Stunning Night Images From Space: ISS Captures Earth's Most Brilliantly Illuminated Cities From Delhi To Tokyo

The International Space Station (ISS) has captured and shared remarkable nighttime views of Earth, featuring some of the world's most brilliantly illuminated urban centers visible from space.

India's capital city, Delhi, stands out prominently among these luminous metropolises. The photograph displays Delhi's vibrant glow, with night lights creating elaborate and captivating patterns across the landscape. This spectacular image was captured at approximately 10:54 pm.

"Cities like Delhi, Singapore, Tokyo, and São Paulo are among the most luminous urban centers seen from the International Space Station at night," stated the ISS in their post on the social media platform X.

An accompanying description provides fascinating context, noting that "India's National Capital Territory of Delhi, home to approximately 34.67 million people, is the second-largest metropolitan area in the world after Tokyo."

These photographs were taken from the ISS, which orbits our planet at roughly 400 kilometers above Earth's surface, showing Delhi brilliantly illuminated by countless street lights and buildings.

The image clearly depicts Delhi divided by the Yamuna River, which flows north to south through the metropolis. A distinctly bright rectangular area near the right-center of the photograph identifies Indira Gandhi International Airport, one of South Asia's busiest transportation hubs.

Additional images showcase Singapore, the Southeast Asian city-state, visibly separated from Malaysia's Johor Bahru by the Johor Strait. Another striking photograph displays Japan, highlighting Tokyo and its surrounding suburban regions along Tokyo Bay.

The images prompted various reactions across social media. One user questioned, "Delhi is still luminous with all those pollution?" Another commented, "Really marvelous. Feel something like Sci-Fi movie like something coming out of Earth." A Delhi resident enthusiastically noted, "I can even point my road in Delhi map. It's so beautiful."

Earlier, on November 2, the ISS celebrated a significant milestone marking years of continuous human presence aboard the station. The development of the ISS occurred between 1984 and 1993, through international collaboration involving the United States, Canada, Japan, and various European nations.