Viewers are astounded by the breathtaking view of the Sahara Desert from space

How might different Earthly locations seem when seen from orbit? Even if nothing can be recorded, we can get a good idea of how the Sahara desert looks from orbit. NASA’s Johnson Space Center, part of the International Space Agency, captured this video.

In some places on the light brown surface of the viral video, there are big and little white spots visible. Since Earth has only been seen as blue and green so far, this sight may first seem like it belongs on Mars or Mercury. But this is the area of the planet where the Sahara desert is found. There are sporadic white clouds over the brown sand ground. “This alien-looking planet is the Earth seen from space as sandstorms and cumulonimbus clouds cover the Sahara Desert,” reads the text that goes with the video.

Thousands of people have seen this fascinating film, and many of them have left comments sharing their opinions. One user noted that it is hard to identify Earth in this environment since the iconic blue color is missing. While some find the movie to be convincing, others have even questioned its legitimacy. “This view of the desert from space is quite remarkable, offering a unique perspective on our planet’s diverse landscapes,” said a different user.

NASA said last year that an aging spacecraft that had been monitoring the sun for more than ten years had reentered Earth’s atmosphere over the Sahara Desert. The reentry, which occurred in the early hours of the morning in Sudan, did not result in any damage or injuries, according to NASA authorities.

It was anticipated that the 300-kilogram (660-pound) Rhessi satellite would mostly break up when it re-entered the atmosphere. Experts did predict that some pieces would make it down and strike the earth, however.

Rhessi, which was founded in 2002, shut down in 2018 as a result of a communication issue. The spacecraft played a crucial role in the research of solar flares and coronal mass ejections that the sun released prior to its retirement. The Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager is known by the acronym Rhessi.