A breathtaking view of the aurora borealis has been captured by Russian cosmonaut Alexander Gerst while on board the International Space Station (ISS). The stunning footage, which shows the swirling green and purple lights dancing across the polar skies, was obtained using a high-resolution camera attached to his space suit.
The ISS orbits at an altitude of around 250 miles above the Earth's surface, providing an unparalleled vantage point for capturing celestial events such as solar flares and auroral displays. According to NASA, the aurora borealis is caused by charged particles from the sun interacting with the Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere.
Gerst, who is a scientist-astronaut on his third space mission, described the experience of witnessing the aurora as "surreal" in a statement released by Russian space agency Roscosmos. "I was able to see the lights dancing across the sky, which was a truly breathtaking sight," he said.
The video, which has been shared on social media, shows the aurora borealis in all its glory, with vibrant green and purple hues illuminating the polar skies. The footage is accompanied by narration from Gerst, who provides context about the science behind the phenomenon.
As one of the most spectacular displays of natural light in the world, the aurora borealis attracts millions of viewers each year. The ISS's high altitude and orbit provide a unique perspective on this awe-inspiring event, allowing scientists to better understand its mechanisms and behavior.
The ISS orbits at an altitude of around 250 miles above the Earth's surface, providing an unparalleled vantage point for capturing celestial events such as solar flares and auroral displays. According to NASA, the aurora borealis is caused by charged particles from the sun interacting with the Earth's magnetic field and atmosphere.
Gerst, who is a scientist-astronaut on his third space mission, described the experience of witnessing the aurora as "surreal" in a statement released by Russian space agency Roscosmos. "I was able to see the lights dancing across the sky, which was a truly breathtaking sight," he said.
The video, which has been shared on social media, shows the aurora borealis in all its glory, with vibrant green and purple hues illuminating the polar skies. The footage is accompanied by narration from Gerst, who provides context about the science behind the phenomenon.
As one of the most spectacular displays of natural light in the world, the aurora borealis attracts millions of viewers each year. The ISS's high altitude and orbit provide a unique perspective on this awe-inspiring event, allowing scientists to better understand its mechanisms and behavior.
This is just mind-blowing. Can you imagine witnessing something like that in real life? I mean, I've seen some crazy sunsets and starry nights on Earth, but this... wow! The fact that it's happening 250 miles above our planet makes it even more surreal. And Gerst got to experience it up close, literally. 
The green and purple hues are so intense! I can see why he described it as "surreal". It's like nothing we've ever seen before on this planet.
i was literally chillin in class when i saw it on my friends phone and i'm like "is that real?" lol. the fact that he got to capture that with his space suit attached is just mind blown 
. i feel so bad for him though, stuck up in space while we're here on earth getting our morning coffee 
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. anywayz, it's so cool how scientists can learn more about the aurora borealis from all the way up there 
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! Gerst's description of witnessing the aurora as "surreal" does indeed capture the essence of experiencing something so breathtakingly beautiful in space 
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! It's mind-blowing to think about how tiny we are in comparison to the vastness of our planet 
. I mean, 250 miles above Earth is basically nothing compared to the scale of the universe, right? 
! Can't wait to see more vids from space explorers in the future 
. I mean, can u imagine witnessing something so beautiful up close like that?! It's no wonder he described it as surreal... it's a once in a lifetime experience for any space enthusiast! 
Anyway, this video is giving me LIFE! #SpaceAstronautLife #AuroraBorealisFan #OutOfThisWorld
. I mean, what's so special about some pretty lights in the sky? It's just a bunch of charged particles messing around with our atmosphere... how original. And don't even get me started on the ISS – it's just a fancy house in space that people pay to live in for a few months. Who gets to be up there, anyway? Not exactly like I'd want to spend my days watching paint dry from 250 miles above the Earth. 
️ OMG, can you believe this?! So, I just watched the most insane footage of the aurora borealis from space and I'm still reeling 
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The ISS really does offer an incredible view of the aurora borealis, and I'm so grateful to scientists like Gerst who get to share their knowledge with us! 
. maybe we could even design our own space suits with cameras attached 
We need more people exploring and pushing the boundaries of human knowledge. It's not just about science, it's about inspiring future generations to care about our place in the universe 
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the green & purple lights are so mesmerizing 