Week in images: 24-28 November 2025
Discover our week through the lens
Tag: space
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Earth from Space: Eye of the Sahara
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The Copernicus Sentinel-2 mission captures a spectacular geological wonder in the Sahara Desert of Mauritania: the Richat Structure. -
Rings of Rock in the Sahara
September 13, 2025In northeastern Africa, within the driest part of the Sahara, dark rocky outcrops rise above pale desert sands. Several of these formations, including Jabal Arakanū, display striking ring-shaped structures.
Jabal Arkanū (also spelled Arkenu) lies in southeastern Libya, near the border with Egypt. Several other massifs are clustered nearby, including Jabal Al Awaynat (or Uweinat), located about 20 kilometers (12 miles) to the southeast. Roughly 90 kilometers to the west are the similarly named Arkenu structures. These circular features were once thought to have formed by meteorite impacts, but later fieldwork suggested they resulted from terrestrial geological processes.
Arkanū’s ring-shaped structures also have an earthly origin. They are thought to have formed as magma rose toward the surface and intruded into the surrounding rock. Repeated intrusion events produced a series of overlapping rings, their centers roughly aligned toward the southwest. The resulting ring complex—composed of igneous basalt and granite—is bordered to the north by a hat-shaped formation made of sandstone, limestone, and quartz layers.
This photograph, taken by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station on September 13, 2025, shows the massif casting long shadows across the desert. The ridges stand nearly 1,400 meters above sea level, or about 800 meters above the surrounding sandy plains. Notice several outwash fans of boulders, gravel, and sand spreading from the mountain’s base toward the bordering longitudinal dunes.
Two wadis, or typically dry riverbeds, wind through the structure. However, water is scarce in this part of the Sahara. Past research using data from NASA and JAXA’s now-completed Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) indicated that southeastern Libya, along with adjacent regions of Egypt and northern Sudan, receives only about 1 to 5 millimeters of rain per year. Slightly higher accumulations, around 5 to 10 millimeters per year, occur near Jabal Arkanū and neighboring massifs, suggesting a modest orographic effect from the mountains.
Astronaut photograph ISS073-E-698446 was acquired on September 13, 2025, with a Nikon Z9 digital camera using a focal length of 800 millimeters. It is provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Johnson Space Center. The image was taken by a member of the Expedition 73 crew. The image has been cropped and enhanced to improve contrast, and lens artifacts have been removed. The International Space Station Program supports the laboratory as part of the ISS National Lab to help astronauts take pictures of Earth that will be of the greatest value to scientists and the public, and to make those images freely available on the Internet. Additional images taken by astronauts and cosmonauts can be viewed at the NASA/JSC Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth. Story by Kathryn Hansen.
References & Resources
- Afkareen, M. M., et al. (2022) Lineament Mapping of Jabal Arkenu in Southern Libya. The Scientific Journal of University of Benghazi, 35(1).
- Alghariani, M. (2020) Applications of Remote Sensing for Exploration of Mineral Deposits and Gold in Jabal Arkenu. Fourth International Conference on Geospatial Technologies Libya GeoTec4 in Tripoli – Libya.
- Cigolini, C., et al. (2012) Endogenous and nonimpact origin of the Arkenu circular structures (al-Kufrah basin—SE Libya). Meteoritics & Planetary Science, 47(11), 1772-1788.
- Kelley, O. A. (2014) Where the Least Rainfall Occurs in the Sahara Desert, the TRMM Radar Reveals a Different Pattern of Rainfall Each Season. Journal of Climate, 27(18), 6919–6939.
- NASA Earth Observatory (2024, January 23) Water Beneath the Sand. Accessed October 30, 2025.
- NASA Earth Observatory (2013, March 9) Jebel Uweinat. Accessed October 30, 2025.
- NASA Earth Observatory (2008, November 10) Arkenu Craters, Libya. Accessed October 30, 2025.
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Nighttime Over the Eastern Pacific2 min readA long-exposure photo taken from low Earth orbit captured the brilliant illumination coming from airglow, lightning, and stars.
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ESA Council meeting at Ministerial level 2025 – press conference
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00:51:00Watch the replay of the press conference held at the conclusion of ESA’s Ministerial Council 2025 (CM25) in Bremen, Germany. ESA Director General Josef Aschbacher, as well as the hosting minister and the CM25 chair, present the outcome of this high-level meeting that took place on 26 and 27 November.
