ISS' view of nightly Japan

图注： This nighttime photograph of Earth was taken from the International Space Station (ISS) by astronaut Scott Kelly in 2015 during Expedition 44. It captures the nation of Japan lit up after dark, with bright city lights tracing urban centers, major roadways, and densely populated regions. The view from orbit at night highlights how human activity shows up as patterns of light on Earth’s surface, with well-lit areas contrasting sharply against the surrounding darkness of rural regions and open water. Photographs like this highlight what “night” looks like from space — not just a lack of sunlight, but also a time when artificial light reveals the rhythms of human life across the globe. From hundreds of kilometers above the planet, the night side of Earth appears as a tapestry of glowing clusters and dark spaces, offering insight into population distribution, infrastructure, and how cities remain active long after sunset. The ISS’s low orbit allows astronauts to capture these detailed views of Earth after dark, helping us appreciate both natural and human elements of nighttime on our planet.
来源： NASA 来源链接

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