Los Angeles

The urban sprawl of Los Angeles, USA, seen by ESA astronaut Alexander Gerst circling Earth 400 km high on the International Space Station.

Alexander worked as a geophysicist and volcanologist before he was chosen as an ESA astronaut in 2009. His Blue Dot mission includes an extensive scientific programme of experiments in physical science, biology, and human physiology as well as radiation research and technology demonstrations. All experiments  chosen make use of the out-of-this-world laboratory to improve life on Earth or prepare for further human exploration of our Solar System.

In his free time he can look out of the six windows in Europe's observatory module Cupola and take pictures such as these.

To accompany this image Alexander Tweeted: "Looks massive from space: Los Angeles".