What Earth looks like from space in 4K

Video screenshot by Anthony Domanico/CNET

Growing up, I wanted to be an astronaut and gaze upon the Earth from outer space. The closest that I -- and almost anyone who shares that dream -- can get is by looking at images of our planet shot by real astronauts.

European astronaut Alexander Gerst just gave us the most beautiful look yet.

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On Tuesday, Gerst and the European Space Agency released a 4K time-lapse video of the Earth as seen from space. The video was compiled from a series of high-resolution images of the daytime and nighttime skies. The result is a beautiful look at the Earth in all its glory, from the night sky set ablaze with lights to the blue skies and white clouds. There are several glimpses of the Aurora Borealis in the northern sky.

Check out the video at the top of this post, and if you have compatible equipment, turn the YouTube settings up to 4K and enjoy the Earth in Ultra HD.