Fiery Hourglass as New Star Forms: Protostar L1527 | James Webb Space Telescope

Fiery Hourglass as New Star Forms: Protostar L1527 | James Webb Space Telescope

Dr. Michelle Thaller presents Webb’s stunning view of a young protostar, just 100,000 years old and cocooned in gas and dust.

Webb reveals the protostar’s hourglass shape, vibrant blue and orange clouds, and spiraling accretion disk—key features of this early stage of star formation.

A true marvel, this protostar offers insights into the origins of stars, unveiling a process billions of years in the making. What secrets will the universe reveal next?

For more information, visit https://webb.nasa.gov/

Credit: NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center

Paul Morris: Lead Producer 

Thaddeus Cesari: Script

Dr. Michelle Thaller: Narrator

Duration: 2 minutes, 29 seconds

Release Date: Jan. 8, 2025

#NASA #ESA #Astronomy #Space #Science #JWST #JamesWebb #WebbTelescope #Protostar #ProtostarL1527 #DarkCloudL1527 #Taurus #Constellation #Cosmos #Universe #UnfoldTheUniverse #Europe #CSA #Canada #GSFC #STScI #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Planet Mars Landing Site Candidate: Possible Chloride Salt Deposits | NASA MRO

Planet Mars Landing Site Candidate: Possible Chloride Salt Deposits | NASA MRO

There is an intriguing surface unit in parts of the ancient Martian highlands that may consist of chloride salts (like NaCl, or table salt) that precipitated out of shallow lakes as in desert regions of Earth.

This site has unusual thermal properties and distinctive morphologies, but lacks spectral absorption bands. All of these characteristics and the geologic settings are consistent with salt deposits. These deposits are often associated with clay minerals that do have distinctive absorption bands.

Image cutout is less than 1 km (under 1 mi) across and the spacecraft altitude was 266 km (165 mi). 

Local Mars time: 15:01

Latitude (centered): -5.625°

Longitude (East): 353.871°

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) is a spacecraft designed to study the geology and climate of Mars, to provide reconnaissance of future landing sites, and to relay data from surface missions back to Earth. It was launched on August 12, 2005, and reached Mars on March 10, 2006. 

The University of Arizona, in Tucson, operates HiRISE. It was built by BAE Systems in Boulder, Colorado. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of Caltech in Pasadena, California, manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Project for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington.

For more information on MRO, visit:

https://mars.nasa.gov/mro

science.nasa.gov/mission/mars-reconnaissance-orbiter
https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/MRO/mission/index.html

Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
Caption Credit: Alfred McEwen

Image Date: Jan. 21, 2010
Release Date: Jan. 8, 2025

#NASA #Space #Astronomy #Science #Mars #Planet #RedPlanet #Geology #Landscape #Terrain #MartianHighlands #ChlorideSalt #NaCl #ClayMinerals #WaterEvidence #Geoscience #MRO #MarsOrbiter #MarsSpacecraft #HiRISECamera #JPL #Caltech #BallAerospace #MSSS #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

New December 2024 NASA Astronaut Images Released | International Space Station

New December 2024 NASA Astronaut Images Released | International Space Station

NASA astronaut and Expedition 72 Commander Suni Williams assembles research hardware inside the International Space Station's cupola while orbiting 261 miles above the Pacific Ocean west of Nicaragua.

NASA astronaut and Expedition 72 Commander Suni Williams checks research components inside the Kibo laboratory module's Advanced Plant Habitat aboard the International Space Station.

NASA astronaut and Expedition 72 Commander Suni Williams shows off a holiday decoration of a familiar reindeer aboard the International Space Station. The decoration was crafted with excess hardware, cargo bags, and recently-delivered Santa hats.

NASA astronauts Nick Hague and Suni Williams, Expedition 72 flight engineer and commander respectively, share snacks and goodies on Christmas Eve inside the gallery of the International Space Station's Unity module.

NASA astronaut and Expedition 72 Flight Engineer Don Pettit removes the small satellite orbital deployer from the Kibo laboratory module's airlock after several CubeSats were deployed outside the International Space Station into Earth orbit for educational research.

NASA astronaut and Expedition 72 Flight Engineer Butch Wilmore works inside the International Space Station's Columbus laboratory module to begin installing the European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device. The futuristic exercise gear will be tested by the station crew using its advanced bicycling, rowing, and resistive capabilities.

