A mesmerizing video captured from the International Space Station (ISS) reveals a breathtaking aurora shimmering in intense green hues—a phenomenon few have witnessed from above. Filmed by NASA astronaut Don Pettit on January 6, the footage showcases nature’s spectacular light show, amplified by heightened solar activity.
Over the past weeks, the Sun has been hyperactive, releasing massive bursts of energy, including solar flares and coronal mass ejections. These energetic events are responsible for the auroras that paint the night sky with vibrant greens, pinks, and blues. But what causes this awe-inspiring display?
Flying over aurora; intensely green. pic.twitter.com/leUufKFnBB
— Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) January 6, 2025
The Science Behind Auroras
Coronal mass ejections (CMEs) are massive outbursts of charged plasma from the Sun that travel across the Solar System, reaching Earth’s magnetic field. Upon impact, these charged particles are guided toward the planet’s poles by magnetic field lines, colliding with atmospheric gases like oxygen and nitrogen. These interactions release energy as vivid ribbons of light.
While greens dominate auroras, their specific colors depend on the type of gas involved and the altitude of the collision. For example:
- Green Auroras: Caused by oxygen atoms around 100–300 kilometers above Earth’s surface.
- Red Auroras: Occur at even higher altitudes, where oxygen atoms have more time to emit light.
- Purple and Blue Auroras: Result from interactions with nitrogen molecules.
During the 19th century, scientists puzzled over the source of the green auroras. Early theories attributed them to hydrogen or a mythical element called “aurorium.” Eventually, oxygen was identified as the culprit. Its electrons take nearly a second to release energy, a phenomenon known as “forbidden transition,” which makes the green glow particularly rare under normal conditions.
Capturing Rare Auroral Moments
Astronauts aboard the ISS have a unique vantage point for observing auroras, providing insights unattainable from Earth’s surface. Don Pettit’s video is part of a growing collection of auroral imagery shared from space, following iconic photos by astronauts like Thomas Pesquet, Josh Cassada, and Koichi Wakata.
As the Sun approaches its solar maximum—a peak in its 11-year activity cycle—auroras are becoming more frequent and intense. With advanced satellite technology and high-resolution cameras, future observations will likely unveil even more extraordinary views of this natural phenomenon.
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