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These two images were taken by only minutes apart. The stark difference is the result of camera settings. In the first, a longer shutter speed let in much more light from Earth, while the shorter shutter speed in the second emphasizes our planet's nighttime glow.
A full disk image of Earth, as seen from the Orion capsule. The planet is a pale blue, swirling with white clouds and glowing slightly lighter blue in place from reflected light. From about 8 to 9 o'clock, a large brown landmass is Africa, with the Iberian peninsula twinkling with lights just where the planet curves. At the 1 o'clock spot, aurora glow in a thin green glow, just barely separated from the planet's surface. Earth is set against the black of space. Credit: NASA/Reid Wiseman
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A full disk image of Earth at night, as seen from the Orion capsule. The planet is a dark midnight blue. Swirling white clouds are visible against the darker surface. From about 8 to 9 o'clock, a large, very brown landmass is Africa, with the Iberian peninsula twinkling with lights just where the planet curves. Other tiny yellow dots of electric lights are sprinkled across the planet's surface. From the 3 to the 6 o'clock spot, a very thin crescent of blue light hugs the edge of the planet. Earth is set against the black of space. Credit: NASA/Reid Wiseman
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