On a Clear Day

As Houstonians, we have to put up with extended heat and humidity for months and months each year. Therefore, during the short period in March and/or April when the weather is beautiful and clear and gorgeous and perfect -- in short, on days like today -- I think there should be a law that no one has to go to work. It's just mean to make me sit here when the view out the window is so tempting.

This kind of lovely, cloudless day happens with welcome frequency in the spring. Last month, one of the crewmembers on the International Space Station took this photo from orbit. Just to the lower left of center is a neighborhood with a golf course running through the middle. (It's easier to see if you view large on Flickr.) That's my neighborhood!

While I was looking for that picture, I also came across this picture of Dubai. I knew they had a palm shaped island. Islands in the shape of continents? That's a new one!

While I don't know if he took these photos specifically, one of the current crewmember, Soichi Noguchi from Japan, has been taking tons of photos from orbit and posting them via Twitter. (He's @Astro_Soichi.) Since I'm on the topic, here are a couple of my favorites that he's posted lately:

"Himalaya in sunset. Lake Manasarovar is still frozen."

He's also been taking photos of the glaciers in Patagonia. They are spectacular. I'm pretty sure we saw both of these when we went to Patagonia in 2006. (I need to repost those photos. Dang I was skinny then.)

"South Patagonia. One of the most beautiful glaciers of the world. 800mm lens will take you there :-)"

"Glacier lake in Southern Patagonia. See the color difference between the two lakes."