These satellite images shared from the International Space Station (ISS) capture the ethereal beauty of planet Earth.
Snapped by the satellite as it orbited over the Indian Ocean, just southwest of Australia, it shows the surface of the world shrouded in the turquoise haze of an aurora.
The aurora australis, also known as the southern lights, is the southern hemisphere’s equivalent to the aurora borealis – a natural electrical phenomenon manifesting itself as a dazzling light display.
While the atmospheric pyrotechnics can appear in a variety of colours, here they are seen in stunning shades of blue and green dancing just above the horizon.
The ISS shared the pictures on social media on Thursday, to the delight of space enthusiasts and others.
One Twitter user commented: “Amazing. Our earth is so beautiful, please cherish it.”
