New photograph shows the majestic metropolis from space

Apr 17, 2012 06:58 GMT  ·  By
This Expedition 30 image shows the full splendor of the Russian capital, Moscow, at night
   This Expedition 30 image shows the full splendor of the Russian capital, Moscow, at night

Backdropped by the glint of sunrise in the horizon, and by the eerie glow of Aurora Borealis, the majestic splendor of the Russian capital city is revealed in this new image taken from low-Earth orbit.

The photo was snapped by astronauts of the Expedition 30 crew aboard the International Space Station (ISS). One of the orbital outpost's solar panels is visible in the section of the image, obscuring part of the view.

One of the things that is immediately made obvious in the new image is the circular structure of Moscow. Its suburbs are also clearly visible, as are several other, smaller urban centers all around it.

When this image was snapped, the ISS was located at an altitude of about 240 miles (387 kilometers), and some 100 miles (161 kilometers) from Volgograd (formerly Stalingrad). The two cities are some 563 miles (906 kilometers) apart from each other.