Here is a stunning, mind-blowing time lapse video of the Earth at night, taken by astronauts aboard the International Space Station:

The video, taken by astronauts and edited by Michael König, was from a high-resolution camera with low-light abilities, so it can see faint sources of light. The footage was all taken from August to October 2011.

Cities stream by underneath; instantly recognizable outlines of familiar places like the Great Lakes or the boot of Italy sweep by; incredible flickering thunderstorms – making you realize that there are always thousands of such storms all over the planet at any one time; incredible 3D views of the green and red aurorae which you can actually see as towering structures dozens or even hundreds kilometers in height; stars rising and setting and spinning over the horizon; the reflection of the Moon on the Earth below following along the point of view at 2:50 into the footage; the thin glowing arc above the horizon: airglow, caused by molecules in the upper atmosphere slowly emitting light as they release energy accumulated during the day.

Editing: Michael König

Shooting locations in order of appearance:

1. Aurora Borealis Pass over the United States at Night
2. Aurora Borealis and eastern United States at Night
3. Aurora Australis from Madagascar to southwest of Australia
4. Aurora Australis south of Australia
5. Northwest coast of United States to Central South America at Night
6. Aurora Australis from the Southern to the Northern Pacific Ocean
7. Halfway around the World
8. Night Pass over Central Africa and the Middle East
9. Evening Pass over the Sahara Desert and the Middle East
10. Pass over Canada and Central United States at Night
11. Pass over Southern California to Hudson Bay
12. Islands in the Philippine Sea at Night
13. Pass over Eastern Asia to Philippine Sea and Guam
14. Views of the Mideast at Night
15. Night Pass over Mediterranean Sea
16. Aurora Borealis and the United States at Night
17. Aurora Australis over Indian Ocean
18. Eastern Europe to Southeastern Asia at Night

Filed under: Earth • Manned Space Flight