This year, the International Space Station (ISS) once again served as a window into space and a center for ground-breaking research.

NASA’s latest collection of the best science images from 2024 offers a fascinating look at the work going on aboard the ISS as it zooms 250 miles overhead at 17,500 miles per hour.

From breathtaking images of Earth to an all-out experiment in space, these images summarize a year of innovation, exploration and collaboration aboard the human orbiting laboratory.

Astronauts prepare for a solar eclipse

It seems that solar eclipses aren’t just huge events down at ground level. Here, Expedition 71 astronauts put on goggles to protect their eyes in preparation for the March 26, 2024 solar eclipse.

They were able to see the eclipse through windows in the dome of the space station.

In all, Expedition 71 took 630,000 images from their time in space—the most taken on a single mission.

International Space Station over Lake Michigan

This long exposure image was taken by astronaut Don Pettit as the space station flew over Lake Michigan. It shows city lights passing through Earth and dazzling green and red auroras in the atmosphere.

It’s been an impressive year for the aurora borealis as the Sun reaches its peak activity point in its 11-year cycle. When the sun is particularly active, it spews out more charged particles than usual, which then interact with our atmosphere to create the aurora borealis.

According to NASA, astronauts on the ISS observe city lights from space to study population density and urban expansion.

Free-flying robotic camera

This little thing is a project of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). The robot photographed in Kibo’s lab module is called JEM Internal Ball Camera 2.

It is designed to autonomously maneuver around the space station, capturing photos and videos as much as possible.

Having a robotic photographer on board could free up the crew’s time for other activities, such as conducting more research, NASA said.

Lysozyme crystals grown in space

These tiny red crystals are what are known as lysozymes – proteins present in body fluids such as tears and saliva that support immune function.

They were grown in space, but are photographed here after their safe return to Earth.

Scientists are investigating the effects of microgravity in space on how crystals are made, which could have applications in the pharmaceutical industry in the coming years.

Tomato plants growing in space

NASA astronaut Jasmin Moghbeli is pictured posing next to the Advanced Plant Habitat on the ISS in this photo.

Here, the team grows tomato plants to see how spaceflight and microgravity affect the plant’s immune system and production.

Growing food in orbit is a crucial step in the journey to long-distance space.

“Comet of the century” from the space station

Comet C/2023 A3 (Tsuchinshan-ATLAS) graced our skies this year before disappearing into space for the next 80,000 years.

Dubbed by some the “comet of the century,” this image of the space visitor was taken from the ISS as it orbited 250 miles above the South Atlantic Ocean.

The view of the comet in this image, unobstructed by the Earth’s atmosphere, is incredibly clear.

According to NASA, scientists can use crystal clear images like this to learn more about comets.

Colorful water bubble

It may look a bit like a planet, but it’s actually a demonstration of microgravity in action on the ISS.

To create this image, NASA astronaut Don Pettit added food coloring to a bubble of water that was suspended in mid-air.

The force of gravity is actually very similar to Earth on the ISS. Instead, microgravity effects are created when the space station is in constant fall, just missing Earth each time.