New aurora pictures from a NASA astronaut are making us green with envy.
Earlier this month, International Space Station astronaut Jasmine Mokbeli captured stunning images of a flag-like green aurora stretching from Earth's southern hemisphere into space.
„The auroras from here are amazing,” NASA's Moghbeli told Space.com during an ISS press conference on Wednesday (Feb. 21). Among the green auroras seen by Mokbeli on Feb. 15, „some green, some red passing over the surface of the Earth,” he said was one of the highlights of his spaceflight.
Related: 'Absolutely unreal:' NASA astronaut snaps amazing photo of auroras from space station
A ribbon-like aurora occurs on Earth when our Sun sends energetic particles toward Earth's upper atmosphere. Our planet's protective magnetic field drives particles toward the poles, and solar particles glow colorfully as they interact with our atmosphere.
Astronauts aboard the ISS are currently watching a spectacular aurora as the Sun approaches its 11-year maximum solar activity. More flares and coronal mass ejections of particles mean more auroral activity on Earth.
„I love it,” Mokbeli said, „because every time I look out the window, I'm in awe. Every time, even if I pass the same part of the Earth, it's a little bit different. Whether it's the lights. Different, or the clouds or the seasons or the sun angles. , every time I marvel at how alive and beautiful our planet is.”
If you want to take your own photos of the auroras, check out our guide on how to photograph the auroras, the best cameras for astrophotography and the best lenses for astrophotography.