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What beats seeing eclipses from space? Try the northern and southern lights
Astronauts said auroras offer a more dramatic view from orbit, even after they missed totality during last week’s solar eclipse.
- On Wednesday, NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway told The Associated Press that auroras outshine eclipses from the International Space Station, where they have lived for six months.
- The station's orbital position prevented the crew from viewing totality during last week's solar eclipse, though they observed a partial eclipse and plan to catch the lunar eclipse next week.
- Increased solar activity makes auroras more dramatic and brilliant, Meir noted; after a large plasma blast from the sun, she observed "the green dancing aurora" appearing directly beneath them.
- Beyond scientific work, Meir has pursued hobbies in orbit, including cooking episodes of "Chez ISS" with crewmate Anil Menon and recording John Philip Sousa's "The Stars and Stripes Forever" with the Boston Pops.
- Launched in February, Meir and Hathaway are due to return to Earth via SpaceX next month, concluding their six-month mission aboard the orbital laboratory.
Insights by Ground AI
11 Articles
11 Articles
Eclipses can be wonderful, but nothing beats seeing the northern and southern auroras from space.
Coverage Details
Total News Sources11
Leaning Left4Leaning Right0Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution56% Center
Bias Distribution
- 56% of the sources are Center
56% Center
L 44%
C 56%
Factuality
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