NASA Astronaut Shared Time-Lapse View From Space
The footage captures Earth's night lights and celestial phenomena from a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in Space
NASA astronaut Anil Menon has released a time-lapse video providing a unique perspective of Earth from orbit. Captured from the forward window of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft, the footage features city lights, lightning, and stars.
Why it matters
Space-based photography offers a rare perspective on terrestrial geography and atmospheric activity. These images allow the public to visualize the scale of human activity and natural phenomena from an orbital vantage point.
The imagery was created using 3-second exposures stitched together to form a seamless time-lapse. The capture method accounts for the movement of Earth, stars, and galaxies through the SpaceX Dragon's forward window.
The players
Anil Menon
Anil Menon is a NASA astronaut who has previously shared star-trail photography captured over various global regions.
SpaceX
SpaceX is an aerospace manufacturer and space transportation company that operates the Dragon spacecraft used to reach orbit.
The details
The video provides a high-contrast view of Earth, highlighting human-made city lights and blue illumination from squid-fishing boats. The footage also tracks natural occurrences, including lightning storms, the Milky Way, and distant galaxies.
Timeline
September 19, 2026: Anil Menon shared the time-lapse video on X.
The Big Picture
This footage updates the visual documentation standards set by the NASA Human Research Program for orbital outreach. It confirms the feasibility of capturing long-exposure star trails from dynamic spacecraft platforms.
The release of such high-resolution orbital imagery highlights the potential for future automated remote sensing and environmental monitoring from space. These techniques could eventually lead to improved global light-pollution mapping and oceanic vessel tracking.
The takeaway
Advancements in low-light photography from orbit are allowing for more vivid documentation of Earth's nocturnal activities. Viewers can apply these concepts to their own night photography by utilizing long-exposure settings to capture motion that is invisible to the human eye.
Further reading
For more information on current orbital missions, visit the Space section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NDTV Profit.