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ESA Member States commit to largest contributions at Ministerial
The largest contributions in the history of the European Space Agency, €22.1 bn, have been approved at its Council meeting at Ministerial level in Bremen, Germany.
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NASA Astronaut Chris Williams, Crewmates Arrive at Space Station
The Soyuz rocket launches to the International Space Station with Expedition 74 crew members: NASA astronaut Chris Williams, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, on Thursday, Nov. 27, 2025, at the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan.NASA/Bill IngallsNASA astronaut Chris Williams, accompanied by Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Kud-Sverchkov and Sergei Mikaev, safely arrived at the International Space Station on Thursday, expanding the orbiting laboratory’s crew to 10 for the next two weeks.
The trio launched aboard the Soyuz MS-28 spacecraft at 4:27 a.m. EST (2:27 p.m. Baikonur time) from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan. After a three-hour, two-orbit journey, the spacecraft docked at 7:34 a.m. to the space station’s Rassvet module.
Following hatch opening, expected about 10:10 a.m., the new arrivals will be welcomed by the Expedition 73 crew, including NASA astronauts Mike Fincke, Zena Cardman, and Jonny Kim; JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Kimiya Yui; and Roscosmos cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov, Alexey Zubritsky, and Oleg Platonov.
NASA’s live coverage of hatch opening begins at 9:50 a.m. on NASA+, Amazon Prime, and YouTube. Learn how to watch NASA content through a variety of platforms, including social media.
During his stay aboard the space station, Williams will conduct scientific research and technology demonstrations aimed at advancing human space exploration and benefiting life on Earth. He will help install and test a new modular workout system for long-duration missions, support experiments to improve cryogenic fuel efficiency and grow semiconductor crystals in space, as well as assist NASA in designing new re-entry safety protocols to protect crews during future missions.
Expedition 74 is scheduled to begin on Monday, Dec. 8, following the departure of Kim, Ryzhikov, and Zubritsky, as they conclude an eight-month science mission aboard the orbital outpost.
Watch the change of command ceremony at 10:25 a.m. on Sunday, Dec. 7, as station leadership transfers from Ryzhikov to Fincke, live on NASA+.
Learn more about International Space Station, crews, research, and operations at:
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Jimi Russell
Headquarters, Washington
202-358-1100
james.j.russell@nasa.govSandra Jones / Joseph Zakrzewski
Johnson Space Center, Houston
281-483-5111
sandra.p.jones@nasa.gov / joseph.a.zakrzewski@nasa.gov -
PLANETS Units Have Landed – Free NASA-Funded Out-of-School Time Resources
4 min read
PLANETS Units Have Landed – Free NASA-Funded Out-of-School Time Resources
Constructing a three dimensional topographic map from the Remote Sensing Science Pathway.The NASA Science Activation program’s PLANETS (Planetary Learning that Advances the Nexus of Engineering, Technology, and Science) project, led by Northern Arizona University (NAU), is pleased to announce the official launch of three free out-of-school (OST) time units that give all learners in grades 3-5 and 6-8 the chance to do real planetary science and engineering. These units are supported by comprehensive educator guides, videos, and resources.
These three units – Space Hazards, Water in Extreme Environments, and Remote Sensing – have complementary engineering and science pathways that can be taught on their own or together. Subject matter experts in planetary science from the USGS Astrogeology Science Center were involved in every part of developing the activities, working with STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, & Mathematics) education experts from Northern Arizona University Center for STEM Teaching & Learning, the Boston Museum of Science, and WestEd to ensure the activities are educational, engaging, and accurate.
PLANETS intentionally designed the units to benefit all learners. The curriculum reflects research-based pedagogical strategies, including those for multilingual learners, Indigenous learners, and learners with differing physical abilities. The units have been tested extensively in out-of-school time programs across the country and revised based on their feedback to ensure the needs of all learners are met. PLANETS provides a practical guide for out-of-school time educators with useful advice to effectively teach all students. All units also include educator background on the subject matter, as well as videos, and many useful tips and links to relevant NASA projects and resources.
