Auroras dance above Earth in gorgeous new 4K video from space

Check out the northern lights from space without ever having to fly there.
 By 
Miriam Kramer
 on 
Auroras dance above Earth in gorgeous new 4K video from space
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Auroras are a rare sight on Earth, but now, thanks to a new ultra-high definition video from NASA, people can see what it's like to be an astronaut witnessing the cosmic light show from the International Space Station.

From Earth, the curtains of the aurora dance overhead during solar storms, but from space, astronauts get to watch the northern and southern lights flicker up at them from below.

Auroras are produced when charged particles from the sun slam into Earth's upper atmosphere, exciting neutral particles and causing them to glow. This happens above the planet's high latitudes, such as the Arctic and Antarctic.

The different colors of the aurora represent the various molecules that are aglow. According to NASA, oxygen molecules give off a green glow, while nitrogen can emit a blue light.

So sit back, relax and enjoy the fact that you don't need to go on a death-defying journey to space to see the beauty of the auroras from above.

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Miriam Kramer

Miriam Kramer worked as a staff writer for Space.com for about 2.5 years before joining Mashable to cover all things outer space. She took a ride in weightlessness on a zero-gravity flight and watched rockets launch to space from places around the United States. Miriam received her Master's degree in science, health and environmental reporting from New York University in 2012, and she originally hails from Knoxville, Tennessee. Follow Miriam on Twitter at @mirikramer.


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