Astronaut Anil Menon Captures Earth’s Nighttime Glow from Space

From the forward window of the Dragon spacecraft, astronaut Anil Menon has captured a striking timelapse of Earth at night. The footage reveals a complex tapestry of human activity and natural phenomena, from the deep blue glow of squid fishing boats to the sprawling brilliance of illuminated city centers.

Editorial·September 19, 2026·reads: 521

Astronaut Anil Menon Captures Earth’s Nighttime Glow from Space

The sequence, created using three-second exposures, offers a rare vantage point of the planet’s nocturnal atmosphere. Beyond the artificial light of coastal fleets and urban grids, the composition includes the ethereal arc of the Milky Way and distant galaxies rising above the horizon. Menon noted that the timelapse recreates the visual experience as seen through the spacecraft's glass, albeit at a slightly accelerated pace to capture the shifting clouds and weather patterns below.

Since posting the footage on September 18, 2026, the visual has drawn widespread attention from observers online. The images highlight the stark contrast between the concentrated light of human infrastructure and the vast, quiet expanse of the galaxy, providing a renewed perspective on the planet's appearance from low Earth orbit.