Astronaut Matthew Dominick has shared a series of mesmerizing images from the International Space Station (ISS) that capture a rare and breathtaking sight: Earth’s auroras illuminating the surface of the Moon in vivid colors.
Dominick, a NASA astronaut currently aboard the ISS, posted the photos and videos on X (formerly Twitter), highlighting the unique interplay between the auroras and the Moon. “The auroras have been amazing the past few days. Great timing for trying out a new lens,” Dominick wrote. The images reveal the Moon bathed in brilliant shades of red and green, with the Soyuz spacecraft visible in the foreground, adding an extra layer of depth to the surreal scene.
Describing the moment, Dominick said, “The Moon makes its way towards the horizon to set amongst red and green auroras. I was set up in a different window and saw this through another. I quickly moved my camera setup and felt so lucky to grab this shot.” The spontaneous nature of the shot underscores the unpredictable beauty of space, where such moments can occur in the blink of an eye.
Earlier in the week, the ISS received a cargo shipment that included new camera lenses, allowing Dominick to experiment with capturing the unique celestial event. “I spent much of the weekend with a 15mm, T1.8 lens, creating timelapses. I’m still sifting through thousands of frames, many of which feature auroras, but the Milky Way in this one really stood out,” he added, hinting at the wealth of visual data yet to be fully explored.
Understanding auroras
Auroras are a captivating natural phenomenon that occurs when charged particles from the Sun collide with gas molecules in Earth’s atmosphere. This collision emits light, creating stunning visual displays that are predominantly seen in polar regions, often in vivid reds and greens. These displays, known as the Northern and Southern Lights, are a reminder of the dynamic interactions between our planet and the Sun, offering a spectacle that continues to captivate observers both on Earth and in space.
