Astronaut Captures Lunar New Year Fireworks from Space

Imagine celebrating a holiday so bright it can be seen from space. That's exactly what happened when NASA astronaut Chris Williams looked out the window of the International Space Station on February 17 and spotted fireworks dancing across Beijing during Lunar New Year festivities.

Williams was gazing through the Cupola, the space station's observation deck, when he captured stunning time-lapse footage of the celebration unfolding 250 miles below. In the video, fireworks appear as static-like sparkles across the glowing networks of highways and urban centers stretching between Beijing and the coastal city of Tianjin.

"Happy Year of the Horse," Williams wrote on social media. "I was fortunate to be looking out of the Cupola while we were passing over Beijing and saw the twinkling of fireworks celebrating the Lunar New Year!"

The footage reveals incredible detail of the metropolitan area, with highways branching out like veins of light from the bright city centers. During this special night, those already brilliant lights were enhanced by countless fireworks as families gathered below to welcome the new year together.

Meanwhile, Chinese astronauts aboard their own space station, Tiangong, joined the celebration in orbit. Zhang Lu, Wu Fei, and Zhang Hongzhang decorated their orbital home with festive decorations and shared a feast, even filming parts of a music video titled "Let the five-star red flag fly high in space."

Why This Inspires

This orbital view reminds us that our shared celebrations transcend borders and even gravity itself. Whether you're on Earth or floating 250 miles above it, moments of joy and cultural tradition connect us all.

Williams' footage also showcases how space exploration brings unexpected gifts. These astronauts aren't just conducting experiments and maintaining equipment. They're witnessing humanity's most beautiful moments from a perspective only a few hundred people in history have ever experienced.

The view captures something profound: our celebrations, our lights, and our joy are powerful enough to illuminate the darkness of space. When millions gather to mark a moment of hope and renewal, the glow reaches the stars.

Space stations from different nations, all orbiting the same small planet, celebrated together in their own ways. It's a beautiful reminder that while we may have different traditions, we share the same sky and the same desire to mark life's special moments with light and community.