NASA astronaut and Expedition 72 Flight Engineer Nick Hague demonstrates the range of motion and stability of student-designed space hardware aboard the International Space Station's Destiny laboratory module. Hague was testing the HUNCH (High school students United with NASA to Create Hardware) Utility Bracket for its ability to hold and position cameras, computer tablets, and other tools astronauts use daily.

NASA astronauts (from left) Butch Wilmore and Don Pettit, both Expedition 72 flight engineers, install the European Enhanced Exploration Exercise Device inside the International Space Station's Columbus laboratory module. The futuristic exercise gear will be tested by the station crew using its advanced bicycling, rowing, and resistive capabilities.

Expedition 72 Updates:

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 72 Crew

Station Commander: Suni Williams
Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineers: Alexey Ovchinin, Ivan Vagner, Aleksandr Gorbunov
NASA Flight Engineers: Butch Wilmore, Don Pettit, Nick Hague

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada.

Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC)

Image Dates: Dec. 16-24, 2024

#NASA #Space #Science #ISS #Earth #Christmas2024 #Astronauts #DonPettit #SuniWilliams #ButchWilmore #NickHague #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #InternationalCooperation #LongDurationMissions #SpaceLaboratory #HumanSpaceflight #UnitedStates #Expedition72 #STEM #Education

The Orion Constellation | European Southern Observatory

The Orion Constellation | European Southern Observatory

Imaged from the European Southern Observatory's La Silla Observatory, this photograph captures the full Orion constellation and arcs of gas and dust weaving through the constellation. Just to the left of the the Hunter's three-star belt is the bright Orion Nebula, one of the most well known star-forming regions.

Credit: Zdeněk Bardon/ESO
Release Date: Sept. 11, 2017

#NASA #FoN #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #Nebulae #OrionNebula #Orion #Constellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #LaSillaObservatory #AtacamaDesert #Chile #Europe #STEM #Education

Wide-field Infrared View of Nebula Messier 78 in Orion | ESO's VIST

Wide-field Infrared View of Nebula Messier 78 in Orion | ESO's VISTA

This richly detailed view of the star formation region Messier 78, in the constellation of Orion (The Hunter), was taken with the Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA) at the European Southern Observatory’s Paranal Observatory in Chile. As well as the blue regions of reflected light from the hot young stars the image also shows streams of dark dust and the red jets emerging from stars in the process of formation.

Distance: ~1,400 light years

Image Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO)
Release Date: Oct. 5, 2016

#NASA #FoN #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #StarFormation #Nebula #ReflectionNebula #Messier78 #NGC2068 #Orion #Constellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #VISTATelescope #InfraredAstronomy #ParanalObservatory #AtacamaDesert #Chile #Europe #STEM #Education

Nebula Messier 78 Region in Orion: Visible & Infrared Light Views | ESO

Nebula Messier 78 Region in Orion: Visible & Infrared Light Views | ESO

The reflection nebula Messier 78 is a vibrant nursery of star formation enveloped in a shroud of interstellar dust. It lies in the constellation of Orion within our Milky Way galaxy. 

Distance: ~1,400 light years

These comparison cutouts show unique parts of this rich star-forming complex in Orion appear at distinct light wavelengths. In the infrared images from the Visible and Infrared Survey Telescope for Astronomy (VISTA) (lower row), the dust is much more transparent than in the visible light pictures from the MPG/ESO 2.2-meter telescope (upper row).

Credit: ESO/Igor Chekalin
Release Date: Oct. 5, 2016

#NASA #FoN #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #StarFormation #Nebula #ReflectionNebula #Messier78 #NGC2068 #Orion #Constellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #MPGESOTelescope #OpticalAstronomy #VISTATelescope #InfraredAstronomy #AtacamaDesert #Chile #Europe #Infographic #STEM #Education

Journey to Nebula Messier 78's Dust Clouds in Orion | ESO

Journey to Nebula Messier 78's Dust Clouds in Orion | ESO

This zoom sequence opens with a wide-field view of the Milky Way. We close in on the constellation of Orion and as we zoom in on to a region close to Orion’s famous Belt, a fascinating region of dust and reflection nebulosity—known as Messier 78—comes into view. At the end of the zoom, submillimeter-wavelength observations from the LArge APEX BOlometer CAmera (LABOCA) camera on the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX) reveal the heat glow of the dust grains, shown here in orange tones.

