Skip to player
Skip to main content
Skip to footer
Search
Connect
Watch fullscreen
Like
Comments
Bookmark
Share
Add to Playlist
Report
NASA Astronaut Films Gorgeous Auroras From the ISS
Amaze Lab
Follow
1/27/2025
Auroras are incredibly beautiful atmospheric events that occur when solar particles ejected by the Sun interact with our planet’s protective barrier. And while they’re breathtaking from below, they’re even moreso from above.
Category
📚
Learning
Transcript
Display full video transcript
00:00
Auroras are incredibly beautiful atmospheric events that occur when solar particles ejected
00:08
by the Sun interact with our planet's protective barrier.
00:11
They are effectively magnetic storms that ignite the sky in a gorgeous array of colors,
00:16
an array that from the ground is many times a once in a lifetime sight for most.
00:20
However, this is an even rarer viewpoint, one that was actually captured from above
00:25
the aurora itself.
00:26
This video is captured by NASA astronaut Don Pettit from the International Space Station.
00:31
Currently our Sun is at its maximum, the apex of its 11-year solar cycle, where its surface
00:36
activity is at its most intense.
00:39
During this period, our solar system's central star will exhibit more frequent and more intense
00:43
coronal mass ejections.
00:44
These eruptions of plasma are jettisoned out into the cosmos, sending charged particles
00:49
into nearby space.
00:50
If that ejection happens to occur in our direction, that's when we get geomagnetic storms that
00:55
result in these wild, colorful cosmic shows.
00:58
Auroras usually occur at altitudes of around 60 miles, with the ISS orbiting around 200
01:04
miles above that.
Recommended
1:05
|
Up next
Demo: How to Finger Whistle
Men's Journal1
10/7/2024
1:04
ISS Astronauts Get Front Row Seat as the Moon Sets Behind Earth Amidst Gorgeous Aurora
Amaze Lab
8/14/2024
0:27
ESA releases film of Aurora Borealis shot from ISS
euronews (in English)
9/25/2017
1:13
Sunspot That Triggered Auroras On Earth Had Its Enormous Explosion
Space.com
5/25/2025
0:54
Large Filament Eruption On Sun That Was Captured By NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory
Space.com
3/26/2025
1:00
Stunning aurora borealis timelapse captured from space
Australian Community Media
8/15/2024
0:20
Watch: Aurora borealis light up Antarctic sky and ice
euronews (in English)
9/6/2019
1:06
Time-Lapse Of New Sunspot Erupted With Strong M-Class Flares
Space.com
5/15/2023
1:51
Spectacular Nasa timelapse shows aurora sunrise from ISS
The Independent
8/14/2024
0:50
Aurora dances brightly above Zhongshan Station in Antarctica
euronews (in English)
9/6/2019
1:09
Stunning Aurora Time-Lapse From Space Captured By NASA's Don Pettit
Space.com
6/12/2025
1:06
Old Sunspot AR3664 Returned With Major Eruption
Space.com
7/24/2024
1:06
Massive Solar Magnetic Filament Erupted Recently
Space.com
12/7/2023
1:08
X9 Time-Lapse: Sun Unleashes The Largest Solar Flare Since 2017
Space.com
10/23/2024
1:08
X9 Time-Lapse: Sun Unleashes The Largest Solar Flare Since 2017
Space.com
10/6/2024
0:47
Most Massive Planet Known To Orbit A Low-Mass Star Has Been Found
Space.com
today
12:55
Private Cygnus Cargo Ship Captured By Space Station Robotic Arm
Space.com
yesterday
2:25
ULA Vulcan Rocket's 2nd Certification Flight - Explained With Launch Animation
Space.com
yesterday
14:31
WallStreetBets to Wall Street Wisdom: One-on-One with Jaime Rogozinski
Cheddar News
yesterday
0:22
Bezos-Sanchez Wedding Brings in $1.1B for Venice
Cheddar News
yesterday
0:25
China's Largest Coffee Chain Opens First U.S. Locations
Cheddar News
yesterday
0:55
How to Smoke Pork Belly
Men's Journal1
8/22/2024
1:03
How to Smoke a Pork Butt
Men's Journal1
7/25/2024
1:15
What Does It Mean When We Say That Venus Has an Evolving Surface?
Amaze Lab
yesterday
1:05
The Milky Way is Actually Producing More Stars Than Previously Believed
Amaze Lab
yesterday