( CNN ) -- If you 've ever gazed down from an airplane on a clear day , you 've probably admired the quilted fields or jagged ribbons of coastline below . Now imagine seeing those views from several hundred miles higher , a perspective that morphs recognizable landscapes into something that looks more like abstract art . That 's the aesthetic behind `` Earth from Space , '' a new book of photographs that emphasizes the beauty and delicacy of our planet . The coffee table-sized volume contains more than 150 high-resolution images , shot from satellites , that chronicle everything from the patchwork plains of Kansas to the shrinking snows of Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa to the twinkling sprawl of Shanghai , China , at night . `` Whether seen from the sky or from space , no matter the difference in scale , our planet arouses the same sense of wonder by offering us unexpected geometric forms , magnificent structures and stunning colors -- even if the colors in satellite images are often artificial , '' writes author-photographer Yann Arthus-Bertrand in the book 's preface . Unlike true-color images that use visible light , some satellite photos incorporate infrared light and show unexpected colors , enhancing selected features on Earth , such as fires . Published by Abrams Books , `` Earth from Space '' is a project of Arthus-Bertrand 's GoodPlanet Foundation , which works to raise awareness of conservation and environmental issues . Its photos were collected by Astrium , a French company specializing in satellite services and other space technology . Newly sophisticated lenses and sensors have allowed photographers to capture the Earth from space in remarkable detail -- down to the rows of shanties in Port-au-Prince , Haiti , that were destroyed in the 2010 earthquake . Images from space also help make scientists aware of gradual environmental shifts wrought by climate change or humans , such as deforestation or disappearing polar ice caps . Google Earth has given us all access to spacecraft's-eye views of our planet . But the book 's large-scale photos , with their colorful swirls and mysterious patterns , function as artworks as well as documents . Arthus-Bertrand hopes the images in `` Earth From Space '' serve another purpose as well : to inspire readers to learn more about Earth 's delicate ecosystems and how to protect them . `` What satellites can not give us is the meaning of what they observe , '' he writes . `` Only our species can interpret their images and discern within them the fascinating beauty of our world , as well as its incredible fragility . ''
` ` Images from Space '' is a book of photographs that emphasizes the beauty of our planet . The book contains more than 100 high - resolution images , shot from orbiting satellites . The color photos reflect infrared light and reveal unexpected landscapes .