Astronaut's First Glimpse of Earth's Glow

Astronaut Jonny Kim recently shared his first time-lapse video from the International Space Station. It's a stunning display of Earth's beauty from above. The video features auroras, lightning storms, and city lights, all captured from space. Kim is a former U. S. Marine. He began his eight-month mission as a flight engineer for Expedition 73. He launched into space on April 8 this year. Before capturing his first time-lapse, Kim sought advice from fellow crewmember Nichole "Viper" Ayers. She is known for her stunning astrophotography. She often shares images of Earth's natural beauty on her social media accounts. Kim described the process of capturing the aurora as similar to fishing. He had to set up the camera, adjust the angle, and set the timer. Then, he had to wait and hope for the best. After seeing the results, he was hooked. He thanked Ayers for her guidance. The time-lapse video shows a mix of natural phenomena and city lights on Earth's surface. The space station's solar panels shift position to gather sunlight. This powers the orbital outpost. The footage starts with the sun setting behind Earth, marking the beginning of night aboard the ISS. Stars shine above Earth's atmosphere as the sun sets. City lights and lightning storms can be seen below. Towards the end of the video, vivid green auroras ripple across the night sky. These occur when energetic particles from the solar wind collide with Earth's atmosphere. The particles excite oxygen and nitrogen, causing them to glow. The ISS completes 16 orbits around Earth every 24 hours. It travels at an average speed of 17, 500 mph. The video ends as the station re-enters the day side of the planet, with its solar panels basking in direct sunlight. The footage is a reminder of Earth's beauty and the wonders of space exploration. It showcases the natural phenomena that occur on our planet. It also highlights the technological advancements that allow us to explore space. The video is a testament to human ingenuity and our quest to understand the universe.