Sometimes, science and art aren’t so different after all.
While NASA is mostly known for studying the outer reaches of our solar system, it’s trained countless satellites on Earth, giving scientists a cornucopia of data about our changing planet.
But sometimes, science and art aren’t so different. In November, NASA’s Global Climate Change Group released the most stunning images taken by satellites and astronauts in space.
Many of these images are in false color, which scientists use to display images and features that aren’t usually visible to the naked eye.
Here are our selections of the best of the bunch:
No, this isn’t a scene from a sci-fi movie — this spacesuit is empty. Dubbed SuitSat-1, this unneeded Russian space suit was filled with old clothes and launched to orbit the Earth in 2006.
This is the Mississippi River, pictured just south of Memphis, Tennessee in 2003. You can see the blocky shapes of towns and fields surrounding the river.
Tech: Here are the most stunning images NASA has ever taken of our planet
