STS-61A earth observations

61A-51-045 (31 Oct 1985) --- San Francisco Bay and the San Andreas fault line stand out in this 70mm frame exposed from the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Challenger on October 31, 1985. The California coastline extends from Tomales Bay on the north almost to Santa Cruz (just out of frame) on the south. Parts of the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys are seen along the frame's right edge. Some of the bay's salt evaporators are recognizable by their unique hews, near Fremont and near Vallejo. Center point coordinates are located at 37.5 degrees north latitude and 122.5 degrees west longitude. The Challenger was 180 nautical miles directly above a point centered at 38.8 degrees north latitude and 126.5 degrees west longitude.