The Moon's glint beams off the Pacific Ocean

The Moon illuminates a cloud-covered Pacific Ocean

STS054-95-042 (13-19 Jan 1993) --- The Equatorial Pacific Ocean is represented in this 70mm view. The international oceanographic research community is presently conducting a program called Joint Global Ocean Flux Study (JGOFS) to study the global ocean carbon budget. A considerable amount of effort within this program is presently being focused on the Equatorial Pacific Ocean because of the high annual average biological productivity. The high productivity is the result of nearly constant easterly winds causing cool, nutrient-rich water to well up at the equator. In this view of the sun glint pattern was photographed at about 2 degrees north latitude, 103 degrees west longitude, as the Space Shuttle passed over the Equatorial Pacific. The long narrow line is the equatorial front, which defines the boundary between warm surface equatorial water and cool, recently upwelled water. Such features are of interest to the JGOFS researchers and it is anticipated that photographs such as this will benefit the JGOFS program.

Collapsed Thunderstorm, Southwest Pacific Ocean

STS049-71-042 (8 May 1992) --- This photograph, taken from the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Endeavour, shows a collapsed thunderstorm in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The clouds were pushed from this circular area of the ocean's surface by relatively cool air that spread downward and outward from a dying thunderstorm. Around the edges of the downdrafted air, new, though smaller, storms are developing. The photo was taken on May 8, 1992, between Borneo and the Philippine island of Mindoro. Two coral atolls can be seen near the center of the photograph. The crew members used a handheld Hasselblad camera, 250-mm lens, color film to expose the image.

Four Tropical Cyclones Across the Entire Pacific Ocean

This GOES-West satellite image shows four tropical cyclones in the North Western, Central and Eastern Pacific Ocean on September 1, 2015. In the Western Pacific (far left) is Typhoon Kilo. Moving east (to the right) into the Central Pacific is Hurricane Ignacio (just east of Hawaii), and Hurricane Jimena. The eastern-most storm is Tropical Depression 14E in the Eastern Pacific. Credit: NASA/NOAA GOES Project <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/audience/formedia/features/MP_Photo_Guidelines.html" rel="nofollow">NASA image use policy.</a> <a href="http://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/home/index.html" rel="nofollow">NASA Goddard Space Flight Center</a> enables NASA’s mission through four scientific endeavors: Earth Science, Heliophysics, Solar System Exploration, and Astrophysics. Goddard plays a leading role in NASA’s accomplishments by contributing compelling scientific knowledge to advance the Agency’s mission. Follow us on <a href="http://twitter.com/NASAGoddardPix" rel="nofollow">Twitter</a> Like us on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Greenbelt-MD/NASA-Goddard/395013845897?ref=tsd" rel="nofollow">Facebook</a> Find us on <a href="http://instagrid.me/nasagoddard/?vm=grid" rel="nofollow">Instagram</a>

Paul Sierpinski, assistant NASA Recovery Director, poses for a portrait onboard USS John P. Murtha, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Artemis II Assistant NASA Recovery Director

Dan Flores, Senior NASA Test Director, Rescue and Recovery, poses for a portrait onboard the USS Murtha, Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Artemis II Senior Test Director

Lisa Seiler, Artemis Landing and Recovery Deputy Director, poses for a portrait onboard USS John P. Murtha, Thursday, April 9, 2026, in the Pacific Ocean off the coast of California. Photo Credit: (NASA/Bill Ingalls)

Artemis II Landing and Recovery Deputy Director

Sunglint in South Western Pacific Ocean

AST-19-1555 (24 July 1975) --- A sunglint in the South Western Pacific Ocean, as photographed from the Apollo spacecraft in Earth orbit during the joint U.S.-USSR Apollo-Soyuz Test Project mission. The island is Bougainville of the Solomon Islands group. The horizon of Earth is in the background. The picture was taken at an altitude of 231 kilometers (143 statute miles), with a 70mm Hasselblad camera using medium-speed Ektachrome QX-807 type film.

The Pacific Ocean doesnt show signs of anything that looks like the whopper El Niño of 1997-1998, according to the latest information from NASA U.S.-French ocean-observing satellite Topex/Poseidon.

Pacific Ocean in Holding Pattern for El Niño

Oblique view of cloud patterns over Pacific Ocean

AST-01-042 (16 July 1975) --- An oblique view of unique cloud patterns over the Pacific Ocean caused by aircraft contrail shadows altering cumulus clouds and forming straight line clouds, as photographed from the Apollo spacecraft in Earth orbit during the joint U.S.-USSR Apollo-Soyuz Test Project mission. This area is southwest of Los Angeles, California. This photograph was taken at an altitude of 177 kilometers (110 statute miles) with a 70mm Hasselblad camera using medium-speed Ektachrome QX-807 type film.