Lightning strike over Saudi Arabia
Lightning strike over Saudi Arabia was taken by an astronaut from the International Space Station. NASA Earth Observatory

Nasa's Earth Observatory has released stunning images of a lightning strike over Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, captured using the Firestation instrument on the International Space Station (ISS).

The images offer an unbelievable sight of the lightning, with the white flash falling over a cityscape glowing in golden hues while clusters of dark, heavy clouds hang above the Arabian peninsula.

Earth receives around 50 lightning flashes per every second. The new instrument on the International Space Station (ISS) helps scientists to observe and dissect some of those lightning bolts every day, Nasa said in the image description.

The 'Firestation' instrument was installed on the ISS in August 2013 and it includes photometers, radio antennas and a gamma-ray electron detector to measure lightning flashes.

Firestation is observing about 50 lightning strokes per day and looking for brief bursts of gamma rays that are emitted by some of them, Nasa said.

Nasa has also released a video to explain the functioning of the Firestation instrument.

The Nasa pictures were taken on 12 December, but released on Tuesday.

Check some incredible lightning photos and the video below.

Lightning strike over Saudi Arabia
NASA Earth Observatory

An astronaut orbiting over Bolivia captured a close-up of a lightning flash beneath a thunderhead on 9 January, 2011.

Lightning strike over Saudi Arabia
NASA Earth Observatory

This image was captured in January 2011 from the space station over Brazil.

Check other stunning images of lightning falling on earth.

Lightning strike over Saudi Arabia
Reuters

A general view of a lightning strike over the city of Kobe in Japan.

Lightning strike over Saudi Arabia
Reuters

Lightning flashes in the sky in Zhuhai, Guangdong province, China, on 22 May, 2013.