The beauty of Auckland from space

American astronaut Scott Kelly snapped this picture from space. Photo / Scott Kelly

What an out-of-this-world view of Auckland.

American astronaut Scott Kelly captured this breathtaking photo from the International Space Station.

Kelly, who is aboard the station for a one-year mission, raved about the City of Sails on Twitter. "Auckland #NewZealand, Sorry we don't see you much during your day but you look great down there," he wrote.

#Auckland #NewZealand, Sorry we don't see you much during your day but you look great down there. #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/3UDZUd4nzl

— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) September 25, 2015

One Auckland wag tweeted back: "Yo!!! Can you see me? Waving from Te Atatu. Blue shirt."

Kelly is taking part in a study of long-term stay in space, which reaches the six-month mark today. He will return home in March next year, becoming the first American to stay in space for more than 215 days.

Kelly is not the only astronaut to become an internet hit.

In 2013 Canadian Chris Hadfield became a worldwide sensation with his regular social media updates from the space station.

He also recorded a video of himself singing David Bowie's Space Oddity 300km above the Earth and posted it to YouTube.