See the auroras in SPACE: Astronauts on the International Space Station share stunning images of the “brightness of the Earth’s air” as they orbit more than 250 miles above the surface
- Auroras appear when cosmic rays interact with gases in the upper atmosphere and hang on the horizon.
- ISS astronauts shared images of the event seen from space as they orbited about 263 miles above
- The images were captured in different parts of the Earth, including the North Atlantic, Romania and Russia
- The spacecraft was in orbit about 263 miles above the surface when each image was taken
- Most of the images show a green ribbon of light hanging above the horizon and bright lights of the city below.
Advertising
The polar circle and areas of the southern hemisphere are considered the best places to view auroras on Earth, but a team of astronauts has found an even better place – outer space.
The Expedition 64 crew currently living on the International Space Station captured a series of stunning images of the natural phenomenon as it orbited more than 250 miles above the surface.
The images were filmed in different areas of our planet, including the North Atlantic, Romania and Russia, showing the amazing lights hanging over cities, oceans and other land areas.
Auroras, also called the “brightness of the Earth’s air,” are caused by cosmic rays that interact with gases in the upper atmosphere, which cover the horizon with colored electric lights.
NASA describes the event as a “spectacular sign that our planet is electrically connected to the sun.”
The Expedition 64 crew currently living on the International Space Station captured a series of stunning images of the natural phenomenon as it orbited more than 250 miles above the surface. One of the images, taken on January 18, was filmed as the International Space Station (ISS) orbits 264 miles above the North Atlantic (pictured).
The images were shared by astronauts to the official Twitter account “International Space Station”.
“The station’s orbit raises it to 51.6 ° above the equator, offering stunning views of the Earth’s aurora between city lights and twinkling stars,” the post reads.
One of the images, taken on January 18, was filmed as the International Space Station (ISS) orbited about 264 miles above the North Atlantic.
The image shows the dark sea below with a ribbon of green light swirling above it along the horizon.
Auroras, also called the “brightness of the Earth’s air,” are caused by cosmic rays that interact with gases in the upper atmosphere, which cover the horizon with colored electric lights. This picture was taken while the ISS was over Romania. The crew captures the auroras hanging over Sweden and Finland
On January 13, the crew of Expedition 46 shared an image as it rose above Kazakhstan in Russia, which captured the bright lights of the city at night and above it was a curved beam of green aurora.
On the same day, the ISS moved over Romania to get another amazing view.
“The International Space Station orbits 263 miles above Romania when this photograph of the city lights in Sweden and Finland was taken with an aurora above the Earth’s horizon,” the image caption reads.
“The dark zone between the two Scandinavian nations is the Baltic Sea.”
Auroras have also been called “polar lights” because they are rarely visible outside the northern and southern latitudes of 70 degrees.
Auroras have also been called “polar lights” because they are rarely visible outside the northern and southern latitudes of 70 degrees. In the picture is another image taken 264 miles above Kazakhstan
However, one of the best images was taken on January 7, which shows the supply ship 74 hanging in the darkness of space and below are the fluffy white clouds in our atmosphere. And in the distance, aurora australis can shine from the horizon
The amazing spectacle takes place when energy particles emerge rapidly from the sun both in a constant current called the solar wind and due to the giant eruptions known as coronal mass ejections (CME).
It can take two to three days for particles to reach Earth, but when they do, solar particles and magnetic fields release particles already trapped near the Earth, which in turn trigger reactions in the upper atmosphere where oxygen molecules are found. and nitrogen. releases photons of light.
And this leads to northern and southern lights.
On January 13, the crew of Expedition 46 shared an image as it rose above Kazakhstan in Russia, which captured the bright lights of the city at night and above it was a curved beam of green auroras.
However, one of the best images was taken on January 7, which shows the supply ship 74 hanging in the darkness of space and below are the fluffy white clouds in our atmosphere.
And in the distance, aurora australis can shine from the horizon.
WHAT ARE AURORS AND WHAT DO NATURAL DISPLAYS DECLINE?
Northern and southern light are glasses of natural light triggered in our atmosphere, which are also known as “Aurora”.
There are two types of Aurora – Aurora Borealis, which means “northern dawn” and Aurora Australis, “southern dawn”.
The displays light up when electrically charged particles from the sun enter the Earth’s atmosphere.
There are two types of Aurora – Aurora Borealis (file photo), which means “northern dawn” and Aurora Australis, “southern dawn”. The displays light up when electrically charged particles from the sun enter the Earth’s atmosphere
Usually, particles, sometimes called solar storms, are deflected by the Earth’s magnetic field.
But during stronger storms, they enter the atmosphere and collide with gas particles, including hydrogen and helium.
These collisions emit light. Auroral displays appear in many colors, although pale green and pink are common.