NASA Captures Snow-Covered Grand Canyon from Space, Highlighting Winter Storm Impact
NASA's International Space Station (ISS) recently captured striking images of the Grand Canyon covered in snow, following a winter storm that swept across Arizona's high desert. The photographs, taken on January 26, 2026, by an astronaut aboard the ISS, reveal the dramatic interplay of light and shadow across the canyon's topography. The storm had previously led to hazardous conditions, prompting the closure of Desert View Drive along the South Rim of the Grand Canyon National Park. The South Rim, at an elevation of approximately 7,000 feet, and the North Rim, at about 8,000 feet, were both blanketed in snow. The images, taken with a Nikon Z9 digital camera, were enhanced to improve contrast and remove lens artifacts, providing a clear view of the snow-covered landscape. This visual phenomenon, known as relief inversion, creates an illusion that makes the canyon appear more like a mountain range due to the angle of sunlight. 
