This is an image of
the International Space Station
(ISS) as it begins to transit in front of
the Moon.
The ISS is in
low-Earth orbit
(LEO) where it wizzes around the Earth every 90 minutes.
Orbiting the Earth 16 times per day
for 25 years, the ISS has photobombed many familiar celestial objects including
Venus,
Mars,
Saturn, and
the Sun.
Thousands of experiments
led by researchers from over one hundred countries have been conducted on the ISS.
Growing protein crystals in low gravity was
one of the first
experiments onboard the ISS and continues to contribute to new medical treatments. ISS astronauts study plant growth, water recycling, human health, and more to
support the Artemis missions
which will take humans farther than they’ve ever gone before. Next time you are out and about at night, try to
spot the ISS
zooming across the sky!