Categories: EarthEarth ObservationNASASpace ExplorationSpace Station

Earth Nightlights (and Nightlife!) Shine In Stellar Shots From Space Station

A Soyuz spacecraft on the International Space Station (front) above the lights of Europe. Picture taken during Expedition 40. Credit: Reid Wiseman/Twitter

A lot of action happens on Earth at night! Just ask NASA’s Reid Wiseman, a prolific picture-tweeter who recently uploaded a series of images of night lights shining all around the world.

From his perch on the International Space Station, Wiseman sent pictures showing borders from space, that glowing punch in the desert landscape that is Dubai, and clouds rolling in over the bright lights of Los Angeles. Check out some samples below the jump.

The North Arabian Sea on Saturday evening. pic.twitter.com/OrAkGxHRJL

— Reid Wiseman (@astro_reid) August 12, 2014

You can absolutely see #borders from space. Seoul, Korea and a line just north. pic.twitter.com/ORQ72XEHdT

— Reid Wiseman (@astro_reid) August 12, 2014

You can absolutely see #borders from space. Here, a bright yellow line divides San Diego and Tijuana. pic.twitter.com/NwqcU3L1cB

— Reid Wiseman (@astro_reid) August 12, 2014

I love how the clouds encroach on #LA Saturday night pic.twitter.com/Lz3Y1ov80g

— Reid Wiseman (@astro_reid) August 12, 2014

#Beijing pic.twitter.com/bO7OvaaOwk

— Reid Wiseman (@astro_reid) August 12, 2014

Wow!!! San Diego, LA, San Francisco. And Vegas sticks out a bit in the desert! pic.twitter.com/yRP2T8U1zD

— Reid Wiseman (@astro_reid) August 12, 2014

#Dubai shines bright on a super clear night. pic.twitter.com/YkMoMArhZk

— Reid Wiseman (@astro_reid) August 11, 2014

Florida and Cuba under the #supermoon this past Saturday morning. pic.twitter.com/zWJmVLpH9b

— Reid Wiseman (@astro_reid) August 11, 2014

Elizabeth Howell

Elizabeth Howell is the senior writer at Universe Today. She also works for Space.com, Space Exploration Network, the NASA Lunar Science Institute, NASA Astrobiology Magazine and LiveScience, among others. Career highlights include watching three shuttle launches, and going on a two-week simulated Mars expedition in rural Utah. You can follow her on Twitter @howellspace or contact her at her website.