| NASA's Aqua Satellite captured this image of Christmas Island in the Southern Indian Ocean from space on Nov. 11, 2014. Credit: NASA Goddard MODIS Rapid Response |
A NASA satellite has snapped a picture of Christmas from space, Christmas Island, that is.
The space agency's Aqua satellite, responsible for monitoring Earth's water in its many forms, caught sight of the island in the Southern Indian Ocean, capturing this colorful photo on Nov. 11. Despite its festive Christmas holiday name, Christmas Island, an Australian Territory, is relatively small at 52.2 square miles (135 square kilometers), smaller than Washington D.C., according to NASA.
"The island has a tropical equatorial climate with a wet season that runs from December to April," NASA officials said in a statement. "During the island's dry season where heat and humidity are moderated by trade winds. Although an Australian Territory, Christmas Island is located 2,600 km (1,616 miles) northwest of Perth, Western Australia. The island is famous for land dwelling red crab which scramble to the sea each November to release eggs."
The Christmas Island image isn't NASA's only way to get into the holiday spirit. Earthlings can send special season's greetings to astronauts on the International Space Station via Twitter through NASA's website. NASA's Barry "Butch" Wilmore and Terry Virts are both currently living and working on the space station through the holiday season and into 2015.
Virts and Wilmore also sent their holiday hellos down to everyone still on the planet in a special holiday video.
"It's such an honor, and it's so much fun to celebrate Christmas up here," Virts said in the video featured by NASA. "This is definitely going to be a Christmas that we'll remember, getting a chance to the beautiful Earth. And I hope that for you, also, it'll be a memorable Christmas this year. Have fun with your family, enjoy the day, and merry Christmas."
The European Space Agency (ESA) is also bringing space down to Earth for the holidays. Anyone with an Internet connection can send a space-themed holiday e-card to loved ones around the planet.
ESA has a variety of holiday card options from stockings hanging aboard the space station to nebulas, the Rosetta mission's comet and an amazing image of Earth taken from space.
Follow Miriam Kramer @mirikramer . Follow us @Spacedotcom , Facebook and Google+ . Original article on Space.com .
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