Space Station Pic: 'Sunglint' Silhouette of NE U.S. Coast

'Sunglint' Silhouettes Northeast Coast in Astronaut Photo

Clara Moskowitz, OurAmazingPlanet Senior Writer

Date: 25 February 2013 Time: 05:30 PM ET

Looking out at the Earth’s surface from the International Space Station (ISS), astronauts frequently observe sunglint highlighting both ocean and inland water surfaces. CREDIT: NASA/JSC View full size image

The coast of the northeast United States is silhouetted against the shimmering water of Cape Cod Bay and Long Island Sound in a new photo captured by astronauts on the International Space Station.

The phenomenon of light from a setting sun reflecting off water to create a shining, mirrorlike surface is called sunglint, and is evident throughout the photo.

"The Atlantic Ocean — including Cape Cod Bay and Buzzards Bay, along the coastlines of Massachusetts and Rhode Island — has a burnished, mirrorlike appearance in this image," the NASA's Earth Observatory wrote. "This is due to sunlight reflected off the water surface back towards the astronaut-photographer."


More - Link >>> http://www.livescience.com/27444-sunglint-coast-astronaut-photo.html

Source: LiveScience.com .

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