The Most Beautifule Planets

1. Indean Ocean Maldives

“The sunny side of life” is a catchphrase used to attract tourists to the Maldive Islands. Well it certainly looks heavenly from the ISS. Time to order a large drink, you know, one with a lot of fruit and a little umbrella, then stretch out on a hammock and just enjoy life, watching what I can only imagine a marvelous sunset. Image Credit: NASA/ESA

2. Pacific Ocean Hawaii
Aloha! Scanning westward we approach the Hawaiian Islands. The Big Island is clearly visible. Kilauea is sometimes called “the world’s only drive-in volcano.” This prolific volcano currently produces 250,000-650,000 cubic yards of lava per day, enough to resurface a 20-mile-long, two-lane road daily. Image: NASA/ESA

3. Aurora Australis, New Zealand

I do not think I have ever seen the Aurora from inside the Aurora itself. This images is awesome on so many levels. It reminds me of a laser show by Jean Michel Jarre – secretive and mysterious. Image: NASA/ESA

4. East coast of Spain at Night
Looking southward on to the east coast of Spain, at night, with the Balearic sea as a dark cloak. The Island of Mallorca is visible on the top left. With Barcelona’s bright lights behind some clouds, I’m reminded about my own bucket list. One day I want to go there to see FC Barcelona face Real Madrid. Soccer might not be huge in the US but it is by far the leading sport in the rest of the world.
Image Credit: NASA/ESA

5. Manam Volcano, Papua New Guinea
Manam or “the Green Volcano” as I’d like to call it, is just 10 kilometers (6 miles) across. Manam is a stratovolcano, composed of alternating layers of ash, lava, and rocks from prior eruptions. Manam is one of Papua New Guinea’s most active volcanoes, and it has occasionally caused casualties, including 13 deaths from a pyroclastic flow in December 1996, and four deaths from a mudflow in March 2007. On a happier note, this image looks like a perfect movie set (Jurassic Park or King Kong comes to mind).
Image Credit: NASA/ESA

6. Sunset reflection in the Caspian Sea
The Caspian Sea is the largest enclosed body of water on Earth by area, variously classed as the world’s largest lake or sea. The sea has a surface area of 371,000 km2 (143,200 sq mi). I decided to end my article with this magnificent shot. Our planet is pure gold. Cherish it, it’s the only one we got.
Image Credit: NASA/ESA