See incredible photos of red aurora courtesy of the ISS
Digital Reporter
Saturday, August 15, 2015, 8:04 PM - U.S. astronaut Scott Kelly has once again captured an amazing moment from space.
The one-year International Space Station crew member posted an image of red and purple auroras over Earth Saturday morning on Twitter.
#Aurora trailing a colorful veil over Earth this morning. Good morning from @space_station! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/q7C7R5D6fu
— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) August 15, 2015
The magnificent colour display could have been the result of a solar storm which hit the G3 "strong" level, according to NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) rating system.
Day 141. The chapter of a day ends as it began. #Aurora on a sunrise. Good night from @space_station! #YearInSpace
https://t.co/hZBMs9q0CS
— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) August 15, 2015
A filament eruption on August 12 arrived a little earlier than expected, the SWPC reports.
The northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, are created by solar flares on the sun's surface that create gusts of solar winds that pass through the Earth's atmosphere causing particles to emit the brilliant colours. While usually yellow or green, a red light can be produced.
Another pass through #Aurora. The sun is very active today, apparently. #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/1uDtRzrGuY
— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) August 15, 2015
Kelly's first post of the colour display has been retweeted more than 4,000 times.
The ISS crew member also caught some amazing auras during a June solar storm.
I've never seen this before- red #aurora. Spectacular! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/j2DVejt974
— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) June 22, 2015Day 87. The red curtain of an #aurora closes on another day. Good night from @space_station! #YearInSpace pic.twitter.com/NUyJkGKy9y
— Scott Kelly (@StationCDRKelly) June 22, 2015
Kelly is expected back on Earth in March 2016 along with cosmonaut Mikhail Kornienko.
