NASA astronaut Jasmine Mogbeli has taken pictures of the green aurora from the International Space Station (ISS), Space reports.
“The aurora borealis is spectacular from here”
Jasmine Mogbeli
Mogbeli saw the aurora on February 15. She noted that it was one of the highlights of her space mission.
The Aurora Borealis occurs on Earth when the Sun directs energetic particles into the upper layers of the Earth’s atmosphere. The planet’s magnetic field, in turn, directs these charged particles to the poles, where they interact with the Earth’s atmosphere, resulting in a bright glow.
Currently, astronauts aboard the ISS can observe the aurorae more often as the Sun approaches its 11-year maximum activity. More flares and coronal mass ejections lead to more auroras.
“Every time I look out the window, I’m thrilled. Every time the landscape is a little different, even if we are flying over the same part of the Earth. Whether it’s different light, clouds, seasons, or the angle of the sun, every time I am surprised at how alive and beautiful our planet is.”
Jasmine Mogbeli
