Cities at Night, an Orbital Tour Around the World

Looking east from a location southwest of Ireland, an astronaut took this night-time panorama of population centres in Ireland and the United Kingdom. Image ISS016-E-27034 was taken on February 1, 2008, using a 28 mm lens.

Chicago, Illinois, is home to roughly three million people, but the wider metropolitan area includes nearly 10 million. By day (top), the cement-coloured urban centre of the city blends almost imperceptibly into the gray-green colours of suburbs and then farmland. By night (lower), the region’s ten million people cannot be missed. ISS007-E-16747 (top) was taken on October 8, 2003, with a 50 mm lens. ISS007-E-16525 (bottom) was taken on October 7, 2003, with a 50 mm lens.

Houston, Texas  from International Space Station Expedition 2003

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