An astronaut aboard the International Space Station captured this stunning nighttime image of Antalya, Türkiye, on September 17, 2022. The photo beautifully highlights the city’s architectural layout, the captivating natural landscapes, and the pulsating coastal lights.
The contrasting view of the city’s infrastructure and the natural surroundings at night on the Mediterranean coast is strikingly evident.
This fascinating nighttime image of Antalya, a Mediterranean coastal city in Türkiye, was snapped by an astronaut from the International Space Station. The astronautic nighttime images offer high-resolution and freely accessible visuals of our planet after sunset. These images are often employed in research studies examining light pollution and urban growth, as they reveal fine details such as the arrangement of streets, suburban territories, and dark, unlit areas.
Following the declaration of the republic on October 29, 1923, Turkey adopted its official name, Türkiye Cumhuriyeti, known as the Republic of Turkey in US English, or simply Turkey. In 2021, Türkiye became the officially recognized spelling through the United Nations.
Antalya, situated on Türkiye’s southern coast, is the largest city in this snapshot. Bright urban lighting distinctly contrasts with the dark, unlit parks and natural areas like the five-sided Zeytinpark and adjacent mountain forests. Artificial structures identifiable by light patterns include an airport, highways, roads, and shipping ports.
The Taurus Mountains border Antalya to the north and northwest, evident in the picture as vast dark areas with sparse human settlements scattered throughout. The dark gap between Antalya and Serik can be attributed to agricultural lands along the Aksu River. This river, originating from the Taurus Mountains, provides water for local consumption and irrigation for horticultural crops like tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers.
The coastline between Antalya and Serik glows with white, blue-green, and purple lights, signifying tourist hotspots like resorts and beaches. The white and blue hues stand in stark contrast with the yellow tones prevalent in older cities, as bright LED (light-emitting diode) lights are increasingly replacing the warm-toned, high-pressure sodium lighting. Researchers use astronaut photography to monitor the spectral changes in city lights to study environmental and human-induced alterations globally.
The nighttime photograph, labeled ISS067-E-372979, was taken using a Nikon D5 digital camera with a 180 millimeters focal length on September 17, 2022. The ISS Crew Earth Observations Facility and the Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Johnson Space Center, provided the image. An Expedition 67 crew member captured it. The image was cropped and enhanced to improve contrast, with lens artifacts eliminated. The International Space Station Program encourages such photography as part of the ISS National Lab, aiming to help astronauts capture images of Earth of significant scientific and public value, and ensuring their free availability online. Sara Schmidt, from GeoControl Systems, JETS Contract at NASA-JSC, provided the caption.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Astronaut nighttime photograph of Antalya, Türkiye
Who took the nighttime photograph of Antalya, Türkiye?
The photograph was taken by an astronaut aboard the International Space Station as a part of the Expedition 67 crew.
When was the photograph taken?
The photograph was taken on September 17, 2022.
What details does the nighttime photograph of Antalya highlight?
The photograph showcases the urban layout of the city, the natural landscapes surrounding it, and the vibrant lights along the coastal region.
What equipment was used to capture this image?
The image was captured using a Nikon D5 digital camera with a focal length of 180 millimeters.
Why are nighttime photographs taken by astronauts significant?
Nighttime photographs taken by astronauts are a source of high-resolution and freely available imagery of Earth at night. These images are often used for research on light pollution and urbanization.
What changes were made to the original image?
The original image was cropped and enhanced to improve contrast, and lens artifacts were removed.
What identifiable features are highlighted in the photograph?
The image contrasts brightly lit urban infrastructure against unilluminated parks and natural areas, and human-made structures identifiable by lighting patterns such as an airport, highways, roads, and shipping ports. It also features the Taurus Mountains, the Aksu River, and the coastal line between Antalya and Serik.
What does the photograph reveal about the city’s lighting?
The photograph reveals a mixture of white, blue-green, and purple lights along the coast and contrasts these with the yellow tones prevalent in older cities, indicating the replacement of warm-hued, high-pressure sodium lighting with bright LED lights.
More about Astronaut nighttime photograph of Antalya, Türkiye
- International Space Station
- Astronaut Photography of Earth
- Nighttime Imagery Research
- Antalya, Türkiye
- Nikon D5 Digital Camera
- Light Pollution
- LED vs Sodium Lighting
