This photo was taken on December 23, 1999, as Space Shuttle Discovery soared 362 miles over Mexico, about 300 miles South of Texas’ Big Bend National Park, on orbit 60 of mission STS-103. This perspective (only the top portion is shown here) faces north. The large valley in the lower-middle of the photo is the Taos Plateau. Looking up, the Rocky Mountains extend through Colorado and Wyoming. The Valles Caldera can be seen at the bottom of the photo, about three-quarters of the way to the left. Visit this photo’s NASA page. Download a large version of this photo.
On April 19, 1998, astronauts on Space Shuttle Columbia captured this shot of the Valles Caldera while flying 161 miles above the earth, about 25 miles Southeast of Grand Junction, CO, on orbit 36 of mission STS-90. In the foreground is Valle San Antonio, and in the background is the Valle Grande. Visit this photo’s NASA page. Download a large version of this photo.
The International Space Station’s Expedition 6 crew members snapped this spectacular closeup shot of a snowy Valles Caldera on December 12, 2002, as the massive orbiting research facility flew 243 miles above the Land of Enchantment, approximately 20 miles Northwest of Magdalena, NM. Directly in the middle of this shot is Redondo Peak, with the Valle Grande at the bottom, and the ring fracture domes of Cerro del Medio, Cerro Abrigo, Cerro Santa Rosa, and Cerro Seco stretching upward. Visit this photo’s NASA page. Download a large version of this photo.
This photo, which captures the entire Jemez Mountains, was taken by astronauts aboard Space Shuttle Columbia as it flew almost directly over the Valles Caldera in June of 1991. By taking note of the direction of the mesas and canyons emanating out radially from the Caldera in this photo, one can gain an understanding of the path of pyroclastic flows that were discharged from the two massive eruptions in Jemez history: the Toledo Caldera eruption of 1.6 million years ago, and the Valles Caldera eruption of 1.2 million years ago, both of which produced about 65 cubic miles of magma in the form of ash, pumice, and gas (Martin). See the Geology FAQ section to learn more about the geology of the Valles Caldera. On the mesas to the right of the Caldera, Los Alamos is barely visible, and at the top of the photo is the town of Española. Cochiti Lake can be seen in the lower right. Visit this photo’s NASA page. Download a large version of this photo.
Below are hundreds more photos of the Valles Caldera captured by NASA, from all angles, in all seasons. Once you click on a link, you will be taken to that photo’s official “Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth” page. From that page, you can learn about the photo and download high-quality versions of the photo by looking for the “Large Images to Request for Downloading” section of the page. Images courtesy of the Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, NASA Johnson Space Center.
NASA Photos – High Quality
STS040-151-023 – Southern Rocky Mountains, New Mexico, U.S.A. June 1991
The Valles Caldera can be seen in the middle of this panoramic, south-looking photograph.
STS058-090-015 – Rocky Mountains, North-Central New Mexico, U.S.A. October 1993
The forested mountains and dry intermontane valleys of this portion of the
Rocky Mountains in north-central New Mexico are shown in this low-oblique,
west-looking photograph. The Valles Caldera can be seen in the left center
of this photograph.
STS062-100-195 – Valles Caldera, New Mexico, U.S.A. March 1994
Part of the Jemez Mountains, Valles Caldera, 14 miles (23 kilometers)
in diameter, is a severely eroded volcano that shows the classic radial
drainage pattern normally associated with composite volcanoes. Redondo
Peak [11,254 feet (3430 meters)], its large dome, was formed in the
middle of the caldera by the resurgence of the caldera floor.
STS081-719-081 – Valles Caldera, New Mexico, U.S.A. January 1997
View northward up the Rio Grande rift of northern New Mexico.
The Valles Caldera of the Jemez Mts. and the rift fault bounding the
Nacimiento range are sharply defined.
STS094-730-004 Panorama – Rio Grande Rift, U.S.A. July 1997
Excellent photograph of the whole New Mexico portion of the Rio Grande rift in its larger context. The Valles Caldera is in the middle of the photograph.
STS099-756-044 Redondo Peak, New Mexico, U.S.A. February 2000
NASA Photos – Low Resolution
STS027-034-070 12/05/1988
STS027-034-071 12/05/1988
STS027-034-074 12/05/1988
STS027-034-075 12/05/1988
STS027-044-062 12/06/1988
STS027-044-063 12/06/1988
STS027-044-065 12/06/1988
STS029-082-090 03/16/1989
STS034-083-089 10/21/1989
STS036-076-030 03/02/1990
STS036-076-031 03/02/1990
STS036-152-028 03/02/1990 Valles Caldera, New Mexico, U.S.A.
STS036-152-029 03/02/1990 Valles Caldera, New Mexico, U.S.A.
