From Aurora International Space Station

2003/04/01 Elhuyar Zientzia

• Irudiak/Soinuak
• Astronautika
• Astronomia

The International Space Station has good views. Last week the astronauts were able to see the meteors, the wonderful auroras and the lights of the cities, as well as photograph them. It is one of the photos they have taken.

The photo is taken over Canada. This circle at the bottom of the image was created by the impact of a meteor about 200 million years ago. And what you see in the sky, of course, is the aurora.

Auroras are produced by protons and electrons falling from space to Earth. When entering the upper part of the atmosphere, atoms and molecules become excited, causing their brightness. Red and green correspond to oxygen atoms and blue to nitrogen.

The auroras extend to 80-500 km from the Earth and the International Space Station is 400 km high, so you can immerse yourself in some auroras. However, keep calm, as the rain of protons and electrons does not harm the season.

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