A Grand, Snow-Rimmed Canyon

A stunning photograph has emerged from NASA's cameras of the Grand Canyon in Arizona, USA. The image showcases the canyon's unique topography, which is partially covered with a layer of snow. Snow is typical at high elevations during winter, and the South Rim and North Rim see average season totals of 58 inches and 142 inches, respectively.

However, this particular photo reveals an optical illusion known as relief inversion. The Sun is shining from below, creating shadows on the canyon walls that make it appear to be a mountain range rather than a deep gorge. This visual effect can deceive even experienced observers, making it essential for astronauts to consider relief inversion when interpreting images of the Grand Canyon.

Astronauts captured these breathtaking photographs of the Grand Canyon using a Nikon Z9 digital camera and a focal length of 400 millimeters on January 26, 2026. The images were taken by Expedition 74 crew members as part of their Earth observations mission. They can be viewed on NASA's Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth website.

Additionally, there are links to visit the Grand Canyon during winter, learn about weather and climate conditions at the park, explore previous NASA photos of the Grand Canyon under snow, and discover more information about relief inversion.

This photo is insane! I've always loved the Grand Canyon but never saw it looking like this before. The way the shadows are playing tricks on you makes it look like a mini mountain range . And can you imagine being an astronaut capturing these shots? Mind blown . Relief inversion, huh? Never heard of that term but now I'm curious to learn more about it. It's amazing how NASA is sharing all this info and even has tips on how to visit the Grand Canyon during winter. Maybe one day I'll make it out there .

I'm obsessed with this pic of the Grand Canyon in the snow ! It's crazy to think that the Sun was shining from below to create this optical illusion . Relief inversion is like whoa, it makes you realize how powerful light can be in manipulating our perception of the world . And I'm loving the fact that these astronauts got to capture such an amazing shot using a Nikon Z9 camera . It's giving me all the feels just looking at it! Can we get more pics like this?

I mean, can you believe it? A stunning photo of the Grand Canyon in snow! It's like something out of a fantasy movie, right? But what's even cooler is that scientists are like, "Hey, wait a minute, this isn't just a pretty picture... there's an optical illusion going on here!" Relief inversion, who knew? It's like the universe decided to play a trick on us with this gorgeous image. And can you imagine being an astronaut, looking at this photo and being like, "Whoa, we actually captured that?" The fact that they used a Nikon Z9 camera and got these incredible shots is just mind-blowing! I love how NASA shares their photos on the web, it's so cool to be able to see what astronauts have been up to. And now we get to enjoy this amazing photo all over again!

[Image of a astronaut taking a selfie with a shocked expression ]

[ GIF of a canyoneer looking confused at shadows on the wall, with a caption "when you're trying to hike but the canyon is playing tricks on you "]

[ Image of snow-capped mountains with a sun shining from below, captioned "relief inversion: when the sun shines from beneath your feet "]

[ GIF of a camera lens with a 400mm focal length, taking a stunning shot of the Grand Canyon ]

[Image of a NASA astronaut with a Nikon Z9 digital camera, with a caption "astronauts capturing breathtaking pics of the Grand Canyon "]

[Image of a sun shining from below with a 3D effect on the canyon walls]

omg look @ this pic of the grand canyon!!! did u know that relief inversion is like, a thing? and now i wanna go to the grand canyon in winter lol who needs normal weather when u can get snow at the rim? [Image of a person taking a selfie with a snowy background]

OMG u guys! I'm telling u, this pic of the Grand Canyon is NOT what it seems! They're trying to distract us from something... or someone? The fact that they're using a Nikon camera on a space mission is suspicious, don't u think? It's like they're trying to send us a message. And that relief inversion thingy? Sounds like some kinda mind control tactic to me! I mean, who needs to know about shadows when you can see the "real" Grand Canyon, right? But seriously, what are we supposed to think with all these pics of the same old place? Are they hiding something from us? Maybe there's a secret underground tunnel system or something... The truth is out there, folks!

OMG, have you seen this pic of the Grand Canyon with snow on it? It's insane! The way the sunlight is shining from below makes it look like a mountain range instead of just a deep gorge. I mean, even astronauts can get fooled by it! But what I love about NASA is that they're not just taking pretty pictures, they're also sharing cool info about optical illusions and how to see them in images. It's so cool! And can we please go visit the Grand Canyon already? The South Rim gets 58 inches of snow on average, but I'm sure it's even more epic when you're actually there!

OMG, I'm literally blown away by this pic ! I've been following NASA's space missions for ages, and to think that our astronauts are capturing such beauty from up high is just mind-blowing . And can you believe the optical illusion they're describing? It's like the whole canyon is transformed into a mountain range - so cool . I'm definitely checking out those links to learn more about relief inversion, and maybe even planning a trip to the Grand Canyon during winter... who knows what adventures await . By the way, have you heard anything about the new moon missions coming up?

