Earth Observation taken by the STS-129 Crew

S129-E-007317 (21 Nov. 2009) --- This scene of the Bahamas’ Andros Island and the Tongue of the Ocean was captured by one of the STS-129 crewmembers aboard the space shuttle Atlantis during flight day six activities. This scene from Earth orbit appears much more peaceful than earlier in the month, when Hurricane/Tropical Storm Ida was not only threatening but seriously affecting several areas in several oceans. The dark blue area, aptly named "Tongue of the Ocean", is characterized by water depths as great as 3000 meters (almost two miles). The Atlantic Ocean just east of Eleuthra Island is nearly 5000 meters deep. By comparison, the waters of the Bahama Platform are less than 15 meters deep.