--- description: Beautiful photos by astronaut Tim Peake from his 6 months in space title: An Astronaut's View: Photos From 6 Months in Space image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt904e99e8b4360a79/698896f4428a9e2890cd2f51/astronaut-tim-peake-14.jpg?branch=production&width=3840&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  * [Science](/section/science/) ## Science Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close # An Astronaut's View: Photos From 6 Months in Space by [Marisa Gertz](/author/marisa-gertz/) ## Marisa Gertz Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jun 18, 2016 11:00 AM CUT  An aurora over northern Canada, Jan. 20, 2016. An aurora over northern Canada, Jan. 20, 2016.Tim Peake—ESA/NASA by [Marisa Gertz](/author/marisa-gertz/) ## Marisa Gertz Update your preferences in [Account Settings](/account/preferences/) Close Jun 18, 2016 11:00 AM CUT [Tim Peake](http://time.com/4182787/british-spacewalk-ended-early/ "undefined"), the European Space Agency’s first British astronaut, returns to Earth today after six months in space. Peake left planet Earth on Dec. 15, 2015, along with NASA astronaut Tim Kopra and commander-cosmonaut Yuri Malenchenko. His six month, science-focused mission was named [Principia](http://www.esa.int/Our%5FActivities/Human%5FSpaceflight/Principia/About%5FPrincipia "undefined"), after Isaac Newton’s _Naturalis Principia Mathematica._ During his time on the space station, Peake maintained the weightless research laboratory, running scientific experiments for researchers on Earth. Peake took hundreds of photos during his stay, capturing everything from night fishing boats to the aurora borealis. He seems to have a particular soft spot for the dramatic landscapes of Patagonia in Argentina. “One of my favorite pics so far,” he writes of an image of [Patagonia’s southern ice field](https://www.flickr.com/photos/timpeake/25957650452/ "undefined"). But it wasn’t all work. Peake also created a beautiful [time-lapse of lightning](http://time.com/4214285/astronaut-tim-peake-footage-lightning-striking-earth/ "undefined") striking Earth, shared a Facebook video explaining [how space toilets work](http://time.com/4186965/astronaut-tim-peake-how-bathrooms-work-in-space/ "undefined"), and even found the time to watch the new [Star Wars](http://time.com/4146994/star-wars-space-station-astronauts/ "undefined") film. The three astronauts were scheduled to arrive back two weeks ago, but their [mission was extended](http://www.esa.int/Our%5FActivities/Human%5FSpaceflight/Principia/New%5Flanding%5Fdate%5Ffor%5FESA%5Fastronaut%5FTim%5FPeake "undefined") in order to keep the space station at full capacity. “Although I am looking forward to being back on Earth and seeing friends and family again,” he told ESA, “each day spent living in space is a huge privilege and there is much work to do on the Station. And, of course, I get to enjoy the beautiful view of planet Earth for a little while longer!”  The sun reflects off of Earth as night approaches, April 5, 2016. Tim Peake—ESA/NASA  Volcanoes, part of the Pacific "Ring of FIre" in Kamchatka, Russia, May 16, 2016. Tim Peake—ESA/NASA  Rock formations in Mellit, Sudan, Feb. 27, 2016. Tim Peake—ESA/NASA  The Giza pyramids on the outskirts of Cairo, Egypt, April 19, 2016. Tim Peake—ESA/NASA  Yellow stripes of sand stretch across the Erg Iguidi Desert from Algeris to northern Mauritania, Feb. 22, 2016. Tim Peake—ESA/NASA  A swirling plankton bloom off the coast of Patagonia, Argentina, April 1, 2016. Tim Peake—ESA/NASA  Clouds form over the Indian Ocean, May 28, 2016. Tim Peake—ESA/NASA  Smoke from the forest fires burning in Fort McMurray, Canada, May 6, 2016. Tim Peake—ESA/NASA  The 210 milltion year old Manicouagan impact crater in Canada, April 15, 2016. Tim Peake—ESA/NASA  Sunlight reflecting off a Himalayan lake, June 9, 2016. Tim Peake—ESA/NASA  The Grand Canyon, May 3, 2016. Tim Peake—ESA/NASA  Lake Viedma in the southern ice fields of Patagonia, Argentina, March 24, 2016. Tim Peake—ESA/NASA  Rio Santa Cruz carries glacial river water into Lago Argentina, Patagonia, March 23, 2016. Tim Peake—ESA/NASA  Green lights from night fishing boats, Thailand, March 17, 2016. Tim Peake—ESA/NASA  London at midnight, Jan. 30, 2016. Tim Peake—ESA/NASA  An aurora over northern Canada, Jan. 20, 2016. Tim Peake—ESA/NASA  Milky Way rising over the horizon, June 6, 2016. 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