The final image shows the region surrounding the reflection nebula Messier 78, just to the north of Orion’s belt. You can see clouds of cosmic dust threaded through the nebula like a string of pearls. The submillimeter-wavelength observations, made with the APEX telescope and shown here in orange, use the heat glow of interstellar dust grains to show astronomers where new stars are being formed. They are overlaid on a view of the region in visible light.

Distance: ~1,400 light years

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO) / APEX (MPIfR/ESO/OSO) / T. Stanke et al. / Igor Chekalin / Digitized Sky Survey 2

Duration: 43 seconds
Release Date: May 2, 2012

#NASA #FoN #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #StarFormation #Nebula #ReflectionNebula #Messier78 #NGC2068 #Orion #Constellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #AtacamaPathfinderExperiment #APEX #ChajnantorPlateau #AtacamaDesert #Chile #Europe #DSS2 #STScI #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Close-up views of Nebula Messier 78's Dust Clouds in Orion | ESO

Close-up views of Nebula Messier 78's Dust Clouds in Orion | ESO

This image of the region surrounding the reflection nebula Messier 78, just to the north of Orion’s belt, shows clouds of cosmic dust threaded through the nebula like a string of pearls. The submillimeter-wavelength observations, made with the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX) telescope and shown here in orange, use the heat glow of interstellar dust grains to show astronomers where new stars are being formed. They are overlaid on a view of the region in visible light.

Distance: ~1,400 light years

Credit: European Southern Observatory (ESO) / APEX (MPIfR/ESO/OSO) / T. Stanke et al. / Igor Chekalin / Digitized Sky Survey 2

Duration: 1 minute
Release Date: May 2, 2012

#NASA #FoN #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #StarFormation #Nebula #ReflectionNebula #Messier78 #NGC2068 #Orion #Constellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #AtacamaPathfinderExperiment #APEX #ChajnantorPlateau #AtacamaDesert #Chile #Europe #DSS #STScI #UnitedStates #STEM #Education #HD #Video

Cosmic Dust Clouds of Nebula Messier 78 in Orion | European Southern Observatory

Cosmic Dust Clouds of Nebula Messier 78 in Orion | European Southern Observatory

This image of the region surrounding the reflection nebula Messier 78, just to the north of Orion’s belt, shows clouds of cosmic dust threaded through the nebula like a string of pearls. The submillimeter-wavelength observations, made with the Atacama Pathfinder Experiment (APEX) telescope and shown here in orange, use the heat glow of interstellar dust grains to show astronomers where new stars are being formed. They are overlaid on a view of the region in visible light.

Distance: ~1,400 light years

Credit: ESO/APEX (MPIfR/ESO/OSO)/T. Stanke et al./Igor Chekalin/Digitized Sky Survey 2
Release Date: May 2, 2012

#NASA #FoN #ESO #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #StarFormation #Nebula #ReflectionNebula #Messier78 #NGC2068 #Orion #Constellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #AtacamaPathfinderExperiment #APEX #ChajnantorPlateau #AtacamaDesert #Chile #Europe #DSS #STScI #UnitedStates #STEM #Education

Nebulae Messier 78 & (a bit of) Barnard's Loop in Orion

Nebulae Messier 78 & (a bit of) Barnard's Loop in Orion

Astrophotographer Ian Inverarity: "The M78 nebula is another interesting little thing I have seen in my wider field shots that I wanted to capture! After 3 clear nights in a row, here it is!"

The reflection nebula Messier 78 is a vibrant nursery of star formation enveloped in a shroud of interstellar dust. It lies in the constellation of Orion within our Milky Way galaxy. 

Barnard's Loop (catalogue designation Sh 2-276) is an emission nebula in the constellation of Orion. It is part of the Orion molecular cloud complex. It also contains the dark Horsehead and bright Orion nebulae. The loop takes the form of a large arc centered approximately on the Orion Nebula. The stars within the Orion Nebula are believed to be responsible for ionizing the loop.

