The International Space Station’s crew reported that they have captured a rare view of the northern lights from orbit. The photograph shows curtains of green and purple light stretching across the Earth’s night side, a sight that is usually hidden from human eyes on the ground. The images were taken during a routine observation pass over the polar regions and have already attracted attention on social media. The post includes a short video that gives viewers a glimpse of the aurora’s dynamics from an altitude of about 400 km.

From the ISS, astronauts can see the aurora more clearly because they are above the atmosphere that usually scatters and weakens the light. The station orbits the Earth every 92 minutes, giving the team multiple chances to photograph the phenomenon during dark hours. The observation helps scientists understand how solar particles interact with Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere. Such data are valuable for space weather forecasting and climate research.

According to experts in orbital mechanics, the footage provides a unique validation of existing models that predict aurora visibility from low‑Earth orbit. The angles captured in the video match simulation results, confirming the accuracy of current forecasting tools. Researchers also note that the clarity of the colors suggests unusually low atmospheric interference, which could be linked to recent solar activity cycles. The new data are being added to open databases used by both academic institutions and space agencies.

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