This is the famous ISS photo of Berlin that helped popularize the idea that the city’s … – Instagram
- An image captured from the International Space Station (ISS) has highlighted how the former East-West division of Berlin remains visible from orbit at night, decades after the fall...
- The photograph demonstrates that the city's historical divide is still detectable through the distinct colors of its street lighting across the former borders.
- According to the image and accompanying details, the lighting technology used in different parts of the city creates a visible contrast when viewed from space.
An image captured from the International Space Station (ISS) has highlighted how the former East-West division of Berlin remains visible from orbit at night, decades after the fall of the Berlin Wall.
The photograph demonstrates that the city’s historical divide is still detectable through the distinct colors of its street lighting across the former borders.
According to the image and accompanying details, the lighting technology used in different parts of the city creates a visible contrast when viewed from space.
Lighting Technology and Visual Divide
The visual distinction is primarily attributed to the types of lamps installed in the two former sectors of the city.

Former East Berlin tends to exhibit a warmer, more orange glow. This appearance is the result of the common use of sodium vapor lamps in that region.
In contrast, much of former West Berlin appears whiter or greener, as the area utilized different lighting technology.
This difference in infrastructure has allowed the old division of the city to persist as a luminous map visible to astronauts and satellite imagery.
The ISS photo has helped popularize the observation that the urban layout and utility choices of the Cold War era continue to leave a physical and visual imprint on the city’s landscape.
