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Credit & Copyright: STS-59 Crew,
NASA
Explanation:
Looking toward the south from low Earth orbit, the crew of the
Space Shuttle Endeavor made this stunning time exposure of the
Aurora Australis or southern lights in April of 1994.
Aurora are visible at high
northern latitudes as well, with the northern lights
known as
Aurora Borealis.
They are caused by high energy electrons from the
Solar Wind
which are funneled into the atmosphere near the poles
by the
Earth's magnetic field.
The reddish colors occur at the highest altitudes (about 200 miles)
where the air is least dense. At lower altitudes and greater densities
green tends to dominate ranging to a pinkish glow at the lowest.
The familiar constellation of
Orion the Hunter is clearly
visible above the dark horizon in the background.
Because of the shuttle's orbital motion, the bright stars in
Orion appear slightly elongated.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: aurora - Orion
Publications with words: aurora - Orion
See also: