This far-out photo comes to us from Italian astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti. The picture of our region was posted Tuesday morning from the International Space Station.

It's pretty apropos when you think of an aside in President Obama's State of the Union Address last night. "Last month, we launched a new spacecraft as part of a re-energized space program that will send American astronauts to Mars. In two months, to prepare us for those missions, Scott Kelly will begin a year-long stay in space. Good luck, Captain — and make sure to Instagram it."

In the past, Cristoforetti has shot photos like this one of the Himalayas and other naturally stunning geographies.