Astronaut Shux shares stunning footage of nature's firework seen from space

Shubhanshu Shukla shared an ISS video of lightning flashing across Earth on Diwali. The orbital display reminded him of nature's own fireworks and celebration of light.Shukla shared the video on social media, showing the ISS flying above Earth as brilliant flashes of lightning illuminate the clouds. (Photo: X/Gagan_Shux)New Delhi,Nov 6, 2026 21:03 ISTIndia's astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has shared a stunning video of what looks like fireworks illuminating the Earth from space.But the flashes of light captured in the footage are not Diwali celebrations. They are lightning strikes flashing across the planet, seen from the unique vantage point of the International Space Station (ISS).Shukla shared the video on social media, showing the ISS flying above Earth as brilliant flashes of lightning illuminate the clouds and atmosphere below. The footage offers a spectacular glimpse of Earth's natural light show from hundreds of kilometres above the surface.Interestingly, the astronaut chose Diwali to share the footage, drawing a connection between the festival of lights and what he witnessed during his time in orbit. "Diwali has always held a special place in my heart and has been my favourite festival for as long as I can remember. There is something about the magic of lights, the sparkle and the fireworks that fills me with a sense of wonder and joy," Shukla wrote.The video was recorded during Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla's maiden 18-day flight to space aboard the Axiom-4 mission in June 2025. Explaining the video, he said that while in space, he captured flashes of lightning dancing across Earth. From orbit, the electrical discharges reminded him of nature's own fireworks."Looking down from space, they reminded me of nature's very own fireworks — a beautiful, unexpected reminder that the universe has its own way of celebrating light," he added.EARTH'S SPECTACULAR LIGHTNING SHOW FROM SPACELightning is a powerful electrical discharge that occurs within storm clouds, between clouds or between clouds and the ground. From space, these flashes can appear as brief bursts of light against Earth's dark surface, particularly when observed during the night.Astronauts aboard the ISS frequently witness thunderstorms and lightning systems from above, offering a perspective that is difficult to capture from the ground.Shukla said the sight felt particularly special and that he could not think of a more fitting day than Diwali to share the footage.The video is a reminder that while humans celebrate light through festivals and fireworks, Earth itself puts on spectacular displays of light every day, sometimes visible only to those watching from space.- Ends