Astronaut Captures Unusual Photos of a Snow-Covered Grand Canyon

An astronaut has captured a snow-covered Grand Canyon from space while passing over the iconic landmark onboard the International Space Station traveling at 17,500 miles per hour.

European Space Agency cosmonaut Andreas Mogensen snapped the incredible photos noting that 30 seconds previously he had taken a photo of the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating Station in the Mojave Desert, California — 185 miles away from the Grand Canyon.

“If you want to get an idea of how fast we are flying over the Earth, and how quick you have to be to get the photos you want, take a look at these photos of a snow-covered Grand Canyon,” Mogensen writes on X (formerly Twitter). “I took these photos 30 seconds after I took the photo of the Ivanpah Solar Electric Generating Station in the Mojave Desert in yesterday’s post. Blink and you will have missed your target!”

The Grand Canyon in northern Arizona is better known for its baking hot weather but it does sometimes get snow in the winter. Mogensen didn’t say exactly when he took the photos but there have been reports of snow at the national park this winter.

Looking down from fEarth’s orbit 250 miles above the surface, Mogensen’s photos are atypical of the usual views of the Grand Canyon with his vantage point creating abstract images of one of America’s best known natural sites.

Andreas Mogensen is from Denmark and remains in space until no earlier than March 8 when he will return to Earth aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule.

Image credits: Photographs by Andreas Mogensen/ESA.