NASA snaps satellite image of ‘stunning nighttime cloud’ formations visible from space

A NASA satellite has revealed curious cloud formations photographed at night from 512 miles (824km) over Earth.

Although these rippling vortices have been sighted before, they have only been viewed during the daytime, according to Express.

Cutting-edge technology capable of sensing and processing light in the shortwave infrared part of the electromagnetic spectrum has made it easier for satellites to spot these von Kármán vortices.

The features are thought to be like the spiralling eddies that form in a stream immediately downstream of an obstacle like a rock.

Professor Paul Beggs, of Macquarie University told NASA: “This is a spectacular satellite image.

“I don’t recall having seen an image of von Kármán vortices at nighttime previously, so I would consider it rare.”

Launched in 2011, the Suomi NPP is a weather satellite operated by the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.