Night Cityscapes From Space

Stunning aerial views of city lights at night captured from the International Space Station, showcasing urban landscapes.

ISS034-E-044575 (10 Feb. 2013) --- One of the Expedition 34 crew members aboard the International Space Station, flying at an altitude of approximately 240 miles, took this night view of Cleveland, Ohio on Feb. 10, 2013. STS034-E-054502 (23 Feb. 2013) --- This view of a northern hemisphere mid-Atlantic low pressure system was photographed by one of the Expedition 34 crew members aboard the International Space Station flying approximately 240 miles above Earth on Feb. 23, 2013. The nadir of the space station when the image was taken was 49.9 degrees north latitude and 29.6 degrees west longitude.

ISS038-E-041160 (29 Jan. 2014) ---The spiderlike shape of Moscow, Russia occupies most of this nighttime image photographed by the Expedition 38 crew members aboard the International Space Station. The orbital outpost was at an altitude of about 240 miles (386 kilometers) when a crew member recorded this image on Jan. 29, 2014.

ISS034-E-044575 (10 Feb. 2013) --- One of the Expedition 34 crew members aboard the International Space Station, flying at an altitude of approximately 240 miles, took this night view of Cleveland, Ohio on Feb. 10, 2013. STS034-E-054502 (23 Feb. 2013) --- This view of a northern hemisphere mid-Atlantic low pressure system was photographed by one of the Expedition 34 crew members aboard the International Space Station flying approximately 240 miles above Earth on Feb. 23, 2013. The nadir of the space station when the image was taken was 49.9 degrees north latitude and 29.6 degrees west longitude.

Moscow, Russia, True Colour Satellite Image. Moscow, Russia. True colour satellite image of Moscow, the capital city of Russia. Image taken on 6 October 1999 using LANDSAT 7 data.

ISS041-E-016740 (17 Sept. 2014) --- One of the Expedition 41 crew members aboard the Earth-orbiting International Space Station exposed this Sept. 17 nocturnal scene featuring most of the largest cities on the central eastern seaboard. Even at 221 nautical miles above Earth, the 28mm focal length on the still camera was able to pick up detail in the image, for example, Central Park on Manhattanat right frame. The nations capital is very near frame center.

Earth Observations taken by Expedition 34 crewmember.

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 35 crew aboard the ISS. Night view of city lights.

This night time photograph of Minsk, the capital city of Belarus, is pictured from the International Space Station as it orbited 262 above the nation's border with Ukraine.

Earth observation taken during a night pass by the Expedition 40 crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Folder lists this as night shots of US cities.

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 35 crew aboard the ISS. View of city lights at night.

Long regarded as one of the best photo of Houston, Texas (29.5N, 95.0W), this view from space shows the entire greater Houston/Galveston region in remarkable detail and clarity. The dark north/south line in the water between Houston and Galveston is the Houston Ship Channel. NASA's Johnson Space Center and Mission Control is located on the north shore of Clear Lake west of the channel. The extensive road and highway network can be seen in great detail.

Dallas, Texas, Usa, True Colour Satellite Image. Dallas, Texas, USA. True colour satellite image of Dallas, taken on 16 April 2001, using LANDSAT 7 data.

nightime photograph of Tokyo, Japan, was taken by International Space Station astronaut Dan Tani on February 5, 2008

Colour satellite image of Munich, Germany. Image taken on June 10, 2014 with Landsat 8 data.

Colour satellite image of Berlin, Germany. Image taken on May 15, 2013 with Landsat 8 data.

ISS035-E-017112 (6 April 2013) --- One of the crew members aboard the International Space Station recorded this almost vertical nocturnal view of the Boston metropolitan area on April 6, 2013.

The city lights of Hyderabad, India, bordered by Nehru Outer Ring Road, are pictured from the International Space Station as it orbited 261 miles above the South Asian subcontinent.

. iss069e032977 (July 18, 2023) --- The city lights of the oasis city of Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates are pictured from the International Space Station as it orbited 260 miles above southern Iran near the coast of the Strait of Hormuz.

iss059e122299 (June 21, 2019) --- The Monticello Reservoir, Lake Murray and Columbia, South Carolina are pictured as the International Space Station orbited above the Atlantic Coastal Plain of the United States at an altitude of 256 miles.

