Have you ever wondered what the Gulf of Texas looks like from space? NASA has you covered.

Have you ever wondered what the Gulf of Texas looks like from afar … or more precisely, from space?

Look no further, because NASA has you covered.

A NASA astronaut aboard the International Space Station took this photo of the Texas Gulf Coast and shared it on social media on March 24th.

What you see is about the same as what astronauts see, without any help from cameras, telescopes or other instruments at the station windows.

According to a NASA press release, the photo focuses on Houston, home of the NASA Johnson Space Center, where astronauts live and train.

If you’re from Texas or you’re just a big fan, you can see the Texas coast along with narrow barrier islands that create protective bays between the Gulf of Mexico and the mainland.

According to NASA, the photo was taken on December 25, 2020 – Christmas Day – with a Nikon D5 digital camera using a 24mm lens and is provided by the ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Johnson Space Center .

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You can even see parts of Hill Country in the picture, according to NASA.

“The region marks changes in topography, geology, ecology and climate, from flat, wet coastal wetlands to rocky hills with forests – dark green in the picture,” NASA said. “The area is regionally known as Texas Hill Country.”

The image was cropped and digitally enhanced to improve image contrast and the lens artifacts were removed, according to NASA.

The astronaut was a member of the Expedition 64 crew.

You can see other photos taken by astronauts and cosmonauts by visiting the Gate to the astronautical photograph of the Earth.

Curious space: the origin story of the International Space Station

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