Viewing the Waxing Gibbous Moon from Orbit
On 26 June 2026 the International Space Station (ISS) recorded an image of the Moon in its waxing gibbous phase. At the moment of capture the station was orbiting roughly 264 miles (about 425 kilometres) above the Indian Ocean, southeast of the island of Madagascar.
The waxing gibbous stage follows the first quarter and precedes the full Moon, during which an increasing portion of the lunar surface illuminated by the Sun becomes visible from Earth, making the Moon appear brighter than in earlier phases.
This photograph highlights not only the lunar phase progression but also the ISS’s capability to produce striking Earth‑and‑space imagery. The altitude, viewing angle, and clear sky over the ocean combine to give a high‑contrast view of the Moon against the dark backdrop of space.
- Capture date: 26 June 2026
- ISS orbital altitude: ~425 km
- Location: over the Indian Ocean, southeast of Madagascar
Images such as this support public outreach and provide scientific documentation of Moon phases from a unique orbital perspective.