Polar Mesospheric Clouds (noctilucent clouds) are seen in this image released by NASA Aug. 6, 2008. The transient, upper atmospheric phenomena is usually observed in the summer months at high latitudes of both hemispheres. This image was acquired at an altitude of just over 200 miles in the pre-dawn hours of July 22, 2008, as the International Space Station was passing over western Mongolia in central Asia.
Tamarin Twins
Golden lion tamarin twins, born July 17, cling to their father's back as they perch on trees in their exhibit at the Smithsonian National Zoo in Washington, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008. More than 178 golden lion tamarins have been born at the zoo, the last of which arrived in May of 2007. Golden lion tamarins inhabit the Atlantic coastal forest of Brazil.
A Stone's Throw
A policeman throws a stone at Kashmiri Muslim protesters, unseen, during a protest in Srinagar, India, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008. Security forces fired tear gas and used batons on Thursday to quell hundreds of angry Kashmiris who accused Hindus of assaulting Muslims in a predominantly Hindu area in the Indian portion of Kashmir.
Way Cool
A man cools himself in a fountain in Cordoba, southern Spain, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008.
Hair-Raising Games
A street performer outside the Olympic Green sports an unusual hair style in Beijing, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008. The opening ceremony for the 2008 Beijing Olympics will be held on Friday, Aug. 8.
Whatever Floats ...
A beach vendor is obscured by inflatable floats at Alimos beach, near Athens, Thursday, Aug 7, 2008. Temperatures rose to 99 degrees in parts of Greece on Thursday.
K-2 Survivor
Italian climber Marco Confortola, who was rescued from K-2's base camp, wipes away tears during a meeting with Italian Ambassador to Pakistan at the Italian embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008. An avalanche swept some climbers away and left others stranded in frigid conditions just below the 28,250-foot summit. In all, 11 people died. Confortola was the last survivor to limp to safety.
End Date?
U.S. soldiers attached to Palehorse Troop, 2nd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, take a nap in the back of a Stryker armored vehicle in the village of Baaya, about 25 miles north of Baghdad, in Iraq's Diyala province, Thursday, Aug. 7, 2008. Iraqi officials say the U.S. and Iraq are close to a deal under which all American combat troops would leave by October 2010 and remaining U.S. forces gone three years later.