Kaleidoscope of Autumn Colors is Heaven on Earth [46 PICS]

October 7th, 2011 Permalink

There is no doubt that ISS astronauts have enviable and breathtaking views of Earth, but when the fall season transforms foliage into a kaleidoscope of colors–rich hues of reds, yellows, oranges and browns, autumn is heaven as seen on Earth. As fall bursts upon the forests, changing them from green to vivid autumn colors, the tantalizing seasonal change can be seen from space. Yet astronauts may envy us for our beautiful view. Here’s a look autumn as seen from high above Earth, then zooming down to enjoy Indian Summer and the kaleidoscope of autumn colors that make our great planet a bedazzling fall spectacular. [46 Photos]

Autumn Waterfall at Sunset

Waterfall during an autumn sunset. When scenes are as beautiful as this, it makes us want to dive right into the picture to live in that captured moment. Photo #1 by Forest Wander

Fall Colors of Black Forest

As we’ve seen in the past, the Black Forest in Germany is beautiful and bewitching at all times, but most especially during the fall. Imagine this enchanting beauty multiplied out for 4,600 sq miles. Once upon a time, the forest was so thick that neither people nor sunlight could penetrate the dark tangle of woods, and that is how Black Forest got its name. Photo #2 by Andreas Wonisch



Alaska autumn from above

This rare clear view of Alaska was taken by the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on the Aqua satellite. As the greens of summer fade to reddish browns and golds, it reveals a beauty that is spectacular from space . . . but the beauty is not even in the same ball field as seeing an Alaskan autumn from the ground. Yes, looking down upon the earth from an ISS perspective is a view to envy; yet astronauts do not have nearly as much of a breathtaking sight as we do when fall foliage is at its peak. Photo #3 by NASA / GSFC

Beautiful Autumn colors along the world famous Glenn Highway - Matanuska River Overlook - Alaska

Beautiful autumn colors along the world famous Glenn Highway – Matanuska River Overlook – Alaska. Photo #4 by Cecil Sanders

Alaska - Two bull caribou during autumn

Alaska – Two bull caribou during autumn. Photo #5 by Jim (code poet)

Grizzly Bear in Denali National Park, Alaska autumn

Grizzly Bear in Denali National Park, Alaska, during the fall season. Photo #6 by blmiers2

Above New England Autumn

Observing autumn from space, way above New England. Here you can see the New England region green with life, but this fall image was captured by the Moderate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS), flying aboard NASA’s Terra satellite. Photo #7 by NASA Goddard Space Flight Center

Indian Summer in New England

Indian Summer in New England. It’s much more lovely to view while on Earth. Photo #8 by Werner Kunz

Covered bridge in autumn, New England

Covered bridge in autumn, New England. Photo #9 by Christopher Harrison

Fall in the forest

From above and looking down, this woods would change from dark green to an orangish-brown in the fall season. Yet the autumn view of a beech woods is much more spectacular from inside the forest. Photo #10 by rachel_thecat

Above Allegheny Mountains autumn, Pennsylvania

Allegheny Mountains as it would be seen by astronauts fortunate enough to look down at Earth from above. It took 5 days for the wooded Allegheny Mountains in Pennsylvania to change from green, to rich hues of yellows, reds, oranges and browns. Photo #11 by NASA / GSFC

Allegheny Mountains autumn

This vivid burst of fall color is of the same Allegheny Mountains as viewed via satellite in #11. Isn’t autumn better as seen by mere humans from our great planet? Photo #12 by The Trucking Tourist

Autumn Allegheny Plateau

Changing of seasons on the Allegheny Plateau as seen from Golden Eagle Trail. Photo #13 by Nicholas T

East Coast fall colors from above the Earth

East Coast fall colors from above the Earth. According to the Earth Observatory, “The fall color follows the sweep of the Appalachian Mountains through Pennsylvania, New York, and into New England. Cities are gray in this photo-like image. The greater New York City region covers a large area on the coast. Boston, Massachusetts, and Providence, Rhode Island are also clearly visible.” This time we are looking at a much bigger area from above so we can hone in on even better views of this same area from an on-Earth perspective. Photo #14 by NASA / GSFC

Autumn (fall) colors in September in the US Appalachian Mountains

We’ll start with the awe-inspiring autumn colors during September in the Appalachian Mountains. The photographer asked, “How do you find your way home?” Photo #15 by Nigel Goodman

Appalachian Dreams in West Virginia

Appalachian Dreams in West Virginia. Photo #16 by Dixon Marshall

North Carolina Autumn - Appalachian Mountains

Colorful North Carolina: Autumn in the Appalachian Mountains. Photo #17 by anoldent

Linn Cove Viaduct in Autumn Splendor, Colorful North Carolina

North Carolina: Linn Cove Viaduct in autumn splendor. Photo #18 by BlueRidgeKitties

Blue Ridge Parkway, NC, was on fire last week during it's peak in the High Country and the colors surrounding Shiprock were no exception

Many people who enjoy the changing colors of fall foliage will take to the highway for sightseeing. The photographer wrote, “Blue Ridge Parkway, NC, was on fire last week during it’s peak in the High Country and the colors surrounding Shiprock were no exception.” Photo #19 by Appalachian Encounters

Double rainbows and departing storm clouds, Minsi Lake, Northampton County, Pennsylvania

This photographer was lucky enough to capture double rainbows and departing storm clouds while taking in the seasonal colors at Minsi Lake, Pennsylvania. Photo #20 by Nicholas T

Looking southwest from Pine Hill (elevation approximately 2265 feet [690 meters]), Lackawanna State Forest, PA

Looking southwest at Lackawanna State Forest, PA. This shot was captured from Pine Hill at an elevation of approximately 2,265 feet (690 meters). Photo #21 by Nicholas T

Autumn Stream in Pennsylvania

Autumn stream in Pennsylvania. Astronauts probably envy this postcard perfect view. Photo #22 by Art G.

