What are the bright green lights seen off India's coast from space?

The bright green lights are commercial fishing fleets using powerful green LED lamps to attract plankton, small fish, and squid.

Who captured the image of India's coast from the ISS?

NASA astronaut Chris Williams captured the image of India's west coast from the International Space Station.

Why do fishing fleets use green LED lamps?

Fishing fleets use powerful green LED lamps to attract plankton and small fish, which in turn draw in squid.

Home / Science / Green Glows: India's Coast from Space

Green Glows: India's Coast from Space

28 Apr

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Summary

Astronaut photographed bright green lights on India's west coast.
These lights are commercial fishing fleets using LED lamps.
The green lamps attract plankton, small fish, and squid.

A breathtaking night image of India's west coast, taken from the International Space Station (ISS), reveals clusters of bright, neon-green lights in the Arabian Sea. NASA astronaut Chris Williams shared the photograph, clarifying that the lights are not bioluminescence but commercial fishing fleets.

These fleets utilize powerful green LED lamps to attract plankton, small fish, and squid, making them visible from space. The intense glow appears as concentrated emerald dots along the coastline, contrasting with the dark ocean and city lights.

Chris Williams, a NASA astronaut candidate selected in December 2021, is currently on his first mission to the ISS, serving as a flight engineer and Expedition 74 crew member.