While rocket launches from the Kennedy Space Center are routine, relatively few are timed optimally to allow for viewing so far north.

Related: See all the best images of Earth from space In the astronaut photo, Kol'tsevoye Lake looks as if it has been covered by low-lying clouds sitting at the bottom of the caldera. However ...

As soon as it gets dark, two bright lights become visible—the brightest in the southwest and an almost-as-bright light in the east. What are they?

Smithsonian Design Museum Hudson Valley at Sunset Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Cloud Study at Sunset Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum Clouds at Sunset, Jamaica Cooper Hewitt, ...

and crucial for advancing our understanding of Earth’s near-space environment. As we continue to explore the complexities of our planet’s atmosphere, these luminous clouds serve as beacons of ...