The Pennsylvania side of the Delaware Water Gap - autumn

The kaleidoscope of fall colors on the Pennsylvania side of the Delaware Water Gap. Photo #23 by joiseyshowaa

Ruins discovered in the autumn woods along Old Mine Road, Warren County, within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, NJ

Ruins discovered in the woods along Old Mine Road within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, New Jersey. Photo #24 by Nicholas T

Fall colors on Sweetman's Lane in Millstone, New Jersey

Fall colors on Sweetman’s Lane in Millstone, New Jersey. Photo #25 by joiseyshowaa

Roger Williams Park Band Stand on Roosevelt Lake, Providence RI

Roger Williams Park Band Stand on Roosevelt Lake, Providence, Rhode Island. Photo #26 by Josh McGinn

Autumn in Vermont

Autumn in Vermont. Photo #27 by Matt Shalvatis

Rainbow and fall colors in Vermont

Rainbow and fall colors in Vermont. Photo #28 by Jessamyn West

Mt. Sunapee and Sunapee Express - a New Hampshire fall

Mt. Sunapee and Sunapee Express – a New Hampshire fall. Photo #29 by Brent Danley

Albany Covered Bridge in New Hampshire during the fall

Albany Covered Bridge in New Hampshire during autumn. Photo #30 by Ian Britton

Great Lakes from space during autumn to see fall colors

Like the other above-Earth looking down images, the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this photo of fall color around the Great Lakes. The cloud-free view of the Great Lakes shows spots of autumn color stretching across southern Canada and parts of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota. As with the previous aerial view from space, this covers a large area. Now we can appreciate the splendor of fall colors from the same area but as seen on Earth. Photo #31 by NASA / GSFC

Big Waves roll Lake Superior, Michigan, during autumn

Big waves roll Lake Superior, Michigan, during autumn. While these waves may be big, they are in no way close to the ferocious waves attacking lighthouses during powerful storms. Photo #32 by hyperboreal

Beauty of autumn in Canada mirrored on the lake

The seasonal beauty of Canada’s fall foliage is mirrored on the lake. Photo #33 by Rick Harris

The Perfect Place to Take a Book - amazing autumn day

The perfect place to take a book on an amazing autumn day. Photo #34 by Brian Hathcock

Canada: Ontario Pumpkin field in the fall, Niagara Escarpment

This shot of an Ontario pumpkin field was captured at Niagara Escarpment in the Great Lakes area. Photo #35 by Bill Barber

Webster Falls, Dundas Peak, Ontario Canada

While we are looking at fall in Canada, this is autumn at Webster Falls, Dundas Peak, Ontario. Photo #36 by Paul Bica

Under A Blood Red Sky, fall leaves in St. Louis, Oregon

Without hunting for more above-Earth images, we’ll hopscotch across the planet to check out the kaleidoscope of colors. The photographer called this, “Under A Blood Red Sky.” These fall leaves were captured in St. Louis, Oregon. Photo #37 by Ian Sane

Autumn in Belgium at Morlanwelz-Mariemont Park

The autumn season is no doubt much more wonderful right here on Earth than as seen from space. The vivid colors of fall are gorgeous in many more places than just in North America, such as this view in Belgium at Morlanwelz-Mariemont Park. Photo #38 by Jean-Pol GRANDMONT

Golden Fall foillage in Belgium

Golden Gingko Biloba fall foillage in Belgium. Photo #39 by Jean-Pol GRANDMONT

Orgasmic Orange Overload from Hoge Veluwe National Park, Gelderland, Netherlands

The photographer called this “Orgasmic Orange Overload.” Taken in the Hoge Veluwe National Park, Gelderland, Netherlands. Photo #40 by mendhak

Japanese Squirrel in the fall leaves

Japanese Squirrel in the fall leaves. Photo #41 by Ma2bara

Colors of autumn in a Polish forest

Colors of autumn in a Polish forest. Photo #42 by Mohylek

Weeping Willow during the fall in Germany

Weeping Willow during the fall in Germany. Photo #43 by Manfred Hartmann

Autumnal larch forest on the mount Skarbin in the community of Ebenthal in Carinthia, Austria

Autumnal larch forest on Mount Skarbin in Carinthia, Austria. Photo #44 by Johann Jaritz

Mystical fall forest in Larvik, Vestfold Fylke, Norway

Mystical fall forest in Larvik, Vestfold Fylke, Norway. Photo #45 by Ernst Vikne

Japanese Garden in Victoria, British Columbia, autumn leaves at Butchart Gardens

While we’ve looked at superbly serene Chinese gardens in the past, this Japanese garden is located in Victoria, British Columbia. Autumn leaves are decorating Butchart Gardens. Photo #46 by Evan Leeson



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