NASA Astronaut Captured Earth Time-Lapse From Orbit
A new orbital time-lapse displays city lights and atmospheric phenomena captured from a SpaceX spacecraft.
Updated on Sept. 19, 2026 in Space
NASA astronaut Anil Menon has shared a time-lapse video providing an orbital view of Earth's nocturnal surface. The footage was recorded through the forward window of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
Why it matters
High-resolution orbital observation allows researchers to document shifting patterns in urban illumination and meteorological activity from a unique vantage point. This imagery provides a distinct perspective on human and natural light sources visible from space.
The time-lapse consists of individual 3-second exposures stitched into a continuous sequence. This technique allows the camera to collect enough light to resolve stars, galaxies, and transient surface features like lightning and squid-fishing boats.
The players
Anil Menon
A NASA astronaut who has previously shared orbital imagery of regions including India and Vietnam.
SpaceX
An aerospace company that designs the Dragon spacecraft used for crewed orbital transport and research.
NASA
The United States government agency responsible for the civil space program and aeronautics research.
The details
The imagery was captured through the forward-facing window of a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft while in Earth orbit. The process relies on long-exposure photography to capture faint phenomena like the Milky Way and the specific blue light signatures of squid-fishing vessels, which are then combined to create the motion effect.
Timeline
September 19, 2026: Anil Menon shared the time-lapse video on X.
The Tech Race
This visual record follows the precedent set by the International Space Station Crew Earth Observations program, which has long documented nocturnal light patterns. It demonstrates the expanding capability of commercial Dragon spacecraft to serve as platforms for orbital science and observation.
This imagery is currently available for viewing on social media platforms for the public to observe orbital night phenomena. It serves as a visual record of human and geological light signatures as seen from current low-Earth orbit missions.
The takeaway
The use of commercial crewed vehicles is creating new opportunities for high-fidelity orbital monitoring of Earth. Keep watch for future releases of imagery from Dragon spacecraft missions to observe how these persistent perspectives track global changes in lighting and weather.
Further reading
Explore more about orbital missions and astronomical photography in our Space section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by NDTV Profit.
