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> Aurora Australis seen from space

Aurora Australis seen from space

author: Nasa/Novapix

reference: t-met01-00013

Image Size 300 DPI: 36 * 24 cm

Aurora australis seen from the International Space Station (ISS) on may 29 2010. The ISS was located over the Southern Indian Ocean at an altitude of 350 km, with the astronaut observer most likely looking towards Antarctica (not visible) and the South Pole. The aurora has a sinuous ribbon shape that separates into discrete spots near the lower right corner of the image. While the dominant coloration of the aurora is green, there are faint suggestions of red photon emission as well (light fuscia tones at image center left). Dense cloud cover is dimly visible below the aurora. The curvature of the Earth’s horizon, or limb, is clearly visible as is the faint blue line of the upper atmosphere directly above at image top center. Several stars appear as bright pinpoints against the blackness of space at image top right.

Keywords for this photo:

2010 - AURORA - AURORA AUSTRALIS - EARTH - EARTH FROM SPACE - EXPEDITION 23 - LIMB - MAGNETIC FIELD - MAGNETOSPHERE - SPACE -