Distance: ~1,400 light years

Image details: Takahashi FSQ106N telescope, QHY268M camera, Astronomik R, G & B filters, Warp Astron WD-20 EQ mount, PHD2 and NINA camera and mount control. Stacking and initial processing in APP, final processing in PS. 

Image Credit: Ian Inverarity

Capture Location: Leigh Creek, South Australia.
Release Date: Jan. 2, 2025

#NASA #FoN #Astronomy #Space #Science #Stars #StarFormation #Nebulae #ReflectionNebula #Messier78 #Sh2276 #BarnardsLoop #EmissionNebula #Orion #Constellation #MilkyWayGalaxy #Cosmos #Universe #Astrophotographer #IanInverarity #Astrophotography #Australia #STEM #Education

Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket: Preparing for First Launch

Blue Origin's New Glenn Rocket: Preparing for First Launch

New Glenn’s inaugural mission (NG-1) is targeting no earlier than Friday, January 10, 2025, from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral, Florida. The three-hour launch window opens at 1 a.m. EST (0600 UTC).   

"The payload is our Blue Ring Pathfinder. It will test Blue Ring’s core flight, ground systems, and operational capabilities."  

"Our key objective is to reach orbit safely. We know landing the booster on our first try offshore in the Atlantic is ambitious—but we’re going for it." 

“This is our first flight and we’ve prepared rigorously for it,” said Jarrett Jones, SVP, New Glenn. “But no amount of ground testing or mission simulations are a replacement for flying this rocket. It’s time to fly. No matter what happens, we’ll learn, refine, and apply that knowledge to our next launch.” 

"Blue Origin has several New Glenn vehicles in production and a full customer manifest. Customers include NASA, Amazon’s Project Kuiper, AST SpaceMobile, several telecommunications providers, and a mix of U.S. government customers."

About New Glenn 

New Glenn stands more than 320 feet (98 meters) high and features a seven-meter payload fairing, enabling twice the volume of standard five-meter class commercial launch systems. Its reusable first stage aims for a minimum of 25 missions and will land on Jacklyn, a sea-based platform located several hundred miles downrange. Reusability is integral to radically reducing cost-per-launch.   

The vehicle is powered by seven of Blue Origin’s BE-4 engines, the most powerful liquefied natural gas (LNG)-fueled, oxygen-rich staged combustion engine ever flown. LNG is cleaner-burning and higher-performing than kerosene-based fuels, and the seven BE-4s generate over 3.8 million lbf of thrust. The vehicle’s second stage is powered by two BE-3Us, liquid oxygen (LOX)/liquid hydrogen (LH2) engines designed to together yield over 320,000 lbf of vacuum thrust.   

In addition to the BE-4 and BE-3U, Blue Origin manufactures BE-7 engines for our Blue Moon lunar landers and New Shepard’s BE-3PM engine. 

Learn more: https://www.blueorigin.com/new-glenn

Image Credit: Blue Origin

Release Date: Jan. 6, 2024

#NASA #Space #BlueOrigin #NewGlenn #NewGlennRocket #NG1 #FirstLaunch #CommercialSpace #ArtemisProgram #BlueMoonLanders #SpaceTechnology #HumanSpaceflight #LC36 #CapeCanaveral #Florida #UnitedStates #Astronaut #JohnGlenn #History #STEM #Education

Russian Progress MS-10 Cargo Rocket Launch to International Space Station

Russian Progress MS-10 Cargo Rocket Launch to International Space Station

Russian Progress MS-10 cargo spacecraft & Soyuz rocket launch in Baikonur, Kazakhstan

Russian Progress MS-10 cargo spacecraft and Soyuz rocket launch over Kazakhstan

Russian Progress MS-10 cargo spacecraft & Soyuz rocket entering Earth orbit

Russian Soyuz rocket first stage re-entering Earth's atmosphere

European Space Agency astronaut and Expedition 57 flight engineer Alexander Gerst of Germany: "Watched a beautiful night launch of the Russian Progress MS-10 cargo vehicle while ISS was flying right above Baikonur (see 2nd photo lower left corner, then upper right of third photo). Destination: us. Reentry of 1st stage visible on last photo."

These are images of the International Space Station view of an uncrewed Russian Progress MS-10 cargo spacecraft being launched by a Roscosmos Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to resupply the station on November 16, 2018. This was the 162nd flight of a Roscosmos Progress spacecraft.

