Once again, an astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) is proving that there’s nothing quite as stunning as our planet as seen from the depths of space. Following in the footsteps of Reid Wiseman and Chris Hadfield, British astronaut Tim Peake is currently delighting the Internet with his gorgeous space photography.
Peake has only been aboard the ISS a month and a half (he left Earth on December 15, 2015), but already has an impressive collection of images to show for his time in space as part of the European Space Agency’s six-month Principia Mission.
He’s benefiting, of course, from the photo-savvy of ISS vet (andaccomplished space photographer) Scott Kelly, who is part of the Year Long Mission begun this past March to examine the effect long-term space flight has on the body.
Where much space photography focuses on the unexpected diversity of earth’s natural topography, with wildly colorful, seemingly-otherworldly natural landscapes, Peake’s photos also serve as a reminder of impressive scale and scope of human creation.
“Hey, I recognise that place! Looking to the east along the Channel with UK on the left and France on the right. Streetlights from the densely-populated London, Paris and Brussels glow brightly in the centre of the picture,” wrote astronaut Tim Peake of this photo on Twitter. Photo: Tim Peake, courtesy ESA/NASA.
This weekend, Peake passed over his native country at around midnight on Saturday, snapping two stunning shots, including a striking close-up of London’s bright lights. “I’d rather be up here…but only just!! #toughcall,” he wrote on Twitter. The images have already gathered over 33,000 likes.
On January 16, Peake became the first British astronaut to take part in a space walk. He made sure to pose for a selfie to document the historic occasion, causing the Guardian to boast that the Brit had “beaten the likes of Kim Kardashian at their own game by posting the ultimate self-portrait.”
Tim Peake takes a selfie during a space walk, the first ever conducted by a British astronaut. “I think I found the perfect spot for a selfie,” he wrote on Flickr. Photo: Tim Peake, courtesy ESA/NASA.
Needless to say, we’re fully behind Peake’s shutterbug tendencies—and is following all the selfie safety guidelines.
See more of Peake’s photographs from the ISS below:
“A wintry looking #Moscow under the #aurora,” wrote astronaut Tim Peake of this photo on Twitter. Photo: Tim Peake, courtesy ESA/NASA.
Tim Peake brought a banner for his favorite football club aboard the ISS, leading to this dramatic photo. Photo: Tim Peake, courtesy ESA/NASA.
“I was lucky enough to fly a helicopter in these Rocky Mountains once – I’m a bit higher this time!” wrote astronaut Tim Peake of this photo on Flickr. Photo: Tim Peake, courtesy ESA/NASA.
“Beautiful night pass over Italy, Alps and Mediterranean,” wrote astronaut Tim Peake of this photo on Twitter. Photo: Tim Peake, courtesy ESA/NASA.
“The dam makes this river look like a dragon’s tail!” wrote astronaut Tim Peake of this photo of South Dakota on Twitter. Photo: Tim Peake, courtesy ESA/NASA.