The International Space Station (ISS) offers an unparalleled view of Earth, and NASA astronaut Cardman, mission commander of the recent SpaceX Crew-11 mission, shared a video beautifully showcasing that unique vantage point.
Having launched on August 1st this year, her mission has been busy, but she made time to shoot a moment that gained significant attention across the world: a composite view featuring the magnificent Aurora Borealis dancing next to the glow of Earth’s cities.
I’ve still never seen aurora from below, but up here, it’s a frequent show. Last week’s was especially good. See if you can spot Houston, Florida, and the northern lights all in one frame, before we head out across the Gulf and some great lightning storms over South America at… pic.twitter.com/THqX83wNXL
— Zena Cardman (@zenanaut) November 17, 2025
Orbital Daytime Reveals Stunning Earth Views
Cardman filmed this spectacular scene during what she calls the “orbital daytime,” a time when the ISS rapidly circles the Earth. The video begins high above the United States, tracing the southwest trajectory of the spacecraft. Almost immediately, bright clusters of city lights including the distinct patterns of Houston, New Orleans, and the Florida peninsula shine brightly against the darkness.
What is extraordinary in the footage, however, is the coexistence of light sources: while the man-made brilliance glows below, a celestial phenomenon takes center stage as shimmering sheets of green and purple light from the Northern Lights move across the upper atmosphere.
Space Station Footage Shows Global Beauty
The camera keeps on rolling as the space station sails towards the Gulf of Mexico, heading towards South America. The composite frame fills in with more and more detail. On the far horizon, the first delicate strip of soft light appears, signaling the start of a breathtaking sunrise over the curving edge of the planet.
Cardman posted the clip to social media, exclaiming that while she’s never seen the aurora from the ground, “up here, it’s a frequent show. ” The recent display was “especially good,” she said.
The astronaut even added for her viewers a fun challenge: “See if you can spot Houston, Florida, and the northern lights all in one frame before we head out across the Gulf and some great lightning storms over South America at sunrise.”
This final detail confirms the video includes several stunning natural and man-made elements, from distant lightning storms illuminating the clouds to the colorful dawn breaking over the globe. It is a strong reminder of the beauty and complexity of our world, only as seen from hundreds of miles above us by this one person.
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