Archive · 1 Jan 2026
First 2026 Sunrise Captured from Space
On January 1, 2026, astronaut Kimiya Yui saw the first sunrise of the new year from the International Space Station (ISS).
The ISS goes around the Earth very fast, so astronauts see many sunrises and sunsets each day.
Former astronaut Naoko Yamazaki shared pictures of this sunrise on social media.
People all over the world celebrated the new year with fireworks, prayers, and special events.
The ISS travels at about 28,000 kilometers per hour and completes an orbit every 90 minutes, which means astronauts see around 16 sunrises and sunsets every day.
Yui is part of Expedition 74 and is on his second mission to the ISS.
Astronaut Kimiya Yui captured the first sunrise of 2026 from the International Space Station (ISS).
Former astronaut Naoko Yamazaki shared the images on social media, wishing for a peaceful and happy new year.
The ISS orbits Earth every 90 minutes at a speed of 28,000 km/h, resulting in 16 sunrises and sunsets per day.
Yui is part of Expedition 74 and is on his second mission to the ISS, having gone there in 2025.
People around the world celebrated the new year with fireworks, prayers, and special events at landmarks like the Zojoji Buddhist temple, Chao Phraya River, and Burj Khalifa.
- Who
- Astronaut Kimiya Yui and former astronaut Naoko Yamazaki
- What
- First sunrise of 2026 captured from the International Space Station
- When
- January 1, 2026, at 00:38 JST
- Where
- International Space Station (ISS) orbiting Earth
- Why
- To share the first sunrise of the new year from space
- Astronaut
- Kimiya Yui
- Space Station
- International Space Station (ISS)
- Orbit Time
- 90 minutes
- Orbit Speed
- 28,000 km/h
- Sunrises per Day
- 16
- Expedition
- Expedition 74
- Time of Sunrise
- 00:38 JST
