Aurora Slathers up the Sky
Explanation:
Like salsa verde on your favorite burrito, a green
aurora
slathers up the sky in this June 25 snapshot from the
International Space Station.
About 400 kilometers (250 miles) above Earth, the orbiting station is itself
within
the upper realm of the auroral displays.
Aurorae have the
signature
colors of excited molecules and atoms at the low densities
found at extreme altitudes.
Emission from atomic oxygen dominates this view.
The
tantalizing glow
is green at lower altitudes, but rarer reddish
bands extend above the space station's horizon.
The orbital scene
was captured while passing over a point
south and east of Australia, with
stars above the horizon at the right belonging to
the constellation
Canis Major,
Orion's big dog.
Sirius,
alpha star of Canis Major, is the brightest star near
the Earth's limb.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