STS-36 Earth observation shows New York City, New York at night lit up along the Eastern seaboard of the United States and the Atlantic Ocean. The city lights designate the densely populated central city and the major highways surrounding it.

ISS038-E-024442 (7 Dec. 2013) --- One of the Expedition 38 crew members aboard the Earth-orbiting International Space Station photographed this night image of St. Louis, Missouri and East St. Louis, Illinois and surrounding area on Dec. 7, 2013. North is at the bottom of the picture, with the Mississippi River separating Missouri on the right (west) and Illinois on the east (left). Belleville, Illinois is also visible.

iss070e025974 (Nov. 16, 2023) --- Buenos Aires, Argentina, and its surrounding suburbs on the Rio de la Plata, are pictured from the International Space Station as it orbited 266 miles above the South American nation.

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 35 crew aboard the ISS. View of city lights at night.

ISS013-E-13549 (2 May 2006) --- Washington, DC is featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 13 crewmember on the International Space Station. When the image was exposed, the orbital outpost was located over the western border of Maryland and West Virginia. The resolution and extent of the true-color, handheld image is similar to the 15-meter/pixel data obtained by sensors onboard the unmanned Landsat-7 and Terra satellites. This resolution is sufficient to capture the sunglint off the Capitol Building's dome. Other major landmarks that are visible include the Washington Monument, the Pentagon (bottom left, southwest of the Potomac River), and the Lincoln Memorial, along the northwest bank of the Potomac.

(5-14 June 1991) --- St. Louis, Missouri-East St. Louis, Illinois and surrounding area were photographed by the STS 40 crewmembers aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia..

Earth observation taken during a night pass by the Expedition 37 crew. Folder lists this as Seoul, South Korea. City lights are visible. Also sent as Twitter message.

The unpiloted Japanese Kounotori H2 Transfer Vehicle-4 (HTV-4) approaches the International Space Station. View taken by the Expedition 36 crew during a night pass. Per Twitter message #HTV4, with its red & green lights, approaching #ISS from below as we passed over Houston earlier today.

Earth Observations taken by Expedition 34 crewmember.

ISS010-E-12103 (25 December 2004) --- Seoul, South Korea is featured in this digital image photographed by an Expedition 10 crewmember on the International Space Station. This photograph illustrates the Seoul (originally known as Hanyang) urban area at night. Major roadways and river courses (such as the Han River) are clearly outlined by street lights, while the brightest lights indicate the downtown urban core (center of image) and large industrial complexes. Very dark regions in the image are mountains or large bodies of water.

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 35 crew aboard the ISS. Night view of city lights.

Earth Observations taken by Expedition 34 crewmember.

ISS035-E-022540 (15 April 2013) --- One of the Expedition 35 crew members aboard the Earth-orbiting International Space Station photographed this night image of Monterrey, Mexico on April 15, 2013. The spacecraft was orbiting approximately 216 miles above a point centered at 27.0 degrees north latitude and 103.2 degrees west longitude.

iss064e016772 (Dec. 30, 2020) --- This night time photograph of New York City, and the surrounding New York/New Jersey metropolitan area, was taken from the International Space Station as it orbited 263 miles above Pennsylvania.

Earth Observations taken by Expedition 34 crewmember.

. iss069e032988 (July 18, 2023) --- The city light's of the port capital of Muscat, Oman, including the coastal fishing province of Al-Seeb, are pictured from the International Space Station as it orbited 260 miles above the Gulf of Oman. Muscat International Airport is featured prominently in the middle of this photograph.

Earth Observations taken by Expedition 34 crewmember.

Earth Observations taken by Expedition 34 crewmember.

Canton, China, In 2000, True Colour Satellite Image. True colour satellite image of the city of Guangzhou (Canton), China. Image taken on 14 September 2000, using LANDSAT data.

iss070e008440 (Oct. 22, 2023) --- The Mississippi River Valley and portions of the states of Arkansas, Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, and Illinois are pictured from the International Space Station as it orbited 261 miles above

Color satellite image of Dusseldorf to Dortmund, Germany, showing the Ruhr region. The Rhine flows through the Rhineland at west. Image collected on September 25, 2016 by Sentinel-2 satellites.

