In some cultures, mythology and folklore held that the auroras portend disasters and war. Science has since shown otherwise but the phenomena still fascinates us and video captured by astronauts aboard the International Space Station show the stunning beauty of the flame-like aurora australis and real flames on the ground in Australia.
NASA video cameras were rolling as the International Space Station (ISS) flew from south of Madagascar to north of Australia. The vivid green of the southern lights dance in front of and below the spacecraft as it flies over head.
- Watch: Video of the southern lights and Australian wildfires from the ISS
- In pictures: Pictures of the auroras and fires from the International Space Station
The day the video was shot followed a significant coronal mass ejection (CME) from the sun just days before. The ionized gases stirred up the earth’s magnetic field in a stunning display.
Last night the aurora borealis provided a show for the Northern Hemisphere for the same reason.
As the ISS continued along its course at more than 17,000 miles per hour, it approached Australia where real fires were seen burning on the ground. Some of these blazes were wildfires, some agricultural fires, but their visibility from space is astounding.
More than 700 active wildfires were burning in Australia as of last week in the eastern and northern parts of the nation. A wet winter led to a great deal of growth of grasses but following dry conditions have now turned the foliage into tinder for wildfires.
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