<p>A camera on the<a href="http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/expeditions/expedition34/index.html"> International Space Station</a> (ISS) snapped this shot of stratocumulus <a href="http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/earth/earths-atmosphere/clouds-article/">clouds</a>, released on January 4, as the ISS passed over the Pacific Ocean, flying east of northern <a href="http://travel.nationalgeographic.com/travel/countries/japan-guide/">Japan</a>.</p><p>This cloud pattern is a common sight over the northwestern Pacific. Classified as low-level clouds—occurring below 6,500 feet (1,980 meters)—stratocumulus clouds produce little to no precipitation. From the ground they look like a flat layer of clumpy grey clouds. (<a href="http://science.nationalgeographic.com/science/photos/clouds/">See more pictures of clouds.</a>)</p>

Forecast: Cloudy

A camera on the International Space Station (ISS) snapped this shot of stratocumulus clouds, released on January 4, as the ISS passed over the Pacific Ocean, flying east of northern Japan.

This cloud pattern is a common sight over the northwestern Pacific. Classified as low-level clouds—occurring below 6,500 feet (1,980 meters)—stratocumulus clouds produce little to no precipitation. From the ground they look like a flat layer of clumpy grey clouds. (See more pictures of clouds.)

Photograph courtesy NASA

Space Pictures This Week: Solar Tantrum, Petroglyphs at Night

The sun throws a tantrum and Beijing is swathed in air pollution in the latest space pictures.

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