French Astronaut Thomas Pesquet recorded the northern lights from space.
He filmed this spectacular timelapse of the polar lights from out of a window on the International Space Station, whilst being on mission. Although sometimes elusive when viewed from Earth, the Aurora Australis or Southern Lights are clearly visible from the ISS. And shed a totally different view on their appearance.
The view from the International Space Station (ISS) is already awe-inspiring, with the blue and green planet Earth stretching out for miles in every direction. But for lucky astronauts on board during the right time of year, an even more spectacular sight can be witnessed: the aurora borealis, or polar lights. This natural phenomenon occurs when charged particles from the sun collide with atoms in Earth's atmosphere, creating a colorful display of light that dances across the sky. From the ISS, the polar lights are visible in a way that can only be described as otherworldly. The station's vantage point, some 250 miles above Earth's surface, allows astronauts to witness the aurora from a perspective that few people on the planet ever get to experience.
As the ISS orbits the Earth every 90 minutes, its crew has the opportunity to witness multiple auroras in a single day. With its panoramic view, the station's Cupola module provides an especially breathtaking vantage point for viewing the polar lights. From this observation deck, the aurora appears as a vivid green and pink ribbon, twisting and turning across the sky. The effect is so stunning that it can be hard for astronauts to tear themselves away from the viewfinder. Indeed, many ISS crew members have described watching the aurora from space as one of the most unforgettable experiences of their lives. The beauty and majesty of the polar lights, as seen from the ISS, serves as a powerful reminder of the natural wonders that exist beyond our planet's atmosphere.
Watch this beautiful timelapse:
