This panoramic image is one of the most stunning shots I’ve ever seen from low Earth orbit. Treasure this photo: It’s the last time you’re going to see the space shuttle with the aurora australis – the southern lights – as a backdrop.
Taken on July 14 from the International Space Station, the composition is just gorgeous. The magically illuminated Atlantis, the robotic arm and the station’s radiators all converging towards Earth, with the aurora australis taking all over the background. And to complete the painting, the green lights on the station, giving the whole thing a sci-fi-the-future-is-now look. [NASA Goddard Pictures]