Are the northern lights even more spectacular from space than Earth?
ADVERTISEMENTBreathtaking views of the northern lights from space have been captured on film by an Italian astronaut.
A 30-second video, filmed from the International Space Station, shows a bright green light moving over the dark surface of the Earth.
The northern lights, or aurora, is a natural light display in the Earth’s sky, predominantly seen from the Arctic and Antarctic.
While few people on Earth are lucky enough to have seen the spectacle, even fewer can claim to have seen it from space.
Paolo Nespoli, the Italian astronaut from the European Space Agency who captured the footage, took to Twitter to share his joy at seeing the aurora, which he described as being “out of this world.”
The International Space Station confirmed on Twitter that the stunning display, captured on September 15, was above Canada.
Other Twitter users shared photos of the breathtaking view as seen from Earth.
WOW! Northern Lights seen Friday night north of Yellowknife, Canada. Photo credit: Martin Male. #Aurora#NorthernLightspic.twitter.com/d7lVCOPHxe
— Mark Tarello (@mark_tarello) September 20, 2017
Impressive #NorthernLights in Lacombe Alberta, Canada last night. #Aurora
AuroraMAX</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/weathernetwork">weathernetworkCalgaryRASC</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/TweetAurora">TweetAuroraSigma_Photo</a> <a href="https://t.co/8RAgK1yZII">pic.twitter.com/8RAgK1yZII</a></p>— John Barnes (Johnny_B500) September 16, 2017