STS036-152-030 03/02/1990
STS036-152-031 03/02/1990
STS037-078-022 04/09/1991
STS037-078-023 04/09/1991
STS040-044-019 06/08/1991
STS040-044-020 06/08/1991
STS040-075-006 06/08/1991
STS040-151-020 06/07/1991 Panorama, NM.to Baja California
STS040-151-021 06/07/1991 Panorama, W.New Mexico to Arizona
STS040-151-022 06/07/1991 Panorama, New Mexico to Arizona
STS040-151-023 06/07/1991 Panorama, New Mexico to Mexico
STS040-151-024 06/07/1991 Panorama, S.Colorado.to Mexico
STS040-151-025 06/07/1991 Panorama, S.Colorado to Mexico
STS040-151-026 06/07/1991 Panorama, S.Colorado,White Sands
STS040-151-027 06/07/1991 Panorama, S.Colorado,White Sands
STS040-151-028 06/07/1991 Panorama, S.Colorado,White Sands
STS040-614-063 06/07/1991
STS040-614-064 06/07/1991
STS047-098-065 09/16/1992 Valles Caldera, New Mexico, U.S.A.
STS047-098-066 09/16/1992 Valles Caldera, New Mexico, U.S.A.
STS047-106-119 09/17/1992
STS51B-033-064 XX/XX/1985 Albuquerque
STS056-077-032 04/10/1993 Redondo Peak
STS056-077-050 04/10/1993 Panorama-N,Rio Grande
STS056-109-019 04/10/1993 Valles Caldera
STS058-077-089 10/20/1993
STS058-083-016 10/20/1993 Redondo Peak, Jemez River
STS058-083-017 10/20/1993 Redondo Peak
STS058-090-015 10/21/1993 San Luis Valley
STS058-107-032 10/28/1993 Albuquerque, Mountains, Rio Grande Rift Valley
STS060-086-094 02/XX/1994 Redondo Peak, Mountains
STS060-086-095 02/XX/1994 Redondo Peak, Desert
STS062-087-156 03/XX/1994 Panorama-Rio Grande Rift Valley
STS062-087-157 03/XX/1994 Panorama-Rio Grande Rift Valley
STS062-100-194 03/15/1994 Valles Caldera, Rivers
STS062-100-195 03/15/1994 Valles Caldera, Rivers
STS062-100-196 03/15/1994 Valles Caldera, Reservoirs, Rivers
STS062-151-136 03/06/1994 Rio Grande Rift Valley
STS062-151-137 03/06/1994 Sangre De Cristo Range
STS062-151-138 03/06/1994 Sangre De Cristo Range
STS066-124-033 11/10/1994 Nacimento Mountains, Rio Grande
STS076-713-001 03/28/1996 Panorama-Sangre De Cristo Mountains
STS076-713-002 03/28/1996 Albuquerque, Rio Grande
STS076-713-003 03/28/1996 Panorama-Rio Grande, Mountains, Desert
STS076-713-004 03/28/1996 Panorama-Rio Grande, Mountains, Desert
STS081-719-080 01/16/1997 Valles Caldera
STS081-719-081 01/16/1997 Valles Caldera
STS094-730-004 07/05/1997 Panorama – Rio Grande Rift
STS090-755-075 04/19/1998 Redondo Peak, Reservoirs
STS103-501-019 12/23/1999 Panorama-Southwestern U.S.
STS103-501-020 12/23/1999 Panorama-Southwestern U.S.
STS103-730-029 12/23/1999 Panorama-Rocky Mountains
STS103-730-030 12/23/1999 Panorama-Rocky Mountains
STS103-730-031 12/23/1999 Panorama-Rocky Mountains
STS103-730-032 12/23/1999 Panorama-Rocky Mountains
STS103-730-033 12/23/1999 Panorama-Rocky Mountains
STS103-730-034 12/23/1999 Panorama-Rocky Mountains
STS103-730-035 12/23/1999 Panorama-Rocky Mountains
STS103-730-036 12/23/1999 Panorama-Rocky Mountains
STS103-730-037 12/23/1999 Panorama-Rocky Mountains
STS103-730-038 12/23/1999 Panorama-Rocky Mountains
STS099-756-042 02/16/2000 Redondo Peak, Los Alamos
STS099-756-043 02/16/2000 Redondo Peak, Los Alamos
STS099-756-044 02/16/2000 Redondo Peak, Los Alamos
ISS001-E-6234 12/20/2000 Valles Caldera
STS098-718A-25 02/17/2001 Valles Caldera
STS098-718A-26 02/17/2001 Valles Caldera
STS098-718A-27 02/17/2001 Valles Caldera
ISS002-712-027 XX/XX/2001 Panorama-Mountains, Rio Grande Valley
ISS002-712-028 XX/XX/2001 Panorama-Mountains, Rio Grande Valley
ISS002-712-029 XX/XX/2001 Panorama-Mountains, Rio Grande Valley
ISS006-E-7686 12/12/2002 Redondo Peak, Volcano, Snow
ISS006-E-7687 12/12/2002 Redondo Peak, Volcano, Snow
