International Space Station releases photos of Istanbul from orbit

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have released a collection of high-resolution photographs capturing Istanbul from orbit. The images include both day and night views, highlighting the Bosphorus Strait, which separates Europe and Asia, and the Istanbul Airport.

The collection features a temporal comparison of the city's urban transformation, utilizing archival images taken by astronauts in 2012, 2023, and 2025. These shots illustrate the physical growth and changing geographical texture of the megacity over a 14-year period.

In response to inquiries regarding the color of the water in certain daytime shots, the ISS noted that the yellow hues were caused by the angle of sunlight reflecting off the sea at the time of capture. Subsequent images were provided showing the water in its natural blue tones.