NASA astronaut captures city lights streaking below ISS in stunning new photos

News
By
published

The long-duration photographs capture Earth in motion.

a view of earth with long streaks of light
City lights in northern Mexico streak by in this long-exposure photograph taken by NASA astronaut Don Pettit from the International Space Station on Oct. 24, 2024. (Image credit: NASA/Don Pettit)

The whirling Earth shines brightly in fresh imagery taken from the space station.

NASA astronaut Don Pettit, known for his long-exposure photographs from the International Space Station (ISS), recently captured views above Mexico and the United States showing city lights streaking by 250 miles (400 kilometers) beneath him.

Pettit also managed to glimpse the aurora, or northern lights, on the horizon. These glowing hues appear when energetic particles from the sun interact with Earth's upper atmosphere.

Related: 'Spaceborne': Astronaut Don Pettit's amazing space photos (gallery)

Pettit, on his fourth mission to the space station, is well known for his orbital photography, which he performs during his spare time.

a long-exposure photo of earth with streaks of white and a green aurora on the horizon

Streaks of city lights and an aurora are visible above 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)
RELATED STORIES:

— 'Stunning was the word': Astronauts snap amazing aurora photo from ISS during severe geomagnetic storm

— Space MacGyver: NASA astronaut and inventor Don Pettit eager to return to ISS on Sept. 11

— NASA's oldest active astronaut Don Pettit to make 4th trip to ISS on Sept. 11

In recent days, he created a Jupiter-like ball of water, using food coloring to create incredible hues that evoked a gas giant planet.

Pettit also caught the conclusion of the independently funded Polaris Dawn mission that returned to Earth on Sept. 15.

The image chronicled the fiery reentry of the four-person mission, funded by billionaire Jared Isaacman, along with a view of the cone shape of the SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft that ferried them to orbit for about a week.

Join our Space Forums to keep talking space on the latest missions, night sky and more! And if you have a news tip, correction or comment, let us know at: community@space.com.

Elizabeth Howell
Elizabeth Howell
Staff Writer, Spaceflight

Elizabeth Howell (she/her), Ph.D., is a staff writer in the spaceflight channel since 2022 covering diversity, education and gaming as well. She was contributing writer for Space.com for 10 years before joining full-time. Elizabeth's reporting includes multiple exclusives with the White House and Office of the Vice-President of the United States, an exclusive conversation with aspiring space tourist (and NSYNC bassist) Lance Bass, speaking several times with the International Space Station, witnessing five human spaceflight launches on two continents, flying parabolic, working inside a spacesuit, and participating in a simulated Mars mission. Her latest book, "Why Am I Taller?", is co-written with astronaut Dave Williams. Elizabeth holds a Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Space Studies from the University of North Dakota, a Bachelor of Journalism from Canada's Carleton University and a Bachelor of History from Canada's Athabasca University. Elizabeth is also a post-secondary instructor in communications and science at several institutions since 2015; her experience includes developing and teaching an astronomy course at Canada's Algonquin College (with Indigenous content as well) to more than 1,000 students since 2020. Elizabeth first got interested in space after watching the movie Apollo 13 in 1996, and still wants to be an astronaut someday. Mastodon: https://qoto.org/@howellspace