NASA astronaut captures city lights streaking beneath the ISS in stunning new photos

The spinning Earth shines brightly in new images taken from the space station.

NASA astronaut Don Pettit, known for his long-exposure photography from the International Space Station (ISS), recently captured images over Mexico and the United States that showed city lights streaking 250 miles (400 kilometers) below him.

Pettit was also able to see the aurora, or northern lights, on the horizon. These glowing hues appear when energetic particles from the Sun interact with Earth’s upper atmosphere.

Connected: ‘Space Flight’: Astronaut Don Pettit’s Stunning Space Photos (Gallery)

Pettit, now on his fourth trip to the space station, is well known for his orbital photography, which he does in his spare time.

Long exposure photograph of the Earth, white streaks and green aurora on the horizon

Streams of city lights and the aurora are visible over Lake Michigan in the United States in an image taken Oct. 24, 2024, by NASA astronaut Don Pettit on the International Space Station. (Image credit: NASA/Don Pettit)

He recently created a Jupiter-like water balloon, using food coloring to create incredible hues reminiscent of the gas giant planet.

Pettit also reviewed the completion of the independently funded Polaris Dawn mission, which returned to Earth on September 15.

The photo captured the fiery re-entry of the four-person mission funded by billionaire Jared Isaacman, as well as a view of the cone-shaped SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft that carried them into orbit for about a week.

NASA astronaut captures city lights streaking beneath the ISS in stunning new photos

Archives

Categories