St Patrick’s

Ireland seen from the International Space Station by ESA astronaut Tim Peake.

Tim commented on the picture: "The Emerald Isle looking lush and green from space…Happy St Patrick’s day to all down there!"

Tim’s six-month mission to the International Space Station is named Principia, after Isaac Newton’s ground-breaking Naturalis Principia Mathematica, which describes the principal laws of motion and gravity.

He is performing more than 30 scientific experiments for ESA and taking part in numerous others from ESA’s international partners.

ESA and the UK Space Agency have partnered to develop many exciting educational activities around the Principia mission, aimed at sparking the interest of young children in science and space.

More about the Principia mission: http://www.esa.int/principia

More photos from Tim on his flickr photostream: https://www.flickr.com/photos/timpeake