What do auroras look like from space

There is a constant streaming solar wind and there are also solar storms. During one kind of solar storm called a coronal mass ejection , the Sun burps out a huge bubble of electrified gas that can travel through space at high speeds. When a solar storm comes toward us, some of the energy and small particles can travel down the magnetic field lines at the north and south poles into Earth's atmosphere.

There, the particles interact with gases in our atmosphere resulting in beautiful displays of light in the sky. Oxygen gives off green and red light. Nitrogen glows blue and purple. The green bands of light in the sky are an aurora australis, an aurora at the south pole. They sure do! Auroras are not just something that happen on Earth. If a planet has an atmosphere and magnetic field, they probably have auroras.

Flight, hotel and rental car. Secret Atlas — Svalbard and Northern Norway. Small Ship with 12 guests. Stromma — sightseeing, excursions and experiences with bus, boat and train. DanCenter — your specialist in holiday homes in Norway.

Norgesbooking — book your perfect cabin stay in Norway. In Norway, we consider ourselves lucky to have the beautiful northern lights dancing across the sky during winter. But instead of always looking up, we can turn to NASA to see this natural wonder from a different perspective, thanks to a film with incredible images. And for those who have the opportunity, even less ever get the chance to see the northern lights when looking down — as in from space.

Luckily NASA offers some incredible images in the video below , which is perhaps the closest you will ever get to see the phenomenon from above. The film is composed of several time-lapse recordings from the International Space Station ISS and offers 4K images of both the aurora borealis northern lights and the aurora australis southern lights near the South Pole.

So turn off the lights, play the film in full-screen mode, and enjoy five minutes of beauty. Here in Norway, however, we are spoiled with many opportunities to see the northern lights with our feet safely on the ground. Northern Norway above the Arctic Circle is amongst the best places in the world to experience the magic of the northern lights.

Read more and find your northern lights destination. In the northern part of the country, aurora borealis has always played an important role in culture and mythology. But what has been considered a divine miracle for centuries, now has a clear scientific explanation. Even though there is a scientific explanation, we are still awestruck when we see the colourful northern lights.

Science and sheer beauty can go hand in hand ; a fact all NASA enthusiasts and space aficionados are well aware of. Always wear a reflective vest or reflective bands when walking by all types of streets and roads. When going on foot, be sure to stay off the road itself, as locals can drive quite fast. Around corners, they will not expect to find people on or by the road. Be aware that snow clearing is operating at all hours.

Avoid getting your car locked in by snow masses. Learn more about this natural wonder and where in Norway you can experience it. Few places on earth offer more ways to witness the aurora borealis than Norway. The story about the Aurora Borealis involves both the science and the myths behind what causes this extraordinary natural phenomenon that appears as light display in the sky. Get the most out of your Arctic experience with these tips and tricks for staying warm and capturing the perfect aurora image.

Where on earth are the top places to see the northern lights? The locals who grew up with the magic, reveal their secret spots and viewpoints. See our selection of companies that work hard to make you happy all through your trip.

In Northern Norway, spectacular experiences await. From the scenic coastline and activities like fishing, hiking and mountaineering, to the northern lights and the midnight sun. Thousands of miles from home, an A-list American producer found music in the quiet, Arctic night under the northern lights. Here is his music for Norway. Like a prolonged sunset and sunrise all at once, this natural phenomenon colours heaven and earth in a reddish yellow light.

Welcome to the land of the midnight sun. The glaciers, mountains, and waterfalls are all about raw, sublime power. Back to top. Features of this page require a browser with localStorage enabled. For a better user experience please enable localStorage or use a different browser. Norway is opening up! Get the latest travel information. Oxygen ions radiate red and yellow light. Nitrogen ions radiate red, blue and violet light. We see green in regions of the atmosphere where both oxygen and nitrogen are present.

We see different colors at different altitudes because the relative concentration of oxygen to nitrogen in the atmosphere changes with altitude. Auroras can vary in brightness. People who regularly observe auroras and report on them generally use a rating scale from zero faint to four very bright.

They'll note the aurora's time, date, latitude and colors and make quick sketches of the aurora against the sky. Such reports help astronomers, astrophysicists and Earth scientists monitor auroral activities. Auroras can help us understand the Earth's magnetic field and how it changes over time.

Because the Earth's magnetic field is three-dimensional, the aurora appears as an oval ring around the pole. This has been observed from satellites, the International Space Station and the space shuttle. It isn't a perfect circle because the Earth's magnetic field is distorted by the solar winds. The auroral ring can vary in diameter.

Auroras can be seen as far south as the southern United States, but not frequently. In general, they stay near the polar regions. They also occur in pairs -- when we see an aurora borealis , there is a corresponding aurora australis in the southern hemisphere learn why on the next page.