EARTH · 1992-04-02
STS-45 Earth observation of the Aurora Australis or Southern Lights
From the Space Shuttle, aurora appears as a luminous layer suspended above Earth’s dark horizon.
What to observe
- Separate the curved horizon from the glow above it.
- Look for structure within the luminous band rather than on the surface.
Explanation
The STS-45 crew photographed the aurora australis from orbit. Aurora is produced high in an atmosphere when energetic particles interact with gases along a planet’s magnetic environment.
Color method
This photographic view records visible emission from atmospheric gases, shaped by exposure and viewing conditions.
Why it matters
Aurora links a visible atmospheric event to an otherwise invisible magnetic interaction.
Sources and credits
Asset credit: JSC