Kamal Ghorui
Video released by Nasa on Wednesday captures glowing green ribbons of aurora lighting up Earth from space. The timelapse footage, taken from the International Space Station, shows the lights shimmering across the planet as a thin orange line traces the edge of Earth’s atmosphere.The striking visuals come as the Sun continues a period of increased activity. A strong solar flare erupted on Tuesday, following several eruptions in the days before, raising the potential for heightened geomagnetic storm activity.Nasa explains that auroras form when charged particles from the Sun collide with gases in Earth’s atmosphere and are guided by the planet’s magnetic field. “Oxygen produces green and red light, while nitrogen contributes blues and purples — a luminous reminder that Earth is constantly interacting with space weather far beyond what we can see from the ground,” the agency said.Solar flares — particularly when paired with coronal mass ejections — can intensify auroral displays. According to Nasa and NOAA, energetic particles and magnetic material released by the Sun can interact with Earth’s magnetic field, driving geomagnetic storms and expanding the brightness and reach of the Northern Lights.In late January, a strong geomagnetic storm created similar conditions, giving millions of people a rare opportunity to see the Northern Lights.
