NASA astronaut snaps breathtaking aurora over Earth

A Space Station astronaut has captured jaw-dropping aurora over Earth.

Expedition 74 flight engineer and NASA astronaut Jessica Meir shot the vibrant phenomenon from 250 miles up — along with a vivid Milky Way and Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites.

She said Tuesday, April 28, “Did you know that the Milky Way is even milkier when viewed from the Southern Hemisphere? This is because from the southern side of our planet, we get a clearer, more direct view of the dense galactic core.

Astronaut Jessica Meir inside the International Space Station, smiling while working with a spacesuit. — Expedition 74 flight engineer and NASA astronaut Jessica Meir has captured jaw-dropping aurora over Earth. ISS/NASA / SWNS

Aurora and the Milky Way seen from orbit. — Meir shot the vibrant phenomenon from 250 miles up – along with a vivid Milky Way and Elon Musk’s Starlink satellites. Jessica Meir/NASA / SWNS

An aurora and the Milky Way seen from orbit, with Earth's curvature, city lights, and an orbital module in the foreground. — “Did you know that the Milky Way is even milkier when viewed from the Southern Hemisphere? This is because from the southern side of our planet, we get a clearer, more direct view of the dense galactic core,” Meir said. Jessica Meir/NASA / SWNS

“Here’s a look at the Milky Way starting over the Southern Ocean (between Australia and Antarctica) from our SpaceX Dragon window, complete with some aurora (Southern Lights) and fleeting Starlink satellites. Enjoy the view!”

Aurora are natural light displays caused by charged solar particles interacting with Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere.

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