Station Astronauts Capture Stunning Views Of US, Canada, Northern Lights

Astronauts aboard the International Space Station recently filmed what is among the most spectacular night imagery ever taken from space of the United States.

Taken between Jan. 29-Feb. 3, the images show a continent ablaze with light, from the electric glow of hundreds of cities to a spectacular aurora borealis flickering on the northern horizon. The video includes flights above Mexico showing the entire Gulf Coast and continuing the length of the East Coast. Other video capture scenes from Brownsville, Texas, to the Great Lakes and above the St. Lawrence Seaway. Still another sequence begins in the western U.S. and continues across the Great Plains.

New imagery also shows the aurora during flights above Canada. The imagery was taken using a still camera aboard the station, orbiting 240 miles above Earth.

—

Image Caption: Aurora Borealis steals the scene in this nighttime photograph shot from the International Space Station as the orbital outpost flew over the Midwest recently. Cloud cover makes it difficult to identify the cities that are within the captured area. The spacecraft was above south central Nebraska when the photo was taken. The “look” angle is north to northeastward. Credit: NASA

—

On the Net:

• For more about the International Space Station, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/station
• For NASA Television schedules, downlink information and streaming video, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/ntv
• Watch the videos here: http://www.redorbit.com/news/video/space_2/