ocean.

© Reuters

Diamond ring -

The sun rises magnificently from beyond the Earth's horizon. 

© Reuters

The northern lights -

The northern lights, also called the aurora borealis, are caused by high-energy particles that are emitted from the sun in two ways: by a steady flow of solar wind; and as a result of coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which are the result of massive solar eruptions.

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Typhoon Maysak -

Typhoon Maysak is pictured in 2015 gaining strength to a frightening Category 5 hurricane. 

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Above the Middle East -

The River Nile and Sinai Peninsula pictured in astonishing clarity.

© Reuters

Dust storm -

A wide view capturing a significant portion of the Red Sea and a dust plume emerging from Egypt and moving towards Saudi Arabia.

© Reuters

Hurricane Patricia -

In 2015 the coast of Mexico braced for the arrival of Hurricane Patricia, a Category 5 monster.

© Reuters

Lake Ontario in bloom -

Lake Ontario colored by plankton blooms during the late summer of 2013.

© Reuters

An outside perspective on 9/11 -

A tell-tale plume of smoke emerges from Lower Manhattan, New York City, on September 11, 2001.

© Reuters

Moonrise -

An ink-black crescent moon emerges over the cusp the Earth's atmosphere. 

© Reuters

Seas and oceans -

A huge expanse of ocean reflecting  sunlight. About 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by water.

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Lighting up the Midwest -

The International Space Station passed over Nebraska in 2012, to be met by the shimmering aurora borealis over the US Midwest.

© Reuters

Moon's orange transition -

The Earth is pictured as it transitions into the orange-hued troposphere. Lending perspective is the moon.

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Scratches on the surface -

From this lofty elevation, Finger Lakes in New York appear as shredded paper.

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Docked in orbit -

The space shuttle Endeavour is pictured in 2011 docked with the International Space Station.

© Reuters

Flypast -

In 2012 the International Space Station appeared to make a spectacular flypast over the moon. 

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A star is born -

A shooting star is captured in a photograph taken by astronaut Ron Garan on the ISS in 2011.

© Reuters

Washington, D.C., a capitol image -

Washington, D.C. is depicted in this photo, with Andrews Air Force Base visible in the lower left of the frame. 

© Reuters

Exploring Morocco -

The International Space Station looms above the space shuttle Discovery, itself seen over Morocco's southwestern coast in this incredible 2011 image. 

© Reuters

Persian point of view -

The Iranian city of Shiraz, situated in the southwest of the country. 

© Reuters

Siberia from space -

The immensity of Siberia's Lake Baikal can be admired from this impressive point of view.

© Reuters

The beauty of the Bahamas -

The unique beauty of a group of small islands and the meandering channels that separate them resembles abstract art.

© Reuters

Early morning treat -

A view of sunrise over our planet enjoyed by the crew of the International Space Station in 2016.

© Reuters

Diplomatic docking -

In 2011, the space shuttle Atlantis was captured in a photo above the Bahamas as it prepared to dock with the International Space Station. The image also includes part of the Russian Progress spacecraft, already docked with the station.

© Reuters

Sunspot -

The silhouette of the International Space Station is visible as it passes in front of the sun, moving at approximately five miles per second.

© Reuters

Look, no hands! -

In 2005, astronaut Stephen K. Robinson was secured by a foot restraint on the Canadarm2 of the International Space Station.

© Reuters

Beyond the earthly realm -

Earthrise. The iconic view of Earth emerging above the Lunar horizon as seen from the Apollo 11 Command Module as it approached the moon in 1969.

© Getty Images

Goodnight! -

In 2017 NASA released a fantastic composite image showing the night sky in the entire western hemisphere.

See also: Mysterious moons of our solar system 

© Reuters