The Progress MS-10 spacecraft delivered 2,564 kg of cargo and supplies to Expedition 57 of the International Space Station (ISS). 

Here is a cargo breakdow:

Dry cargo: 1,330 kg

Fuel: 750 kg

Oxygen: 75 kg

Water: 440 kg

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada.

Image Credit: NASA, ESA, Alexander Gerst
Capture Date: Nov. 18, 2018

#NASA #ESA #Space #ISS #Science #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #ПрогрессMS10 #ProgressCargoSpacecraft #SoyuzRocketLaunch #Союз #BaikonurCosmodrome #Kazakhstan #Қазақстан #Cosmonauts #Astronaut #AlexanderGerst #Germany #Deutschland #Europe #HumanSpaceflight #UnitedStates #Russia #Россия #Expedition57 #SpaceLaboratory #STEM #Education

Russian Progress MS-10 Cargo Rocket Launch to International Space Station

Russian Progress MS-10 Cargo Rocket Launch to International Space Station

This is a timelapse video International Space Station view of an uncrewed Russian Progress MS-10 cargo spacecraft being launched by a Roscosmos Soyuz rocket from the Baikonur Cosmodrome in Kazakhstan to resupply the station on November 16, 2018. This was the 162nd flight of a Roscosmos Progress spacecraft.

The Progress MS-10 spacecraft delivered 2,564 kg of cargo and supplies to Expedition 57 of the International Space Station (ISS). 

Here is a cargo breakdow:

Dry cargo: 1,330 kg

Fuel: 750 kg

Oxygen: 75 kg

Water: 440 kg

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada.

Credit: NASA, ISS, Riccardo Rossi/Italian Space and Astronautics Association (ISAA)
Duration: 1 minute, 36 seconds
Release Date: Nov. 23, 2018

#NASA #Space #ISS #Science #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #ПрогрессMS10 #ProgressCargoSpacecraft #SoyuzRocketLaunch #Союз #BaikonurCosmodrome #Kazakhstan #Cosmonauts #Astronauts #HumanSpaceflight #UnitedStates #Russia #Россия #Expedition57 #SpaceLaboratory #STEM #Education #HD #Video #ISAA #APoD

China Space Review 2024: Record-Breaking Rocket Launches, Lunar Samples Returned

China Space Review 2024: Record-Breaking Rocket Launches, Lunar Samples Returned

In 2024, China launched a total of 68 carrier rockets, setting a new record. Chang'e 6 brought back the first samples from the far side, south pole of the Moon, and the Shenzhou-19 crew set a new record for spacewalk duration by Chinese astronauts.

Spoiler Alert: Crewed lunar landings are on the way . . .

China's Chang'e-6 lunar probe was launched on May 3, 2024, and carried four international payloads. Its lander-ascender combination touched down at the designated landing area in the South Pole-Aitken (SPA) Basin on June 2, 2024.

The returner of the Chang'e-6 probe touched down safely on Earth, June 25, 2024, in Siziwang Banner, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. It brought back the world's first samples collected from the Moon's far side south polar region. These are critical for a better understanding of the Moon's origin, its geological history, and its interactions with our planet.

In 2020, Chang'e-5 was the first lunar sample-return mission since the Soviet Union's Luna 24 in 1976. The mission made China the third country to return samples from the Moon after the United States and the Soviet Union.

Video Credit: CNSA/CMSA/CMS Group
Duration: 3 minutes, 46 seconds
Release Date: Dec. 29, 2024

#NASA #Space #Science #Earth #China #中国 #Moon #Change6 #嫦娥六号 #LunarSampleReturn  #Shenzhou19 #神舟十九号 #Taikonauts #Astronauts #CSS #ChinaSpaceStation #中国空间站 #TiangongSpaceStation #SpaceLaboratory #CMSA #中国载人航天工程办公室 #CNSA #CLEP #LongDurationMissions #HumanSpaceflight #InternationalCooperation #STEM #Education #HD #Video

SpaceX Dragon Cargo Spacecraft Undocking | International Space Station

SpaceX Dragon Cargo Spacecraft Undocking | International Space Station

This frame from a time-lapse video captured by NASA astronaut Don Pettit shows the thrusters firing on the SpaceX Dragon cargo spacecraft after it undocked and backed away from the International Space Station's forward port on the Harmony module on December 16, 2024. The orbital outpost was soaring 259 miles above the Pacific Ocean west of the Hawaiian island chain at the time of this photograph.

