Space station meets aurora in this stunning time-lapse video

During his final days aboard the International Space Station (ISS), NASA astronaut Don Pettit has shared a mesmerizing time-lapse video showcasing the orbital outpost as it flies above cities at night and passes over a breathtaking aurora shimmering in the darkness.

Changes in attitude, changes in latitude: @Space_Station We rotated 180 degrees and flew backwards for yesterday’s Soyuz docking. This is a bit long but keep watching for the surprise in the middle. pic.twitter.com/UDEp8zKDwE

— Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) April 9, 2025

“Changes in attitude, changes in latitude at the ISS,” Pettit wrote in the post. “We rotated 180 degrees and flew backwards for yesterday’s Soyuz docking. This is a bit long but keep watching for the surprise in the middle.”

The surprise is the incredible aurora, a striking display of green light caused by charged particles from the sun interacting with Earth’s magnetic field and atmosphere. The intensity of this aurora display is truly remarkable and captivating.

The Soyuz spacecraft mentioned by Pettit arrived on Tuesday with NASA astronaut Jonny Kim and Russian cosmonauts Sergey Ryzhikov and Alexey Zubritsky. They will be staying aboard the space station for approximately eight months before returning to Earth in December.

Pettit’s mission began in September of the previous year and is expected to conclude sometime this month.

Throughout his time in space, Pettit, NASA’s oldest serving astronaut at 69 years old, has shared a plethora of stunning images and videos that have amazed people on Earth.

One particularly remarkable image captures the Betsiboka River estuary in Madagascar, resembling “the arteries in your retina,” according to Pettit. Another image showcases the Milky Way and Starlink satellites, among other celestial features.

Displaying his creativity, the astronaut recently shared a photo featuring an “Earthly eyeball” captured through the seven windows of the station’s Cupola module.

In a previous interview from the station, Pettit provided insights into his space photography techniques, explaining how he captures his impressive shots and why he finds it so fulfilling.