To mark the semiquincentennial of the United States, astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS) watched the Independence Day fireworks lighting up the night sky over Los Angeles. The footage captures the glittering bursts as the nation celebrated its 250th anniversary.
The video was recorded from the ISS and later released to the public. It offers a rare view of urban light shows from an altitude of roughly 400 kilometers.
View from Orbit
At that altitude, individual fireworks shells are hard to discern, but the collective glow creates a clear pattern over the metropolitan area. Such observations highlight how human activity can be seen from space.
NASA notes that these recordings are not only spectacular but also provide useful data on light emissions and urban activity. Similar footage is planned for future national holidays.