The Space Station Has 15 Sunsets A Day, And All Are Beautiful

PublishedNovember 17, 2014

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The International Space Station goes through a full day in 92 minutes, each with its own sunrise and sunset. The Earth's atmosphere acts as a prism, bending rays of sunlight to paint the station in a quick succession of rich colours. Astronaut Butch Wilmore photographed how the light changes on a solar array.

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The station completes 15.51 orbits a day, giving astronauts plenty of chances to bask in the beauty of sunrises and sunsets. These photographs were all taken by current station resident, NASA astronaut Barry "Butch" Wilmore.

All images credit NASA/Butch Wilmore. Top gif animated by Mika McKinnon.