Filled with nearly 6,000 pounds of crew supplies, science investigations, and equipment, the spacecraft arrived to the orbiting laboratory Nov. 5, 2024, after it launched Nov. 4 on a Falcon 9 rocket from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida for the agency’s SpaceX 31st commercial resupply services mission.

NASA's Commercial Cargo Resupply Program:
https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station/commercial-resupply/

Expedition 72 Updates:

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 72 Crew

Station Commander: Suni Williams
Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineers: Alexey Ovchinin, Ivan Vagner, Aleksandr Gorbunov
NASA Flight Engineers: Butch Wilmore, Don Pettit, Nick Hague

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada.

Image Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC)
Image Date: Dec. 16, 2024

#NASA #FoN #Space #Science #ISS #Earth #SpaceX #DragonCargoSpacecraft #CRS31 #CommercialCargoProgram #CommercialSpace #Astronauts #Cosmonauts #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #InternationalCooperation #LongDurationMissions #SpaceLaboratory #HumanSpaceflight #UnitedStates #Expedition72 #STEM #Education

Vivid Green Earth Aurora | International Space Station

Vivid Green Earth Aurora | International Space Station

NASA astronaut and Expedition 72 flight engineer Don Pettit has released this short timelapse video of aurora over Earth. Auroras are produced when the Earth's magnetosphere is sufficiently disturbed by the solar wind that the trajectories of charged particles in solar wind and magnetospheric plasma, mainly in the form of electrons and protons, precipitate them into the upper atmosphere (thermosphere/exosphere) due to Earth's magnetic field, where their energy is lost. The resulting ionization and excitation of atmospheric constituents emits light of varying color and complexity. [Wikipedia]

Solid Colored Aurora

Green is common at the upper latitudes, while red is rare. On the other hand, aurora viewed from lower latitudes tend to be red.

Element Emission Colors

Oxygen: The big player in the aurora is oxygen. Oxygen is responsible for the vivid green (wavelength of 557.7 nm) and also for a deep brownish-red (wavelength of 630.0 nm). Pure green and greenish-yellow aurorae result from the excitation of oxygen.

Nitrogen: Nitrogen emits blue (multiple wavelengths) and red light.

Other Gases: Other gases in the atmosphere become excited and emit light, although the wavelengths may be outside of the range of human vision or else too faint to see. Hydrogen and helium, for example, emit blue and purple. Although our eyes cannot see all of these colors, photographic film and digital cameras often record a broader range of hues.

Aurora Colors According to Altitude

Above 150 miles: red, oxygen

Up to 150 miles: green, oxygen

Above 60 miles: purple or violet, nitrogen

Up to 60 miles: blue, nitrogen

NASA - About Aurora

https://www.nasa.gov/science-research/heliophysics/auroras/

https://pwg.gsfc.nasa.gov/polar/EPO/auroral_poster/aurora_all.pdf

The Colors of the Aurora (National Park Service)
https://www.nps.gov/articles/-articles-aps-v8-i1-c9.htm

Expedition 72 Updates:

https://blogs.nasa.gov/spacestation/

Expedition 72 Crew

Station Commander: Suni Williams
Roscosmos (Russia) Flight Engineers: Alexey Ovchinin, Ivan Vagner, Aleksandr Gorbunov
NASA Flight Engineers: Butch Wilmore, Don Pettit, Nick Hague

An international partnership of space agencies provides and operates the elements of the International Space Station (ISS). The principals are the space agencies of the United States, Russia, Europe, Japan, and Canada.

Image Credit: NASA's Johnson Space Center (JSC)/Don Pettit
Duration: 8 seconds
Release Date: Jan. 6, 2024

#NASA #FoN #Space #Science #ISS #Sun #Earth #Aurora #AstronautPhotography #Astronauts #DonPettit #SuniWilliams #ButchWilmore #NickHague #Russia #Россия #Roscosmos #Роскосмос #InternationalCooperation #LongDurationMissions #SpaceLaboratory #HumanSpaceflight #UnitedStates #Expedition72 #STEM #Education #Timelapse #HD #Video