Lightning in Southeast Asia

A flash of lightning shines brighter than the lights of nearby cities in this Oct. 29, 2024, image taken by astronaut Don Pettit while aboard the International Space Station. At the time of this photograph, little to no moonlight illuminated the scene. This allows astronauts to see and photograph a variety of light sources with […]

May 13, 2025 - 17:20

Southeast Asia occupies the bottom two-thirds of the image. The scene is dark except for nighttime lights coming from urban areas, the white and purple glow from a thunderstorm, and green dots from fishing boats. A strip of green airglow is visible across the planet's horizon.

NASA/Don Pettit

A flash of lightning shines brighter than the lights of nearby cities in this Oct. 29, 2024, image taken by astronaut Don Pettit while aboard the International Space Station. At the time of this photograph, little to no moonlight illuminated the scene. This allows astronauts to see and photograph a variety of light sources with a high degree of contrast against the dark land and water surfaces. Bright light associated with lightning is a common occurrence during the monsoon season across Southeast Asia.