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<\/p>\nZena Cardman recently caught a glimpse of some auroras aboard the International Space Station and was kind enough to share footage with us on the ground.<\/p>\n
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NASA Crew-11 Arrives at Kennedy Space Center<\/p>\n
NASA’s Crew-11 arrived at Kennedy Space Center the afternoon of July 26. The crew will launch to the International Space Station no earlier than July 31.<\/p>\n
Auroras on Earth are a stunning sight to behold<\/a> \u2013 and a rare one at that from the continental United States.<\/p>\n Lucky enough to have witnessed a phenomenon that in the Northern Hemisphere is known as the northern lights? Well, now imagine what that would look like from about 250 miles above.<\/p>\n One astronaut aboard the International Space Station recently caught a glimpse of the incredible light show, and was kind enough to share footage of it with all of us still on the ground.<\/p>\n “I don\u2019t have words yet for the whole experience, so a picture will have to do,” NASA astronaut Zena Cardman<\/a> said in an Aug. 14 post<\/a> on social media site X.<\/p>\n Here’s a look at what Cardman documented from space<\/a>, and how it’s the latest in a long line of striking astral photography.<\/p>\n What are auroras? Astronaut captures phenomenon from ISS<\/p>\n The auroras are\u00a0a natural light display in Earth’s sky<\/a> that are famously best seen in high-latitude regions of the Northern and Southern hemispheres. The glowing phenomenon appears as rays, spirals and flickers that most commonly manifest in hues of red and green.<\/p>\n Most of us in the Northern Hemisphere are likely most familiar with the aurora borealis, or northern lights. But because Cardman <\/a>said the view she captured was over the South Pacific Ocean, that would likely make the display the southern lights, or the aurora australis, in the Southern Hemisphere.<\/p>\n I don\u2019t know where to begin, so I\u2019ll start here: my view from one Dragon to another. I don\u2019t have words yet for the whole experience, so a picture will have to do.<\/p>\n This was my first attempt at a time-lapse (thank you, @Astro_Ayers<\/a>, for many great tips). Aurora over the South\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/SykVJJc2ZN<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Zena Cardman (@zenanaut) August 14, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n The 40-second timelapse she shared to social media<\/a> also shows the Orion constellation and satellites, Cardman said.<\/p>\n Other astronauts document Earthly phenomenon from space<\/p>\n Cardman is far from the first astronaut to document such an incredible cosmic sight from space.<\/p>\n Astronaut Nichole Ayers, who was part of the since-departed Crew-10 mission<\/a>, captured a few different phenomena during her time at the orbital outpost.<\/p>\n Ayers’ astral photography included photos of lightning in June<\/a> from the space station and, in July, photos of a rare event<\/a> known as a “sprite.” The phenomenon, which scientists refer to as transient luminous events (TLEs), happens above the clouds during periods of intense electrical activity, like lightning.<\/p>\n Coincidentally, Cardman said she recorded her recent timelapse video aboard the SpaceX Dragon capsule docked at the time at the station that Ayers rode in March to the ISS. The Dragon undocked and landed Aug. 9<\/a> off the California coast with Ayers and three other Crew-10 members.<\/p>\n “It was a bittersweet farewell but marked the start of a new chapter in what feels already like a great story,” Cardman said in her post.<\/p>\n Who is on the International Space Station?<\/p>\n Cardman is one of seven people<\/a> living aboard the International Space Station.<\/p>\n Cardman arrived Aug. 2 at the orbital laboratory<\/a> as part of a four-person contingent of a joint NASA and SpaceX mission\u00a0known as Crew-11. The other members of the mission are NASA astronaut Mike Fincke<\/a>; Japanese astronaut\u00a0Kimiya Yui<\/a>\u00a0of the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA); and Russian Oleg Platonov, a Roscosmos cosmonaut.<\/p>\n Crew-11 launched<\/a> Aug. 1 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a Dragon capsule perched atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.<\/p>\n Also aboard the station is NASA astronaut Jonny Kim,\u00a0who reached the ISS in April<\/a>\u00a0with\u00a0cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky.<\/p>\n Eric Lagatta is the Space Connect reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at elagatta@gannett.com<\/p>\n\n