The city lights of Cairo and New Cairo City in Egypt are pictured during an orbital nightime pass from the International Space Station as it orbited 260 miles above the Sinai Peninsula.

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 35 crew aboard the ISS. View of city lights at night.

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 35 crew aboard the ISS. Night view of city lights.

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 35 crew aboard the ISS. Night view of city lights.

Sío Paulo, the most populous city in Brazil, can be differentiated by its bright street lights versus the darker street lights in the smaller city of Guarulhos (at right) in this picture from the International Space Station as it orbited 261 miles above.

Colour satellite image of Moscow, Russia. Image taken on April 21, 2014 with Landsat 8 data.

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 35 crew aboard the ISS. Night view of city lights.

ISS010-E-13665 (17 January 2005) --- The central business district of Houston, 25 miles northwest of the home to NASA's astronauts, is featured in this electronic still camera's view, photographed by the Expedition 10 crew onboard the International Space Station. Green grass can be seen in the major league baseball facility. The nearby NBA facility is also visible.

Earth Observations taken by Expedition 34 crewmember.

ISS035-E-017335 (7 April 2013) --- One of the crew members aboard the International Space Station photographed this night image of the bright city of Paris, France on April 7, 2013.

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 35 crew aboard the ISS. View of city lights at night.

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 35 crew aboard the ISS. View of city lights at night.

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 35 crew aboard the ISS. Night view of city lights.

STS090-755-062 (17 April - 3 May 1998) --- The Mississippi River stands out among the geographic features in this view of the St. Louis, Missouri and East St. Louis, Illinois area as photographed with a 70mm handheld camera from the Space Shuttle Columbia. The Shuttle was flying at almost a nadir position to the area when the photo was taken. The picture should be held with the two major rivers at the top of the frame in order for north to be toward the top. The Illinois-Missouri Border is easily delineated by following the Mississippi River from upper left to bottom center. The Missouri River separates St. Charles and St. Louis counties several miles inside the Mississippi at top center.

Earth Observations taken by Expedition 34 crewmember.

Earth Observations taken by Expedition 34 crewmember.

STS039-151-175 (28 April-6 May 1991) --- Large format (five-inch) frame of part of the greater Houston metropolitan area photographed from the Earth-orbiting Space Shuttle Discovery. (Hold photo vertically with Galveston at bottom so that north will be at top.) Heavier than normal spring rains emphasize the several bodies of water in the area. Thanks to Sun angle, the interstate highways, Houston's belt and loop systems and even city streets, farm-to-market roads and airport runways are easily observed in the frame. NASA and Clear Lake City, work and home areas of the seven Discovery astronaut crew members, are easily spotted near upper Galveston Bay in bottom (south portion) of the frame. Houston's central business district and the Harris County Domed Stadium are seen in the upper left quadrant.

Earth observation taken during a night pass by the Expedition 37 crew. City lights are visible. Per Twitter message this is San Antonio and Austin Texas.

ISS017-E-014158 (25 Aug. 2008) --- This is an 800mm oblique view which covers an area including Moffett Federal Air Field, NASA's Ames Research Center, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, and Santa Clara, CA. It was acquired by the Expedition 17 crew about 1:09 p.m. (PDT) Aug. 25, 2008 from the International Space Station from a vantage point of 220 statute miles above Earth. The bright colored features at the southeastern end of San Francisco Bay and the northern boundary of NASA ARC are salt ponds in the process of being returned to tidal wetlands.Note: Much of this same area was featured in an earlier image (identified by NASA number ISS017-E-006184) from the ISS during a slightly different crewing of Expedition 17.

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 35 crew aboard the ISS. Night view of city lights.

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 35 crew aboard the ISS. View of city lights at night.

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 35 crew aboard the ISS. View of city lights at night.

The city lights of Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, are pictured from the International Space Station as it orbited 262 miles above the Southeast Asian nation.

Earth observation taken during a day pass by the Expedition 40 crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Folder lists this as EOS Germany Pass - Rhine River valley.

The city lights of Sharjah and Ajman are pictured during an orbital night pass as the International Space Station orbited 261 miles above the northeastern tip of the United Arab Emirates near the Strait of Hormuz.

Earth observation taken by Expedition 68 crew. iss068e009003 (Oct. 5, 2022) --- Newport Beach, California, and several surrounding cities are pictured from the International Space Station as it orbited 262 miles above the Golden State. Credit: NASA/Kjell Lindgren

. iss068e076629 (March 26, 2023) - The night lights of the Saudi Arabian cities of Jeddah (lower left) and Mecca (upper right) contrast with the darkness of the Red Sea and the surrounding desert in this photograph from International Space Station as it orbited 258 miles above.

Omsk, Russia, True Colour Satellite Image. Omsk, Russia. True colour satellite image of the city of Omsk, located in southwest Siberia, Russia. Image taken on 5 September 2000, using LANDSAT 7 data.

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 39 crew aboard the ISS. Image was released by astronaut on Twitter and downlinked in folder Belgium area at night.

iss061e026105 (Oct. 31, 2019) --- Galveston, Texas (lower right) separates the Gulf of Mexico from Galveston Bay and Trinity Bay. At upper left is Houston in this photograph taken by an Expedition 61 crewmember aboard the International Space Station taken from an altitude of 256 miles.

This spaceborne radar image of Munich, Germany illustrates the capability of a multi-frequency radar system to highlight different land use patterns in the area surrounding Bavaria's largest city.

Earth Observations taken by Expedition 34 crewmember.

ISS011-E-12398 (3 Aug. 2005) --- Paris, France is featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 11 crewmember on the International Space Station.

ISS026-E-006255 (30 Nov. 2010) --- This night time image, photographed by an Expedition 26 crew member on the International Space Station, features the Las Vegas, Nevada metropolitan area, located near the southern tip of the state within the Mohave Desert of the southwestern USA. While the city of Las Vegas proper is famous for its casinos and resort hotels - the city bills itself as the entertainment capital of the world” - the metropolitan area includes several other incorporated cities and unincorporated (not part of a state-recognized municipality) areas. Crew members onboard the ISS observe and photograph numerous metropolitan sites when the areas are illuminated by sunlight, but the extent and pattern of these areas are perhaps best revealed by the city lights at night. The surrounding dark desert presents a stark contrast to the brightly lit, regular street grid of the developed metropolitan area. The Vegas Strip (center) is reputed to be the brightest spot on Earth due to the

ISS007-E-16525 (7 October 2003) --- This image of Chicago, Illinois at night, taken by an Expedition 7 crewmember onboard the International Space Station (ISS), shows patterns of the city center and major roads along the coast of Lake Michigan.

Lithuania, Europe, True Colour Satellite Image With Mask. Satellite view of Lithuania (with mask). This image was compiled from data acquired by LANDSAT 5 & 7 satellites.

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 35 crew aboard the ISS. View of city lights at night.

This image captured by NASA's Terra spacecraft is of the Jizzax Province in eastern Uzbekistan, one of the main agricultural regions of the country. Uzbekistan is the world's sixth largest producer and second-largest exporter of cotton.

ISS010-E-10227 (11 December 2004) --- Most of Greater New Orleans, Louisiana was captured with an electronic still camera as the Space Station made one of its many passes over the central Gulf of Mexico coast. In the almost vertical view, north is toward the top of the frame. New Orleans Lakefront Airport and a portion of the long causeway are recognizable features associated with Lake Ponchartrain in the top half of the frame. The Superdome is visible as a needle head sized object in the center of the image. The Mississippi River can be seen snaking horizontally through the picture.

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 35 crew aboard the ISS. View of city lights at night.

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 35 crew aboard the ISS.

Colour satellite image of Strasbourg, France. Image taken on June 8, 2014 with Landsat 8 data.

ISS033-E-021663 (15 Nov. 2012) --- A nighttime view of the Dallas, Texas metropolitan area is featured in this image photographed by an Expedition 33 crew member on the International Space Station. Most metropolitan areas of the western United States are configured over large areas with a regular street grid pattern that is highly recognizable from space, particularly at night. The northern Dallas metropolitan area exhibits this pattern. The north-south and east-west grid pattern of major surface streets is highlighted by orange street lighting, lending a fishnet-like appearance to the urban area. Within this framework, smaller residential and commercial buildings and streets give green-gray stipple patterns to some blocks. The airplane terminals of Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport are lit with golden-yellow lights, and surrounded by relatively dark runways and fields at left. Likewise, the runways of Dallas Love Field at lower center are recognizable by their darkness. Other da

ISS026-E-020611 (26 Jan. 2011) --- From approximately 220 miles above Earth, one of theExpedition 26 crew members aboard the Earth-orbiting International Space Station recorded this night time image of the greater New Orleans area. A 200-mm focal length was utilized to capture the image.

Daegu, South Korea, split by the Geumho River, is pictured during an orbital night pass from the International Space Station at an altiude of 263 miles above the East Asian nation.

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 35 crew aboard the ISS. Night view of city lights.

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 35 crew aboard the ISS. Night view of city lights.

Earth Observation taken during a day pass by the Expedition 40 crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Folder lists this as Chappaquiddick Island also Niagra Falls Hudson etc.

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 35 crew aboard the ISS. Night view of city lights.

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 35 crew aboard the ISS. Night view of city lights.

STS039-85-036 (28 April-6 May 1991) --- An orbital pass took the Space Shuttle Discovery over the Houston area, allowing this nearly vertical 70mm photograph to be taken. The north - south bounds extend from a line just north of the Intercontinental Airport at the top of the photo. (Some printings have index numbers near south in the frame). The east - west coverage extends from a line several miles outside the Sam Houston belt system left and right. Parts of the belt system, especially in the south, are still under construction. The Harris County Domed Stadium can be delineated just left of center, and the central business district of Houston is just above center. The work and living areas of the seven astronaut crew members are in the lower right quadrant, including Clear Lake, Taylor Lake, the NASA complex and parts of upper Galveston Bay. Many passes over the Houston area do not exist with the minimal cloud cover seen here.

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 35 crew aboard the ISS. Night view of city lights.

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 35 crew aboard the ISS. Night view of city lights.

Satellite image (with borders) of Greater Paris area with the city of Paris at center. The territory covered is approx. 60 km x 40 km. This image was compiled from data acquired by LANDSAT 7 satellite.

SL3-83-0152 (July-September 1973) --- A near vertical view of the metropolitan Detroit, Michigan area is seen in this Skylab 3 Earth Resources Experiments Package S190-B (five-inch Earth terrain camera) photograph taken from the Skylab space station in Earth orbit. The 25-mile long Detroit River drains the smaller body of water (Lake St. Clair) and flows southwestward separating Detroit from Windsor, Ontario, and empties into Lake Erie. The Detroit River handles a great deal of Great Lakes barge and ship traffic. Major streets and thoroughfares radiating from the city are clearly visible. Fighting Island is the highly reflective, white area located almost in the center of the picture. This high reflectivity is caused by the functional use of the island-disposal ponds for chemical salts. Sedimentation and/or pollution patterns in the area provide interesting visual phenomena for speculation and analysis. Distinct and rather unique cultivated field patterns can be observed south and east

ISS040-E-074022 (22 July 2014) --- Because of city lights, several points in the mid-east along the Eastern Mediterranean Sea coast and a bit inland can be delineated in this early morning view photographed by one of the Expedition 40 crew members aboard the Earth-orbiting International Space Station on July 22, 2014. A portion of the Mediterranean Sea is at the bottom of this image. The orbital outpost was flying at an altitude of approximately 223 nautical miles above a point the coordinates of which are 29.8 degrees north latitude and 32.3 degrees east longitude (near the Suez Canal) when the image was exposed, using an 85mm lens.

iss064e016283 (Dec. 26, 2020) --- Tokyo, Japan, is pictured from the International Space Station as it orbited 262 miles above the island nation during a night pass.

ISS026-E-016509 (9 Jan. 2011) --- From 220 miles above Earth, one of the Expedition 26 crew members aboard the International Space Station exposed this night time picture of the metropolitan area of Tokyo, Japan. The large majority of the heavily lighted, highly populated area is Tokyo proper. Yokohama is to the left, below center, along Tokyo Bay.

Earth observation taken during a night pass by the Expedition 37 crew. Folder lists this as Cairo, Tel-Aviv, at night. Per Twitter message this is Cairo and the Nile Delta.

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 35 crew aboard the ISS. Night view of city lights.

Earth observation taken by the Expedition 35 crew aboard the ISS. View of city lights at night.

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