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There are patterns of beauty across Earth and throughout the Universe.

From the Earth to the Heavens invites you to compare aerial photographs of our planet taken by Yann Arthus-Bertrand (left) to X-ray images of the cosmos taken by NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory (right). We hope these pairings provide an intriguing new way to view the striking visual patterns made by these very different objects.

Image of Flamingoes on Lake Nakuru
Image of The Bullet Cluster

Flamingoes on Lake Nakuru

Continent: Africa
Location: S 0° 17' - E 36° 04' (Longitude/Latitude)

The extremely briny waters of Lake Nakuru in Kenya are favorable for the algae, microorganisms and small crustaceans that are the basic diets of the flamingoes. Over a million flamingoes are known to live in this location, among nearly 400 other species of bird.

Copyright Arthus-Bertrand "Earth from Above". Used with permission.
Image of Forest of Saint-Hyacinthe
Image of G292.0+1.8

Forest of Saint-Hyacinthe

Continent: North America
Location: N 45° 37' - W 75° 57' (Longitude/Latitude)

One third of the region of Monteregie — bordered to the north by the St. Lawrence River and to the south by the United States — is covered by mixed forest. Pines, spruces, cherry and birch trees are among many species seen here.

Copyright Arthus-Bertrand "Earth from Above". Used with permission.

Image of Beginning of the Namib Desert
Image of Puppis A

Beginning of the Namib Desert

Continent: Africa
Location: S 22° 35' - E 17° 02' (Longitude/Latitude)

The Namib Desert, formed 100 million years ago, is believed to be the world's oldest. It consists largely of stony plains but also includes over 13,000 square miles of sand dunes, which are the highest on Earth.

Copyright Arthus-Bertrand "Earth from Above". Used with permission.

Image of a Flock of Scarlet Ibis
Image of the Rosette Nebula

Flock of Scarlet Ibis

Continent: South America
Location: W 62° 21' - N 9° 57' (Longitude/Latitude)

More than a third of this area of Venezuela is made up of humid zones, the habitat of choice for the scarlet ibis. This bird is currently endangered, with fewer than 200,000 surviving in various parts of Central and South America.

Copyright Arthus-Bertrand "Earth from Above". Used with permission.

 

Image of Tree of Life
Image of the Perseus Cluster

Tree of Life

Continent: Africa
Location: E 38° 25' - S 2° 11' (Longitude/Latitude)

This acacia stands alone in vast expanses of thorny savanna, where wild animals come to take advantage of its leaves and shade. This park in the southeastern corner of Kenya is the country's largest protected area.

Copyright Arthus-Bertrand "Earth from Above". Used with permission.

Image of the Great Barrier Reef
Image of Cassiopeia A

The Great Barrier Reef

Continent: Australia
Location: E 146° 03' - S 16° 55' (Longitude/Latitude)

At a length of over 1,500 miles, the Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral formation in the world. Located along the northeastern coast of Australia, the Great Barrier Reef is home to more than 400 types of coral.

Copyright Arthus-Bertrand "Earth from Above". Used with permission.

Image of Discharge from the gold mine on the shore of Mindanao
Image of RCW 103

Discharge from the Gold Mine on the Shore of Mindanao

Continent: Asia
Location: E 126° 03' - N 6° 52' (Longitude/Latitude)

On the island of Mindanao in the southern Philippines, gold deposits are being mined. Refuse and sediments are discharged into the rivers and ocean, as seen here, causing damage to marine flora and fauna.

Copyright Arthus-Bertrand "Earth from Above". Used with permission.

Curated by Kimberly Arcand/CXC




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