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(http://m.static.newsvine.com/servista/imagesizer?file=boyle62C0F35D-E828-7926-6664-CD1D5BF8BFEF.jpg&width=900)NASA / JSCThe city lights of Riyadh shine in a picture taken Nov. 13 from the International Space Station.By Alan Boyle

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Saudi Arabia's capital city glitters in this picture-perfect night view captured from Earth orbit last month from the International Space Station. The spread of Riyadh's city lights hints at a bustling population, which has grown from 150,000 in 1960 to 5.4 million this year. Click on over to NASA's Earth Observatory (http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=79828) to identify landmarks such as the Riyadh Air Base, universities and the financial district.

This view from above is tonight's offering for the Cosmic Log Space Advent Calendar (http://cosmiclog.nbcnews.com/2012-holiday-calendar), which serves up a fresh picture of Earth as seen from space every day from now until Christmas. For still more outer-space goodies, check out The Atlantic's Hubble Space Telescope Advent Calendar (http://www.theatlantic.com/infocus/2012/11/2012-hubble-space-telescope-advent-calendar/100415/) or the Zooniverse Advent Calendar (https://www.zooniverse.org/advent) — and stay tuned for another cosmic nighttime vista on Wednesday.[/t][/t]

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