Orbital View: Gulf Oil Spill, From the International Space Station

Via NASA's Earth Observatory:

Astronauts on the International Space Station captured this image from a side, or "oblique," angle. This image looks different than "nadir" shots, which are captured by satellites looking directly down, because of the sunlight that reflects off the water and back toward the photographer. The ocean reflects the most light and appears silvery gray and white. The Louisiana coast, which reflects less light, is dark blue. The tendrils of oil slick are dark gray.