“PLANETS is one of the most thoughtfully designed STEM resources I’ve used in an out-of-school setting. The hands-on activities are engaging, accessible, and grounded in real-world challenges that spark curiosity in every learner. What sets it apart is the intentional support for diverse learners and the clear, practical guidance for facilitators—making it truly turnkey for OST educators at any experience level. If you’re looking to build STEM identity, teamwork, and creative problem-solving in your program, PLANETS is a must.” ~ Kara Branch, CEO & Founder, Black Girls Do Engineer
In the Space Hazards unit, intended for learners in grades 3-5, students play a card game to learn about how to protect against the different hazards that people face on Earth and that astronauts and robotic probes face in space. The engineering pathway for this unit presents students with a challenge: design a space glove that will keep astronauts safe while still allowing them to do their work.
The Water in Extreme Environments unit is designed for grades 6-8. In the science pathway, students use planet “water cards” to learn where there is the most water in our solar system (hint: it’s not Earth!). The engineering pathway introduces learners to the scarcity of fresh water, both in extreme environments on Earth and for astronauts in space. Students design a filtration system to purify water for reuse.
The engineering pathway for the Remote sensing unit, also designed for grades 6-8, puts students into the shoes of NASA spacecraft engineers, designing remote sensing devices to learn about the surface of planets, like Mars. The science pathway then uses real NASA remote sensing data from Mars landing site candidates to choose the best place to land a rover on Mars.
All PLANETS materials are available at no cost on the website: planets-stem.org. Check them out and empower every learner to see themselves as scientists and engineers.
PLANETS is supported by NASA under cooperative agreement award number NNX16AC53 and is part of NASA’s Science Activation Portfolio. Learn more about how Science Activation connects NASA science experts, real content, and experiences with community leaders to do science in ways that activate minds and promote deeper understanding of our world and beyond: https://science.nasa.gov/learn/about-science-activation/.
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Last UpdatedNov 26, 2025EditorNASA Science Editorial TeamRelated Terms
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Artemis II Orion Spacecraft Stacked
NASA’s Artemis II Orion spacecraft with its launch abort system is stacked atop the agency’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket in High Bay 3 of the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. The spacecraft will carry NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a 10-day mission around the Moon and back in early 2026.
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Artemis II Orion Spacecraft Stacked
NASA/Kim ShiflettIn this Oct. 20, 2025, photo, NASA’s Artemis II Orion spacecraft with its launch abort system is stacked atop the agency’s SLS (Space Launch System) rocket in the Vehicle Assembly Building at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Orion will carry NASA astronauts Reid Wiseman, Victor Glover, Christina Koch, and CSA (Canadian Space Agency) astronaut Jeremy Hansen on a 10-day mission around the Moon and back in early 2026.
Follow along with the mission on the NASA Artemis blog.
Image credit: NASA/Kim Shiflett
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Ministers and high-level representatives gather for ESA's Ministerial Council
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Ministers and high-level representatives gather for ESA’s Ministerial Council -
Sentinel-5 debuts images of atmospheric gases
Launched just a little over three months ago, Copernicus Sentinel-5A has returned its first images – including a global map of ozone, maps of nitrogen dioxide over the Middle East and South Africa, formaldehyde over parts of Africa, and emissions of sulphur dioxide from an active volcano in Russia – showcasing the mission’s powerful capability to monitor atmospheric gases worldwide.
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Sentinel-1D delivers first images: from Antarctica to Bremen
The first high-resolution images have been received from Copernicus Sentinel-1D and were shared publicly for the first time at the European Space Agency’s Ministerial Council, held today in Bremen, Germany. Glaciers in Antarctica, the tip of South America, as well as the city of Bremen, are visible in these stunning radar images.
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LSAH Newsletter
1 min read
Preparations for Next Moonwalk Simulations Underway (and Underwater)
Reid Wiseman finds a little peace and quiet in the station’s Destiny lab.NASAThe Lifetime Surveillance of Astronaut Health (LSAH) program collects, analyzes, and interprets medical, physiological, hazard exposure, and environmental data for the purpose of maintaining astronaut health and safety as well as preventing occupationally induced injuries or disease related to space flight or space flight training. It allows NASA to effectively understand and mitigate the long-term health risks of human spaceflight, as well as support the physical and mental well-being of astronauts during future exploration missions.
The LSAH Newsletter serves to inform and update former astronauts on how their medical data is being utilized by the LSAH team. It is published and distributed bi-annually.
+ October 2025 | Vol 30 Issue 2 – LSAH Newsletter
+ Past LSAH Newsletters and Publications
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