Skip to comments.
The 'Southern Lights' as Seen from Space (International Space Station)
Discover Magazine ^
| June 20, 2010
| Staff
Posted on 06/21/2010 5:37:32 AM PDT by lbryce
The aurora australis, or "southern lights," as seen from the International Space Station. Discover Magazine's Bad Astronomer says it's caused by subatomic particles interacting with earth's magnetic field,
Wow, that’s slick. It was taken on May 29th by an Expedition 23 astronaut aboard the International Space Station (it’s unknown which one; NASA and the astronauts decided to give the expedition the credit, not an individual crew member). At that moment, the ISS was 350 km (190 miles) above the Indian ocean, and the astronaut was looking south. You can see the limb of the Earth and some stars in the background as well. Click the picture to get a bigger version with more detail.
This aurora was probably caused by subatomic particles from an explosive event called a coronal mass ejection from the Sun five days earlier. The particles interact with our magnetic field, which channels them to the north and south poles. They slam into the air, ripping electrons off the atoms and molecules. When the atoms recombine, they give off light. The green glow seen here is characteristic of oxygen.
The aurorae are usually between 80 – 160 km (50 – 100 miles) above the Earth’s surface, so the ISS was actually higher up. However, the station was a couple of thousand kilometers away from the lights when this shot was taken.
(Excerpt) Read more at blogs.discovermagazine.com ...
TOPICS: Astronomy
KEYWORDS: auroraaustralis; iss; southernlights; space
1
posted on
06/21/2010 5:37:33 AM PDT
by
lbryce
To: lbryce
2
posted on
06/21/2010 5:48:19 AM PDT
by
ozark hilljilly
(Palin: Because it's gonna take a woman to clean up this mess!)
To: lbryce
Looks like a rift in the space-time continuum.
Lamh Foistenach Abu!
3
posted on
06/21/2010 5:49:26 AM PDT
by
ConorMacNessa
(HM/2 USN, 3/5 Marines, RVN '69 - St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle!)
To: ConorMacNessa
Is that the Nexus? Where is Malcom McDowell?
4
posted on
06/21/2010 5:51:45 AM PDT
by
Vermont Lt
(I lived in VT for four years. That was enough.)
To: lbryce
Wasn't Hillary in Australia recently? Just sayin'...
5
posted on
06/21/2010 5:54:30 AM PDT
by
COBOL2Java
(Obama is the least qualified guy in whatever room he walks into.)
To: lbryce
Green radiation = Zombies.
Just sayin’.
6
posted on
06/21/2010 5:54:45 AM PDT
by
SJSAMPLE
To: ConorMacNessa
Yeah, that’s what I’m thinkin!
(Chuckle)
To: Vermont Lt
Is that the Nexus?It could be. A "Pecuniary Nexus" is usually green...
8
posted on
06/21/2010 5:58:27 AM PDT
by
FDNYRHEROES
(In just His first 3 days, the War on Terror became the War on Free Speech.)
To: SJSAMPLE
To: lbryce
10
posted on
06/21/2010 6:32:08 AM PDT
by
FormerACLUmember
("Subtlety is not going to win this fight": NJ Governor Chris Christie)
To: ozark hilljilly
That’s just plain cool! Hey, that's what I was gonna say!! ;)
I just love we can see stars in the picture too!
To: ozark hilljilly
“That’s just plain cool!”
I second that!
To: lbryce
13
posted on
06/21/2010 7:05:21 AM PDT
by
Magnum44
(Terrorism is a disease, precise application of superior firepower is the cure)
To: lbryce
Like hurricane predictors, we are being told the we are in for a more active sun this year.
What risk do our satelites have from these solar winds?
To: lbryce
Now if we can just get a mass Democrat ejection from Congress, there may be hope for the country.
15
posted on
06/21/2010 8:04:33 AM PDT
by
Attention Surplus Disorder
(The United States has become a kakistocracy. Look it up if you doubt it.)
Disclaimer:
Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual
posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its
management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the
exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson