Space crew scramble for windows as astronaut captures aurora | World | News
European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot shared images taken from 250 miles above the Earth on the orbital platform on Saturday, June 20.
The 43-year-old Frenchwoman said: “This aurora was absolutely spectacular. It undulated and danced beneath our feet as far as the eye could see and its light was so intense that it covered the entire Station in green reflections.”
“We have had the pleasure of observing a few since the start of the mission, but this one – far too bright for my usual aurora photo settings – left us all in awe!”
“Moments like this never lose their magic, even here, and the whole team finds themselves jockeying for the best spot by the window.”
Auroras are spectacular natural light shows triggered by charged particles emitted from the sun as they interact with the Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere.
The dazzling phenomenon is produced by the solar wind, a relentless stream of particles constantly discharged by the sun.
When they reach Earth, the vast majority of these particles are repelled by the planet’s magnetic field.
However, some move across magnetic fields towards the polar regions, colliding with oxygen and nitrogen atoms in the atmosphere to energize gases, which in turn release their energy as vibrant, bright streaks of light.
The June solstice occurred on Sunday, June 21, 2026, at exactly 4:24 PM EDT, heralding the beginning of astronomical summer in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the Southern Hemisphere.
It is the longest day of the year in the north of the equator, and the shortest day in the south.
For those hoping to catch a glimpse of the highly sought-after lights, NOAA advises potential viewers to travel north toward the Earth’s magnetic north pole.
Those in an area where the lights are visible should seek a high vantage point, such as a hill, that faces north and offers an unobstructed view of the sky, well away from sources of light pollution.
The lights are most active in the hours surrounding midnight, usually between 22:00 and 02:00.
