The space station’s dress circle view of the Southern Lights

NASA astronaut Scott Kelly  – @StationCDRKelly – captured photographs and video of auroras from the International Space Station of the aurora. 

“Yesterday’s aurora was an impressive show from 250 miles up. Good morning from the International Space Station! ‪#‎YearInSpace‬”

The Aurors Australis – the Southern Lights – have been treating southern Australia to a show this week. 

The phenomenon is caused when electrically charged particles from solar flares collide with Earth’s magnetic field and ionize oxygen and nitrogen atoms, releasing colourful light.

We reported on a mid-sized solar flare observed by NASA earlier this week.

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