NASA has released a new ultra-high-definition video (UHD) of the Northern Lights. This visual spectacle that's usually seen in the northern hemisphere is also known as the Aurora Borealis, and the space agency was able to document it closer than ever before.
NASA took a five-minute UHD clip of the Northern Lights from the International Space Station (ISS) and shared this to the public on April 17. It also showed a time-lapse capture of the Southern Lights or Aurora Australis and depicted how the Earth was washed over by the majestic dancing lights.
NASA TV UHD ultra-high definition video shows aurora borealis from @Space_Station!
More: https://t.co/ysFUFy0Ccdhttps://t.co/NM7ptgcCwP
— NASA (@NASA) April 17, 2016
What Makes Up The Northern Lights?
"Auroras happen when electrons and protons collide with neutral atoms in the upper atmosphere," a voice-over stated in the video, per ABC Australia. The phenomenon, which was first publicly acknowledged in the 1800s, occurs as charged particles coming from the Sun enter the atmosphere, per Northern Lights Centre.
As the electrons and protons get blown by the "solar wind," it weakens the Earth's magnetic field. Thus, the particles collide with each other and in doing so, lights emit that seem to dance in the sky.
Where Do The Northern Lights Appear?
In February, NASA had the best spot when it captured the video of the Northern Lights from the ISS. The space station was able to get closer to the spectacle while traveling through its path. ISS's Major Tom Peake took the video and then shared part of it as a photo to his Twitter followers. He described the "thick green fog" as "eerie but beautiful."
The @Space_Station just passed straight through a thick green fog of #aurora...eerie but very beautiful. #Principia pic.twitter.com/r2HJ8Ejzov
— Tim Peake (@astro_timpeake) February 23, 2016
However, the phenomenon can be seen through the naked eye as well. Aurora Borealis is quite visible in the northern latitude and it's the same case for the Southern Lights or Aurora Australis, which is visible in Australia, New Zealand, Antartica, Argentina and Chile, per CNN.
The Northern Lights peak every 11 years, but a glimpse of it can be spotted on a clear winter's night. Watch the full ultra-high-density video below with your whole family, as captured by NASA:
