Astronaut's Photos Show Global Shift from Orange to White City Lights

NASA astronaut Don Pettit has observed a worldwide shift in urban lighting from orange sodium vapor to white LED lights over the last 15 years. Since 2002, Pettit has spent time at the International Space Station and recently posted before-and-after images on X, illustrating cities like Miami in 2012 and 2025. Throughout his four missions, he has captured images of every major city, creating a dataset that highlights the gradual transition to LEDs. The warmer yellow-orange gas discharge lamps have been largely replaced globally for energy efficiency and environmental benefits, with Hong Kong being the sole exception. The cost-effectiveness and controllability of LEDs have driven this change, although many photographers miss the aesthetic of sodium vapor lights. The 2011 film 'Drive' was one of the last to showcase the distinctive orange-yellow glow. Initially, early LED lights in cities like Los Angeles had a color temperature around 4,000K, prompting complaints of a sterile appearance. In response, cities have adjusted the LEDs to approximately 3,000K for a warmer tone.