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This striking aurora image was taken during a geomagnetic storm that was most likely caused by a coronal mass ejection from the Sun on May 24, 2010. The ISS was located over the Southern Indian Ocean. Full Story. Credit: ISS Crew Earth Observations/Image Science & Analysis Laboratory, Johnson Space Center |
A spectacular display of Earth's southern auroras was
captured on camera by astronauts on the International Space Station during a
recent solar storm.
The dazzling aurora has a sinuous
ribbon shape that separates into discrete spots near the lower right corner
of the image. While the dominant coloration of the aurora is green, there are
faint suggestions of red left of the photo's center. [Stunning aurora photo]
Auroras — ever-shifting displays of colored ribbons,
curtains, rays, and spots — are most visible near the north (aurora
borealis) and south (aurora australis) poles as charged particles (called ions)
streaming from the sun (the solar wind) interact with Earth's magnetic field.
While auroras
are generally only visible close to the poles, severe magnetic storms impacting
the Earth's magnetic field can shift them towards the equator. [More
2010 aurora photos.]
Astronauts caught this image of an aurora during a geomagnetic
storm that was most likely caused by a coronal mass ejection from the sun
on May 24, 2010.
The space station was sailing over the Southern Indian Ocean
at an altitude of 220 miles (354 km) when this photo was taken by an astronaut
most likely looking towards Antarctica (not visible) and the South Pole.
The curvature of the Earth's horizon (the limb) is clearly
visible, as is the faint blue line of the upper
atmosphere directly above it (at image top center). Several stars appear as
bright pinpoints against the blackness of space at image top right.
Auroras occur when ions in the solar wind collide with atoms
of oxygen and nitrogen in the upper atmosphere. The atoms are excited by these
collisions, and they typically emit light as they return to their original
energy level. The light creates the aurora that we see.
The most commonly observed color of aurora is green, caused
by light emitted by excited oxygen atoms.
- Gallery: Amazing Auroras of 2010
- Top 10 Views of Earth from Space
- 101 Amazing Earth Facts
