NASA: Astronaut takes video of the Northern Lights from space

Seeing the Northern Lights up close is on everyone’s bucket list of things to accomplish in their lifetime.

However, the experience of this astronaut exceeded all expectations. Matthew Dominick, a NASA astronaut currently on the International Space Station (ISS), tweeted an incredible video of his panoramic view of the Northern Lights from space.

Timelapse of the moon setting into streams of red and green aurora followed by a sunrise lighting up Soyuz with a light blue.

The aurora have been amazing the past few days. Great timing for trying out a new lens that recently arrived on Cygnus.

15mm, T1.8, 1/3s exposure,… pic.twitter.com/otFv5pZ6vd

— Matthew Dominick (@dominickmatthew) August 12, 2024

Even NASA itself was impressed, with the NASA Earth X account replying: “You never get tired of these videos.”

Dominick launched to the ISS on March 3, 2024 as commander of NASA’s SpaceX Crew-8 mission.

The moon makes its way towards the horizon to set amongst red and green aurora. . . I was setup in a different window and saw this through another window. I made a quick camera, camera mount, and shroud teardown and setup. Felt so lucky to grab this shot.

15mm, T1.8, 1s, ISO… pic.twitter.com/Z3TYlFhgNo

— Matthew Dominick (@dominickmatthew) August 11, 2024

He serves as a flight engineer at the orbiting laboratory and was expected to spend about six months on the ISS, although his return to Earth could be delayed amid problems with the Boeing Starliner.

While he spends most of his time on the ISS conducting science experiments, Dominick also regularly takes photos and films footage.

How the Aurora is created

The aurora is created by high-energy electrons, which, trapped by the geomagnetic field, spiral along its potential lines and approach the Earth’s upper atmosphere, where they collide with atoms and molecules of nitrogen and oxygen and excite them energetically.