Nasa Astronaut Captures Aurora Australis Timelapse From SpaceX Dragon
5 reported
A Nasa astronaut has released a timelapse video of the aurora australis, or southern lights, as seen from the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. The footage was captured by Jessica Meir, who is part of the SpaceX Crew-12 mission. The aurora appears near the poles because Earth's magnetic field channels charged particles from the sun toward those regions, where they collide with the atmosphere and create shimmering curtains of color. Meir described the experience on social media, noting that unlike previous auroras she had seen, this one danced and snaked its way directly below the spacecraft. She expressed awe at what she called an ethereal and emotionally evocative phenomenon.
What’s reported
Nasa astronaut Jessica Meir, part of the SpaceX Crew-12 mission, released a timelapse of the aurora australis.
The footage was captured from the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft.
Auroras appear near the poles because Earth's magnetic field channels charged particles from the sun toward those regions.
The particles collide with the atmosphere, creating shimmering curtains of color.
Meir wrote on social media: "As opposed to the previous aurora I’ve seen, this one danced and snaked its way directly below us, putting on quite a show. I am in awe of this ethereal and emotionally evocative phenomenon."
Key figures
Jessica Meir, Nasa astronaut, part of the SpaceX Crew-12 mission.
Sources: The Guardian
