CosmosObservatory
Explore
Solar System
Live
Learn
Tools
About
Cosmos Observatory
ToolsAbout
Cosmos Observatory

Explore the universe through NASA data, real-time ISS tracking, Mars rover imagery, asteroid monitoring, and comprehensive space encyclopedia. Your gateway to the cosmos.

Explore

  • APOD
  • Mars Rovers
  • Earth Imagery
  • NASA Gallery
  • ISS Tracker

Data

  • Asteroids
  • Solar System
  • Exoplanets
  • Space Weather
  • Launches

Tools

  • Glossary
  • News
  • Calculators

Legal

  • About
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Space Tools
  • Contact

Stay updated with the cosmos

Get weekly digests of APOD highlights, upcoming launches, and space events.

© 2026 Cosmos Observatory. All rights reserved. Built with for space enthusiasts.

This website is not affiliated with, maintained, authorized, endorsed by, or in any way officially connected with NASA or any of its subsidiaries or affiliates. All NASA imagery is in the public domain unless otherwise noted. Data sourced from NASA Open APIs, Launch Library 2, and other open data services.

  1. Home
  2. APOD
  3. March 12, 2018
APODVideo

Flying over the Earth at Night II

March 12, 2018
PreviousMarch 11, 2018
Today
NextMarch 13, 2018

About This Image

What would it be like to orbit the Earth? The International Space Station (ISS) does this every 90 minutes, and sometimes the astronauts on board take image sequences that are made into videos. The featured time-lapse video shows many visual spectacles of the dark Earth below. First, as the video begins, green and red auroras are visible on the upper left above white clouds. Soon city lights come into view, and it becomes clear you are flying over North America, eventually passing over Florida. In the second sequence you fly over Europe and Africa, eventually passing over the Nile River. Brief flashes of light are lightning in storms. Stars far in the distance can be seen rising through the greenish-gold glow of the Earth's atmosphere.

Share

Full Archive

Browse by month since 1995

Mars Rover Photos

Curiosity & Perseverance

NASA Gallery

140,000+ space images

More From the Archive

APOD: Molecular Cloud Barnard 68 - April 9, 2006

April 9, 2006

Molecular Cloud Barnard 68

APOD: Andromeda Station - March 26, 2020

March 26, 2020

Andromeda Station

APOD: In the Center of the Trifid Nebula - June 30, 2008

June 30, 2008

In the Center of the Trifid Nebula

APOD: An Ion Drive for Deep Space 1 - July 20, 2003

July 20, 2003

An Ion Drive for Deep Space 1

APOD: The Sombrero Galaxy in Infrared - October 4, 2015

October 4, 2015

The Sombrero Galaxy in Infrared

Today's APOD

View the latest picture

Full Archive

Since June 16, 1995

Exoplanet Explorer

5,700+ confirmed worlds