Incredible views of the world at night from the International Space Station

The International Space Station provides a spectacular perch to view the Earth.

In daylight hours, that view is dominated by highlights the world’s natural colors in the splendor of  green forests, blue oceans, and yellow deserts.

Under darkness, it reveals the activity and impact of the people who inhabit the planet. Yellow glows from population centers, as do green lights from fishing boats. And the outlines of the reach of nations and cities, not generally visible when the sun shines, are revealed in stark ways in the light we have created.