ISS crew photographs Saririaky anorthosite massif
An Expedition 75 photograph captures an anorthosite massif, a rock type tied to the Moon's crust.
- An Expedition 75 crew member photographed the Saririaky anorthosite massif from the International Space Station on Aug. 28, 2026.
- The image ISS075-E-85249 was acquired with a Nikon Z9 digital camera and a 400mm lens.
- The ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility provided the image after cropping and enhancement.
- Anorthosite is an intrusive igneous rock common in the Moon's highlands.
- The Saririaky massif formed in the late Precambrian and was deformed during Gondwana formation.
What happened
An Expedition 75 crew member photographed the Saririaky anorthosite massif from the International Space Station. The image was acquired on 2026-08-28.
What we know
The image ISS075-E-85249 was acquired from the International Space Station on 2026-08-28 by an Expedition 75 crew member.
The recorded camera details include a Nikon Z9 digital camera and 400 millimeters.
The ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility provided the image, which was cropped, enhanced, and had lens artifacts removed.
Anorthosite is an intrusive igneous rock composed of large mineral crystals. It is common on the surface of the Moon and appears from Earth as the lunar highlands.
Anorthosite occurs across Earth's surface in eastern Canada, Scandinavia, southern India and Madagascar.
The Saririaky massif formed in the late Precambrian and lies within a ductile shear zone. It was metamorphosed and reshaped by high pressures and temperatures, and its deformation occurred during Gondwana formation with north-south-trending linear patterns.
Another anorthosite massif is located north of the Saririaky massif and was pulled apart from it.
Lunar anorthosites crystallized from the Moon's magma ocean and formed the Moon's outer crust. Apollo astronauts are named in connection with lunar samples, and Beartooth Mountains anorthosites in Montana match lunar anorthosite composition.
Why it matters
The image records an anorthosite massif, a rock type that is common on the Moon's surface and appears from Earth as the lunar highlands.
Lunar anorthosites crystallized from the Moon's magma ocean and formed the Moon's outer crust; Apollo astronauts are associated with lunar samples.
Beartooth Mountains anorthosites in Montana match lunar anorthosite composition, giving an Earth-based reference for the same material.
Sources
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