Aurora Australis from the ISS

This NASA image shows the Aurora Australis observed from the International Space Station on May 29, 2010.This photo was taken during a geomagnetic storm that was most likely caused by a coronal mass ejection from the Sun on May 24, 2010.

The ISS was located over the Southern Indian Ocean at an altitude of 350 kilometres (220 miles), with the astronaut observer most likely looking towards Antarctica (not visible) and the South Pole.

The aurora has a sinuous ribbon shape that separates into discrete spots near the lower right corner of the image. While the dominant colouration of the aurora is green, there are faint suggestions of red left of image centre.

Dense cloud cover is dimly visible below the aurora. The curvature of the Earth's horizon is clearly visible, as is the faint blue line of the upper atmosphere directly above it. Several stars appear as bright pinpoints against the blackness of space at image top right

Picture: NASA / AFP