ISS006-E-13937 01/03/2002 Valles Caldera, Rio Grande, Snow
ISS006-E-13938 01/03/2002 Valles Caldera, Rio Grande, Snow
ISS006-E-13939 01/03/2002 Valles Caldera, Rio Grande, Snow
ISS006-E-13940 01/03/2002 Valles Caldera, Rio Grande, Snow
ISS006-E-13941 01/03/2002 Valles Caldera, Rio Grande, Snow
ISS006-E-13942 01/03/2002 Valles Caldera, Rio Grande, Snow
ISS006-E-13943 01/03/2002 Valles Caldera, Rio Grande, Snow
ISS006-E-13944 01/03/2002 Valles Caldera, Rio Grande, Snow
ISS006-E-13945 01/03/2002 Valles Caldera, Rio Grande, Snow
ISS006-E-13946 01/03/2002 Valles Caldera, Rio Grande, Snow
ISS006-E-17462 01/03/2002 Valles Caldera, Rio Grande
ISS006-E-17463 01/03/2002 Valles Caldera, Rio Grande
ISS006-E-17464 01/03/2002 Valles Caldera, Rio Grande
ISS006-E-17465 01/03/2002 Valles Caldera, Rio Grande
ISS006-E-17466 01/03/2002 Valles Caldera, Rio Grande
ISS006-E-17467 01/03/2002 Valles Caldera, Rio Grande
ISS006-E-17468 01/03/2002 Valles Caldera, Rio Grande
ISS006-E-17469 01/03/2002 Valles Caldera, Rio Grande
ISS006-E-17470 01/03/2002 Valles Caldera, Rio Grande
ISS006-E-17471 01/03/2002 Valles Caldera, Rio Grande
ISS006-E-17472 01/03/2002 Valles Caldera, Rio Grande
ISS006-E-17473 01/03/2002 Valles Caldera, Rio Grande
ISS006-E-17478 01/03/2002 Valles Caldera, Rio Grande
ISS006-E-17479 01/03/2002 Valles Caldera, Rio Grande
ISS006-E-25176 02/10/2003 Albuquerque, Santa Fe
ISS006-E-25177 02/10/2003 Albuquerque, Santa Fe
ISS006-E-25178 02/10/2003 Albuquerque, Santa Fe
ISS006-E-25179 02/10/2003 Albuquerque, Santa Fe
ISS006-E-25180 02/10/2003 Albuquerque, Santa Fe
ISS006-E-25181 02/10/2003 Albuquerque, Santa Fe
ISS006-E-25182 02/10/2003 Albuquerque, Santa Fe
ISS006-E-25183 02/10/2003 Albuquerque, Santa Fe
ISS006-E-25186 02/10/2003 Albuquerque, Santa Fe
ISS006-E-25187 02/10/2003 Albuquerque, Santa Fe
ISS006-E-26668 02/10/2003 Redondo Peak, Volcano, Snow
ISS006-E-31291 02/23/2003 Redondo Peak
ISS006-E-31292 02/23/2003 Redondo Peak
ISS006-E-31293 02/23/2003 Redondo Peak
ISS006-E-31299 02/23/2003 Los Alamos, Santa Fe
ISS006-E-31300 02/23/2003 Los Alamos, Santa Fe
ISS006-E-31302 02/23/2003 Los Alamos, Santa Fe
ISS006-E-31475 02/23/2003 Los Alamos, Santa Fe
ISS006-E-31476 02/23/2003 Los Alamos, Santa Fe
ISS006-E-31477 02/23/2003 Los Alamos, Santa Fe
ISS006-E-31489 02/23/2003 Redondo Peak, Rio Grande
ISS006-E-31490 02/23/2003 Redondo Peak, Rio Grande
ISS008-E-13222 01/26/2004 Redondo Peak, Valles Caldera, Snow
ISS011-E-6747 05/18/2005 Valles Caldera with Snow
ISS011-E-6751 05/18/2005 Los Alamos, Valles Caldera
Skylab Photo
SL4-89-008 Rio Grande Rift , New Mexico, U.S.A. November 1974
Skylab4 photograph, with view to the north up the Rio Grande Rift from an altitude of 270 mi (432 km) over central New Mexico. The Valles Caldera is in the left center of this photograph.
Photos and Maps
Landsat Image of the Valles Caldera – The straight line on the left is the Nacimiento faults, a boundary between the Precambrian rocks of the San Pedro Parks and the sedimentary rocks of the San Juan basin. This false-color Landsat image has dry areas as grey-brown and wooded areas as red. The flat plateaus around the Valles caldera (center) are canyons within the Bandelier Tuff.
Shaded Elevation Map of the Valles Caldera – The lowlands (blue) are within the Rio Grande rift; the Jemez volcanic field (with the circular depression in the
middle) sits astride the western rift boundary. The green patch immediately east of the Jemez volcanic field is the Cerros del Rio, a mid-rift basaltic volcanic field.
