The main role of Cupola is to serve as an observatory: it has a clear view of Earth and celestial bodies, and there enough space to accommodate two astronauts holding cameras with telephoto lenses.
Whether targeted Earth observations and scientific measurements or aesthetic and relaxing views, the scenery outside Cupola is impressive. From oil spills, desertification, melting icebergs and glaciers, dust storms, hurricanes and pollution to atmospheric phenomena and auroras – it is a lengthy list of targets.
Even now, when Earth can be studied all the time by many satellites with a variety of sensors, observations from the ISS are important, because there the observer is human. Astronauts not only adapt to changing situations, but also take photos spontaneously, when something interesting is happening.
Parts of Europe and Africa are easily recognisable in this night image shot by one of the Expedition 25 crew members aboard the International Space Station flying 350 km above Earth on 28 October 2010. The view 'looks' northward over Sicily and the 'boot' of Italy, with the Mediterranean Sea representing most of the visible water in the view and the Adriatic Sea to the right of centre. Tunisia is partially visible at left. Part of a docked Russian spacecraft and other components of the ISS are in the foreground. NASA photo ISS025-E-009840
Wonderful vistas from CupolaViews from Cupola
Where is ISS now?
