APOD: 2026 April 15 Б The ISS Transits the Moon
Explanation:
Nope, that is not an alien spaceship landing on the Moon! 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 theyБve ever gone before. Next time you are out
and about at night, try to
spot the ISS
zooming across the sky!
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