I'm low-key obsessed with this pic of the Grand Canyon in the snow . I mean, who wouldn't want to see a natural wonder like that with snow-capped peaks? But what's really cool (or weird?) is how the Sun shining from below creates this optical illusion of relief inversion... it's mind-blowing!

I think it's awesome that astronauts got to capture these stunning images using their Nikon Z9 cameras. It's a great reminder of how much we have to learn from space exploration and how it can help us appreciate our own planet even more.

OMG , can you even imagine seeing the Grand Canyon with SNOW on it?! Like, I know it's not a typical winter scene there, but still, it's SO cool to see this optical illusion effect in action ! Relief inversion is like, whoa... didn't know that was a thing . And can we talk about the cameras they used? Nikon Z9 is like, next level tech . I'm not surprised NASA captured these stunning pics - they're pros at it . Love how you can click on those links to learn more and plan a trip to see the Grand Canyon in winter . Just think of the Instagram pics you could take with that snow-covered landscape !

Just saw that epic pic from NASA's cameras of the Grand Canyon in Arizona! The way the shadows are playing tricks on our eyes is mind-blowing . I mean, who needs VR when you can see this kinda thing in real life?! The fact that it took an astronaut to capture this image, though, makes me appreciate their skill even more - they're like superheroes with cameras! This relief inversion effect is crazy and I'm loving the way it's showcasing the Grand Canyon's unique topography. Can't wait to see more pics from the NASA crew

What is going on with our planet?! A snowy Grand Canyon? Like, how's that even possible? I need to see this pic for myself, can't believe it's real! Relief inversion, yeah I've heard of that, but to actually see it in a photo... mind blown! NASA must be loving the Earth views from space, huh? These pics are gonna make my jaw drop every time I scroll through them. Can we talk about how cool/insane/sad this is all happening at the same time?

I'm loving this new photo from NASA of the Grand Canyon in all its snowy glory ! I mean, who knew that looking up from space could give you a whole new perspective on one of America's most iconic natural wonders? The optical illusion effect is seriously trippy, and it makes me appreciate just how cool our planet's geography can be .

As for the tech used to capture this shot - that Nikon Z9 camera is insane! I'm sure the astronauts had a blast taking these pics with such a fancy piece of equipment . And I love that we can now check out more photos and info about the Grand Canyon's winter wonderland, as well as some cool facts about relief inversion on NASA's website .

I just saw this pic from NASA's cameras and I'm mind blown ! The way the shadows are creating an optical illusion making it look like a mountain range... it's crazy! I've been to Arizona before and I know how beautiful the Grand Canyon is, but I never realized that snow could make it look so different. It just goes to show that even with all the tech we have, there's still some pretty cool tricks our brains can play on us . And can you imagine being an astronaut and seeing this in person? I'd love to see more pics like these, they're like nothing you've ever seen before!

Dude , I'm literally blown away by this pic of the Grand Canyon in the snow! It's like a whole new world up there , right? And can you believe it took an optical illusion to reveal the actual shape of the canyon? Mind. Blown. Relief inversion is seriously cool (pun intended) and I love that NASA astronauts got to capture this beauty on camera! They're basically painting us a picture with every click . It's amazing how much you can learn from just one image, right? And can't wait to see more pics like these!

Wow! I'm literally speechless right now... The way the sunlight is shining from below and creating shadows on the canyon walls is just mind-blowing . Relief inversion is a real thing? I had no idea it was even possible to see this effect with our naked eyes, let alone capture it with a camera! Interesting how the South Rim only sees 58 inches of snow on average compared to the North Rim's whopping 142 inches .

This is just crazy! I mean, who knew that astronauts could capture such a sick shot of the Grand Canyon in all its snowy glory? The relief inversion effect is mind-blowing - it's like the whole scene is turned upside down (no pun intended)! I love how NASA shared this pic and provided links for us to explore more. It's a great reminder of just how awesome our planet can look from space .

I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE HOW EPIC THIS PHOTO OF THE GRAND CANYON LOOKS!!! IT'S LIKE A WHOLE DIFFERENT WORLD UP THERE, WITH SNOW COVERING THOSE FAMOUS WALLS. I MEAN, WHO WOULD HAVE GUESSED THAT YOU COULD SEE RELIEF INVERSION FROM SPACE?! IT'S PRETTY COOL HOW THE SUN'S POSITION CAN CREATE THIS KIND OF ILLUSION AND MAKE THE CANYON LOOK LIKE A MOUNTAIN RANGE INSTEAD OF A DEEP GOUGE. IT'S JUST AMAZING TO THINK ABOUT HOW MUCH WE STILL HAVE TO LEARN ABOUT OUR PLANET, ESPECIALLY FROM UP THERE IN SPACE

man this is mindblowing thinking about how our brains can be tricked into seeing something entirely different from reality... like what's real and what's just an optical illusion... it makes me wonder if we're always seeing the world through a lens, literally or metaphorically... do we ever truly experience the world as it is, or are we just interpreting it through our own perspectives? this photo of the Grand Canyon with snow on it is like a reminder that even in the most familiar places, there's still room for surprise and awe...