Anil Menon Captures Earth’s Night Lights from Orbit

The visuals were constructed by compiling multiple 15-second exposures, a technique that transforms static light sources into vibrant streaks. Over the Indian subcontinent, the dense sprawl of city lights paints a yellow-gold luminescence against the dark landscape. In contrast, the view over the waters near Vietnam reveals a collection of red-hued streaks, pinpointing the locations of fishing vessels navigating the ocean.

Menon posted the dual images to social media, highlighting the stark atmospheric differences between the two regions. While the Indian frame reflects the sprawling reach of terrestrial power grids, the Vietnam shot emphasizes the concentrated, isolated points of light from boats at sea. These photographs offer a rare perspective on how human infrastructure interacts with the natural rotation of the Earth as viewed from the International Space Station.