See SPACE auroras: Astronauts on the International Space Station share stunning images of the Earth’s air glow as they orbit more than 250 miles above the surface
- Auroras occur 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, orbiting about 263 kilometers
- The images were taken in different areas of the Earth, including the North Atlantic, Romania and Russia
- The ship was orbiting about 263 miles above the surface when each image was taken
- Most images show a green ribbon of light hanging on the horizon and bright city lights below
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The Arctic Circle and areas of the southern hemisphere are considered the best points for seeing auroras on Earth, but a team of astronauts 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 shot in different areas of our planet, including the North Atlantic, Romania and Russia, showing the impressive lights hanging over cities, oceans and other land areas.
Auroras, also called the “glow of the Earth’s air,” are caused by cosmic rays interacting with the gases in the upper atmosphere, which cover the horizon with electrically colored lights.
NASA describes the event as a “spectacular signal 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 shot while the International Space Station (ISS) was orbiting 264 miles above the North Atlantic (pictured)
The images were shared by the astronauts on the official Twitter account of the International Space Station.
“The station’s orbit places it at 51.6 ° above the equator and offers stunning views of the Earth’s aurora, amid city lights and twinkling stars,” the message says.
One of the images, taken on January 18, was shot while the International Space Station (ISS) was orbiting 264 miles above the North Atlantic.
The image shows the dark sea below with a ribbon of green light circling the horizon.
Auroras, also called the “glow of the Earth’s air,” are caused by cosmic rays interacting with the gases in the upper atmosphere, which cover the horizon with electrically colored lights. This photograph 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 while firing on Kazakhstan in Russia, which captured the city’s bright lights at night, and above it was a curved beam of green aurora.
On the same day, the ISS flew over Romania to contemplate another breathtaking view.
“The International Space Station was spinning about 263 miles over Romania when this photograph of the lights of the city of Sweden and Finland was taken with an aurora over the Earth’s horizon,” the title of the image says.
“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 70 degrees north and south latitude.
Auroras have also been called “polar lights” because they are rarely visible outside 70 degrees north and south latitude. The image shows another image taken 264 miles above Kazakhstan
Still, one of the best images from January 7 was taken showing the 74 supply ship hanging in the dark in space and below are the fluffy white clouds of our atmosphere. And in the distance, the austral aurora can shine from the horizon
The impressive spectacle occurs when energy particles leave the speed of the sun, both in a constant current called the solar wind and due to giant eruptions known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs).
The particles can take two to three days to reach Earth, but when they do arrive, solar particles and magnetic fields cause the release of particles already trapped near the Earth, which in turn trigger reactions in the atmosphere. upper in which oxygen and nitrogen molecules are produced. releases photons of light.
And this gives rise to the northern and southern lights.
On January 13, the crew of Expedition 46 shared an image while shooting over Kazakhstan in Russia, which captured the city’s bright lights at night, and above it was a curved beam of green auroras. .
However, one of the best images was taken on January 7 showing the 74 supply ship hanging in the dark in space and below it are the white, spongy clouds of our atmosphere.
And in the distance, the austral aurora can shine from the horizon.
WHAT ARE THE AURORS AND WHAT DOES THE AWESOME NATURAL SCREENS DISABLE?
The northern and southern lights are spectacles of natural light unleashed on our atmosphere that are also known as the “Auroras”.
There are two types of Aurora: Aurora Borealis, meaning “northern dawn”, and Aurora Australis, “southern dawn”.
The screens light up when electrically charged particles from the sun enter the Earth’s atmosphere.
There are two types of Aurora: Aurora Borealis (archive photo), which means “northern dawn” and Aurora Australis, “southern dawn”. Screens light up when electrically charged solar particles enter the Earth’s atmosphere
Particles, sometimes called solar storms, are usually deflected by the Earth’s magnetic field.
But during the strongest 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.