9/11 attacks, Northern lights & other marvels captured from space

The view of Earth from space offers a unique perspective on both the planet’s natural beauty and its vulnerability to disasters. From the ethereal Northern Lights to the devastating impacts of wildfires and hurricanes, space photography captures moments that tell profound stories about our world. This article explores a range of striking images taken from space, revealing both the awe-inspiring and the heartbreaking aspects of our planet.

10 extraordinary space photographs of nature and disasters The 9/11 attack as seen from space One of the most compelling images is the view of New York City from space, captured by NASA 's Landsat 7 satellite shortly after the attacks. The photograph reveals smoke billowing from Ground Zero and the impact on the city’s skyline. Vast smoke plumes drift over the city, starkly contrasting with the otherwise bustling urban landscape.

This image captures both the scale of the destruction and the profound impact of the attacks on the city and the world. Image source: NASA The Northern lights over Norway In stark contrast to the sombre image of 9/11, photographs of the Northern Lights offer a glimpse into nature’s splendour. Captured from the International Space Station (ISS), these images showcase the auroras dancing across the Arctic sky.

The vibrant greens and purples of the auroras are visible from space, illustrating the magnetic interactions between the solar wind and Earth’s atmosphere. Image source: NASA The Sahara desert from orbit.