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By TIME Photo
PHOTOS: This Astronaut's Images of Earth Look Like Beautiful Abstract Paintings
![Harsh land. Windswept valleys in northern #Africa](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/astronaut-alexander-gerst-space-station-photography-07.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Land use in South Africa, you can see where water is.](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/astronaut-alexander-gerst-space-station-photography-03.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Irrigation in the #Sahara #Desert looks like a challenging task from up here... #BlueDot](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/astronaut-alexander-gerst-space-station-photography-01.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![An open history book of our planet: the #Sahara Desert](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/astronaut-alexander-gerst-space-station-photography-10.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Nasa: Astronaut Alexander Gerst pictures An open history book of our planet: the # Sahara Desert](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/astronaut-alexander-gerst-space-station-photography-12.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Close-up of gigantic Salar of Uyuni in Bolivia. You can even see the salt fields and the 'Cactus Island'](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/astronaut-alexander-gerst-space-station-photography-02.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Nasa: Alexander Gerst pictures from International Space Station The #Moon was still behind the horizon. A #FataMorgana of atmospherical refraction #BlueDot](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/astronaut-alexander-gerst-space-station-photography-13.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![When I took this photo, I was sure these are clouds. But now I'm not so sure... #BlueDot](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/astronaut-alexander-gerst-space-station-photography-06.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Nasa: Astronaut Alexander Gerst pictures Nasa: Astronaut Alexander Gerst pictures](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/astronaut-alexander-gerst-space-station-photography-11.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![An open history book of our planet: the #Sahara Desert](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/astronaut-alexander-gerst-space-station-photography-09.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
![Human-made fires in East Africa. Can you spot them?](https://api.time.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/astronaut-alexander-gerst-space-station-photography-08.jpg?quality=75&w=2400)
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