Rocket Eye View Of London By Night

This amazing photograph of London was taken by astronauts on board the International Space Station 376 km above the earth.

The bright lights of the city shine out - with the city centre glowing in the middle of the picture. The fainter line of light circling the edge of the photo is the M25 motorway. Away from the city centre the lights fade as there are less houses.

Right: the International Space Centre.





© British
National Space Centre.

Astronauts took the photograph in early February, but it has only just been shown to the public. After it was taken, out in space, the photograph was sent back to scientists in Texas, USA at NASA's Earth Sciences and Image Analysis Laboratory.

You can also pick out other places close to London such as Heathrow and Gatwick airports, Reading, Maidstone and Gillingham on the photo.

Left: this photo of
Mount Etna erupting
was taken
from space.

The crew of the International Space Centre has taken lots of images of the view from space. Click on this link to see more. You may not be able to pick out your back garden but they're fun to look at.

If you're a fan of outer space, rockets or astronauts there are lots of places in Britain that could be your perfect day out.

Right: looking up to the future in Leicester.




© National Space Centre.

The National Space Centre in Leicester has loads going on - from rockets to spacesuits they have it all. From March 7 to 14 it's National Science Week, when there are even more events for children than usual. It's out of this world. Click on this link for the National Space Centre website.

Right: Jodrell Bank is home to lots of hi-tech wizardry.




© Jodrell Bank, University of Manchester.

At the 'Found in Space' exhibition at Dumfries Museum in Scotland you can build your own solar system and find out why our galaxy is called 'The Milky Way' in an exciting show about all things spacey. It's on from March 1 to April 21 2003.

Jodrell Bank Science Centre is the home of the famous Lovell Radio Telescope and the Jodrell Bank Observatory. Scientists from the University of Manchester keep their eyes and ears trained on the skies in search of astronomical know-how.

So, off you go - the galaxy and all of its wonders are waiting to be explored. Click on this link and go to The Learning Zone for more information on space, rockets and planets from the British National Space Centre.

All images from International Space Station courtesy of Earth Sciences and Image Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center.