Watch a Stunning Time-Lapse of Colorful Auroras Over Earth Captured by NASA Astronauts on the ISS (Video)

NASA astronaut Jonny Kim recently shared his first time-lapse video of Earth from the International Space Station (ISS). The video offers breathtaking views of auroras, lightning storms, and city lights sparkling against the darkness of the night.

Kim launched to the ISS on April 8, 2023, aboard a Russian Soyuz spacecraft. He’s part of Expedition 73, where he serves as a flight engineer for eight months. Before capturing this stunning footage, Kim reached out to fellow astronaut Nichole “Viper” Ayers for tips on astrophotography. Her experience helped him frame his shots just right.

“I caught my first aurora thanks to @Astro_Ayers,” Kim tweeted. “It felt like fishing—prepping the equipment, adjusting settings, then hoping for the best. Now I’m hooked!”

The video beautifully combines natural wonders and urban life. It starts with a sunset as the station moves into Earth’s shadow. Stars emerge above the planet while city lights and flashes of lightning illuminate the clouds below.

Towards the end, vibrant green auroras wave across the sky as the ISS flies over Southeast Asia and Australia. These colorful displays happen when high-energy particles from the sun hit Earth’s atmosphere, causing it to glow. NASA reports that this phenomenon is a stunning result of solar wind interactions with our atmosphere.

The time-lapse concludes with the ISS returning to the daylight side of Earth, where its solar panels soak up sunlight. Remarkably, the ISS orbits our planet 16 times a day, moving at an incredible speed of 17,500 miles per hour (28,000 kilometers per hour).

Astronaut Kim’s experience highlights the wonders of space and reminds us of the beauty visible from above. For anyone interested in seeing the ISS, there are guides available detailing how to spot and photograph it as it streaks across the night sky.

For additional insights and resources on auroras and space phenomena, check out NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory.



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