{"id":729443,"date":"2026-08-06T14:56:24","date_gmt":"2026-08-06T14:56:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/729443\/"},"modified":"2026-08-06T14:56:24","modified_gmt":"2026-08-06T14:56:24","slug":"astronaut-snaps-photo-of-super-typhoon-on-his-iphone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/729443\/","title":{"rendered":"Astronaut Snaps Photo of Super Typhoon on His iPhone"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"A<\/p>\n

Astronaut Anil Menon has only been in space for less than one month, but he has already captured a mind-boggling photo showing a super typhoon brooding above the Pacific Ocean. <\/p>\n

Menon revealed that he took the photo on his iPhone from inside the International Space Station\u2019s Cupola, a dome-shaped panoramic observatory module featuring six circumferential windows and a central nadir viewing window.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Pacific Ocean this morning from the cupola with an iPhone,\u201d Menon posted on Twitter.com (X) on Sunday morning.<\/p>\n

The Pacific Ocean this morning from the cupola with an iPhone pic.twitter.com\/YNrjAvaPMH<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Anil Menon (@astro_anil) August 2, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Menon, a colonel in the United States Space Force and NASA astronaut, didn\u2019t specify which typhoon he captured swirling above the Pacific, but as Space.com<\/a> and many others speculated, it appears to be the Super Typhoon Dolphin. The powerful storm reached Category 5 last week, the fifth tropical cyclone to do so in 2026. The super typhoon is heading toward Japan. Residents of Okinawa Island have been warned to prepare for severe weather before it makes landfall at some point this week. <\/p>\n

iPhones in Space <\/p>\n

The fact that Menon took such an astounding photo on his iPhone has surprised some Twitter.com users. \u201cYou all can just randomly take up a personal iPhone now,\u201d one person asks. <\/p>\n

Astronauts have only been permitted to take their iPhones since February this year<\/a>. <\/p>\n

The policy change was announced by NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman, who said, \u201cwe are giving our crews the tools to capture special moments for their families and share inspiring images and video with the world.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Apple devices were carried by the Artemis II mission<\/a> on their historic trip around the Moon in April. It was the first time iPhones were sanctioned for extended use in orbit. The Artemis crew used them for some incredible selfies showing them in their spaceship with the Moon behind them. <\/p>\n

\"A\u201cHome, Seen from Orion\u201d | NASA astronaut and Artemis II Commander Reid Wiseman peers out of one of the Orion spacecraft\u2019s main cabin windows, looking back at Earth, as the crew travels towards the Moon. | Shot on iPhone 17 Pro Max front camera | NASA \"\"\u201cSpaceship Earth\u201d | NASA astronaut and Artemis II mission specialist Christina Koch peers out of one of the Orion spacecraft\u2019s main cabin windows, looking back at Earth, as the crew travels towards the Moon. | Shot on iPhone 17 Pro Max front camera | NASA <\/p>\n

Of course, there is no cellular service in space, but the International Space Station does have Wi-Fi that astronauts can connect to and access email, browse the web, and make IP phone calls. <\/p>\n

Image creditsAnil Menon \/ NASA<\/p>\n

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