All Alone in the Night - Time-lapse footage of the Earth as seen from the ISS

Images: http://eol.jsc.nasa.gov/
Music: 'Freedom Fighters' by Two Steps from Hell
Inspiration: http://youtu.be/74mhQyuyELQ
Editor: David Peterson
Serving Suggestion: 1080p, lights off, volume up :)

Inspired by a version of the opening sequence of this clip called 'What does it feel like to fly over planet Earth?', I tracked down the original time-lapse sequence taken on the International Space Station (ISS) via NASA, found some additional ones there, including the spectacular Aurora Australis sequences, and set it to a soundtrack that almost matches the awe and wonder I feel when I see our home from above.

To those brave men and women who fly alone in the night to take us to the stars, we salute you.

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Sequences:

1. North-to-south down the western coast of North and South America.
2. North-to-south over Florida, the Bahamas and other Caribbean islands.
3. South-East Asia, approaching the Philippine Sea
4. Western Europe, from France through Italy, Greece, Turkey and the Middle East.
5. Aurora Australis, over the Indian Ocean, approaching Australia
6. Aurora Australis, over the Indian Ocean.
7. Aurora Australis, unknown location in the Southern Hemisphere.

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Featured on NASA's Astronomy Picture of the Day!
http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120305.html

Explanation from NASA: Many wonders are visible when flying over the Earth at night. A compilation of such visual spectacles was captured recently from the International Space Station (ISS) and set to rousing music. Passing below are white clouds, orange city lights, lightning flashes in thunderstorms, and dark blue seas. On the horizon is the golden haze of Earth's thin atmosphere, frequently decorated by dancing auroras as the video progresses. The green parts of auroras typically remain below the space station, but the station flies right through the red and purple auroral peaks. Solar panels of the ISS are seen around the frame edges. The ominous wave of approaching brightness at the end of each sequence is just the dawn of the sunlit half of Earth, a dawn that occurs every 90 minutes.

• Category

  Science & Technology

[Sean Virili]

honestly amazing footage. not trolling here, but just want to know why it looks somewhat fake. the vivid colours in the thunderstorm, the aurora and the light bouncing off the ISS almost look like it's been edited. is it the camera it was filmed on? would like to hear some comments. churs

[David Peterson]

Hi Sean. There has been some basic colour grading, which purely enhances saturation, brightness and contrast of the existing colours, and the footage was slowed down somewhat from the original via Final Cut Pro X, which is why some parts of the image seem 'warped' (particularly the fast-moving parts near the bottom of the shots). Other than that, no enhancements were made.

[kashisman]

I love it!!

[Abhishek Nama]

Accelerated video.

[Katia J]

To all of you on the ISS, bringing these videos to the rest of us down here who wish we, too, could be “out there” (and to those on the ground who took them into the sky)... thank you. You are not “all alone in the night.” Our bodies may be earthbound, but our hearts fly with you.

[Levan Eliashvili]

Thanks.

[Jelena Stojanovic]

I don`t control anything. You are soooo agresive. I was just enjoying the view. I am in Serbia, and here, I still am trying to dream about space and capture some beauty, not to go mental. I am not saving anything that Americans and the rest of the world already fu***. And if this planet explode tomorrow, I`ll go in peace. I don`t care how you will burn. Just shut up and watch video. It`s not here for you to get all mentall.

[Sal Gutierrez]

490 people attempted to fly to space from their backyards and failed miserably...smh

[FierceProtocol]

Boooooooo. This planet can explode tomorrow. I guarantee it wouldnt be because of the landfills. Molten cores explode. You know what's funny? it's artards like you who think "they" control shit. On a planetary scale... WOW, go get a real brain.... This planet will own you. "Oh, but we must take care of mother earth".... She'll burn your ass out if you are in Colorado. Tell me do you think she stops when she gets to a plastic container? F*** no she burns right through that and your ass....

[Jelena Stojanovic]

First time I saw this, I cried. We have done so much demage, but still this planet is alive and magnificient in all of her beauty. I am just sad that I will never expirience travel to space, to see our home surrounded with peacefulness and quiet, far away from all noise and stupidity of people. There I could admire our gift for science. Music in this video is great. Thanks...