A recent timelapse video posted by the International Space Station (ISS) Twitter account shows an incredible orbital flyby over a huge chunk of Oceania with dancing aurora lights, a spectacular moonrise and a lightning storm. The stunning orbital passage begins over the Southern Indian Ocean, where the aurora australis glows and swirls brightly in its green hue above Earth’s atmosphere. This time-lapse video shows an orbital flyby over an aurora-clad Indian Ocean to the moonlit Coral Sea east of Australia. pic.twitter.com/U5pGdtdRvD — International Space Station (@Space_Station) September 5, 2022 Auroral light continues to stream across the image as a dazzling moon begins to rise behind the Canadarm2 robotic arm attached to the ISS and over the horizon. As the moon fades from view, the constellation Orion comes into frame, and shortly after the bright moonlight sparkles on the surface of the Coral Sea, which lies east of Australia and 268 miles below the ISS. The auroraMoon shines across the Coral Sea In case viewers haven’t had enough of the physical phenomena, the video then captures some lightning flashes followed by a view of the atmospheric glow covering the Earth. NASA’s video is accompanied by the caption: “This time-lapse video shows an orbital pass over the aurora-clad Indian Ocean to the moonlit Coral Sea east of Australia.:” “Every asteroid’s dream place. Amazing view of our universe from the ISS,” one commenter wrote. “Our planet has so many amazing natural phenomena happening. These sights are breathtaking if you are lucky enough to see them,” adds Brad Fuller. Lightning storm and Earth’s atmospheric glow The video was posted on September 5, and it’s unclear exactly when it was shot or how long the timelapse was filmed. Auroras occur when particles from incoming solar storms hit gases in our planet’s atmosphere. The Earth’s magnetic poles attract the charged particles, and the collision often results in these spectacular displays. While astronauts on the space station have a unique view of the phenomenon, the natural wonder can also be seen from the ground, with the best vantage points in places as far north as Alaska, Canada, Iceland, Greenland, Norway, Sweden , and Finland. There has been a recent increase in activity from the sun as it enters the most active phase in its 11-year solar cycle – reaching peak activity in 2024. Studies have shown that the level of solar activity happening right now is about the same as it was 11 years ago, at the same point in the last cycle. Image Credits: All photos by NASA.
