Watch: NASA astronaut’s view of northern lights from space A captivating video filmed by the NASA astronaut on the International Space Station (ISS) is causing a stir online. The video captures the stunning glowing that is Aurora borealis. Aurora borealis also known as northern lights when seen from space and offers a unique astronaut’s eye view of one of the planet’s most stunning natural phenomena.
A Spectacle From 250 miles above Earth
The video, which was shared via NASA on social networks and then taken up by space-lovers and space enthusiasts, shows shimmering violet and green light curtains that dance across earth’s top atmosphere. The aurora is seen to swell and twist and create a surreal wave appearance against the dark vacuum of space.
The spacecraft’s astronaut on the ISS captured the moment as the spacecraft was passing through the northern areas of the polar region in which solar winds are able to interact with the Earth’s magnetic field, resulting in an amazing illumination.
“It’s one of the most surreal and peaceful sights you can witness from the space station,” said an NASA commentary with the video.
What Causes the Northern Lights?
It is believed that the Northern lights are scientifically referred to as aurora borealis, happen in the event that electrons from the Sun come into contact with atoms of the Earth’s atmosphere and release energies in light. The phenomenon is usually seen from regions of high-latitudes such as Canada, Scandinavia, and Alaska however, from space, it appears as a glowing halo around the poles of Earth.
The recent rise in solar activity, including massive solar flares and coronal mass ejections has led to auroras becoming more intense frequently, from Earth and in space.
Public Reaction: “It Feels Like Sci-Fi”
Social media users are amazed by the beauty and clarity in the film, a lot of people saying it’s “out of science fiction.” Space agencies and scientists around the world are sharing the video to increase awareness of the Earth’s magnetic shield as well as the splendor in cosmic phenomena.
The video has already surpassed million of viewers on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), YouTube as well as Instagram.
View the full NASA video on their webpage: NASA.gov – Aurora from Space
Educational & Scientific Importance
Beyond its aesthetic appeal, the video aids scientists in studying the ways in which the solar winds influence satellites, communications systems, as well as navigation technology. The ISS which orbits Earth at a speed of around 28,000 km/h provides an active observation platform for keeping track of satellite weather happenings in real time.
Final Thoughts
The latest video clip under the title “WATCH: NASA astronaut’s view of northern lights from space” isn’t an ordinary viral clip, but rather an opportunity to remind us of how tiny yet beautiful our planet looks from the sky. As the sun’s activity continues to increase throughout the current solar cycle further such events are likely to brighten the sky and our screens.
