NASA's stunning solar eclipse image resembles an eye

People are often warned against looking directly at a solar eclipse, but an image recently released by NASA shows just how stunning the view can be.

SEE ALSO: NASA image shows shockwaves created by supersonic plane passing the sun
The composite view clearly resembles an eye; the red outer area was taken in space, the blue iris-like section was recorded from the ground, and the pupil is the sun covered by the moon.

In fact, the agency notes that it "depicts the total solar eclipse that occurred last month as it appeared — nearly simultaneously — from both Earth and space."

See more stunning photos from NASA's Instagram