Japanese astronaut shares glowing image of Abu Dhabi at night from space

City lights of the UAE capital were captured in the shot

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  Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata captured an image of Abu Dhabi from the International Space Station on January 31, 2023. Photo: Koichi Wakata Twitter

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  Part of Abu Dhabi captured on May 29, 2020, by the Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites. Courtesy: ESA

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  Abu Dhabi's Maqta, Mussafah and Sheikh Zayed bridges captured from space. Courtesy: ESA

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  The Abu Dhabi International Airport from space. Courtesy: ESA

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  Image of an Abu Dhabi island captured on January 27, 2019. Courtesy: ESA

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  The Ferrari World Abu Dhabi as captured by Copernicus Sentinel-2 satellites. Courtesy: ESA

A Japanese astronaut has shared an image of Abu Dhabi from space that shows striking views of the UAE's capital at night.

Koichi Wakata took the shot on Monday night from the International Space Station, a science laboratory orbiting about 400km above Earth.

The astronaut has been on the station since October 5 and will return to Earth in March.

“Hello, Abu Dhabi! Nice view the city at night from the ISS!” he tweeted.

The image shows the capital sparkling during the night, with urban areas and coastlines clearly visible.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi are popular spots for astronauts to capture because of their distinctive coastlines and landmarks.

Abu Dhabi’s Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque and Ferrari World are among astronauts’ favourites while they are on the space station.

The Palm Jumeirah is also one of the most photographed landmarks from space.

Mr Wakata is a member of the Crew-5 mission by Nasa and SpaceX.

He has been an astronaut with Japan’s space agency Jaxa for more than 26 years and flew on his first mission in 1996 on a Space Shuttle.

He was the ISS commander for the last two months of the Expedition 39, which took place in 2013.

The next crew launch by Nasa and SpaceX will include UAE astronaut Sultan Al Neyadi, who will launch on February 26.

He will spend six months on the space station and will be taking lots of pictures of Earth during his mission.

Stunning views of UAE landmarks from space - in pictures

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  US astronaut Scott Kelly shared this night-time image of Dubai's Palm Jumeirah in 2016. Photo: Scott Kelly Twitter

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  The Deira clock tower roundabout, which is one of Dubai's oldest landmarks. Photo: Google Earth

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  Satellite imagery shows Dubai's Palm Jumeirah, World Islands and Palm Deira. Photo: Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre

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  Abu Dhabi International Airport seen from space. Photo: European Space Agency

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  UAE satellite KhalifaSat captured the Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan Mosque in Abu Dhabi. Photo: Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre

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  Abu Dhabi's Ferrari World captured in satellite imagery. Photo: European Space Agency

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  The Museum of the Future in Dubai can be seen in the centre of the image. Photo: Google Earth

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  Sheikh Zayed Bridge in Abu Dhabi. Photo: European Space Agency

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  Dubai's man-made Love Lake, captured by KhalifaSat satellite. Photo: Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre

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  The Expo 2020 Dubai site in 2017. Photo: Expo 2020 Dubai Twitter

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  Dubai's Palm Jumeirah in 2021. Photo: Shane Kimbrough Twitter

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  Dubai International Airport in 2021. Photo: Shane Kimbrough Twitter

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  Sharjah's largest mosque captured by UAE satellite KhalifaSat. Photo: Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre

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  The Expo Centre in Sharjah in 2021. Photo: Google Earth