What Are Northern Lights From Space
Northern lights, or aurora borealis, are glowing curtains of light caused by charged particles from the Sun hitting Earth's atmosphere. From the space station, astronauts see these displays as bright, shifting bands wrapped around the planet's polar regions. The view is wider and more continuous than from the ground.
How the Space Station Views Auroras
The station orbits about 400 kilometers above Earth, passing over the poles several times a day. This path lets crew members watch auroras form and move in real time. Instruments on board capture images and data that help scientists study the structure and energy of the aurora.
Why Auroras Matter for Space Research
Auroras reveal how solar wind interacts with Earth's magnetic field. Studying them from orbit helps improve forecasts of geomagnetic storms that can affect satellites and communications. Learn more about aurora research from NASA.
