Cool Time Lapse View of Earth From Space

A time lapse video taken by Expedition 28 & 29 from the International Space Station during the months of August to October, 2011. You can clearly see the Northern Lights (Aurora Borealis) as the station crosses over the top of the Earth. Because of the Earths constant rotation things look a bit different than we’re used to on the map, it’s tough to make out what countries you’re looking at (when the clouds aren’t hiding the ground), but I was able to identify a few regions. The person who posted this video claims they didn’t do anything to edit colors or anything similar, it’s strange to see the atmosphere so clearly visible, very cool.

Below are the places shown in the video in the order they appear:

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

All of the shots are taken at night time, not sure why, I bet it would still look pretty cool during the day as well. Photographs taken by Ron Garan 350km above the Earth with a high ISO camera called the SS-HDTV, made by NHK Japan. Music Credit: Jan Jelinek – Do Dekor.