--- title: "Space Station Astronaut Captures Incredible Photo of Solar Flare Hitting Earth" description: "ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet was able to follow along with this year's super intense solar storm from the ISS, taking pictures of breathtaking auroras." date: "2021-11-08" modified: "2021-11-08" authors: - name: "Victor Tangermann" job_title: "Senior Editor" link: "https://futurism.com/authors/victor" url: "https://futurism.com/the-byte/astronaut-photo-solar-flare-hitting-earth" categories: - "Energy" - "Off-World" - "Renewable Energy" - "Science & Energy" - "Solar Power" - "Space" tags: - "auroras" - "iss" - "northern lights" - "the digest" --- # Space Station Astronaut Captures Incredible Photo of Solar Flare Hitting Earth ![ESA astronaut Thomas Pesquet was able to follow along with this year's super intense solar storm from the ISS, taking pictures of breathtaking auroras.]() *\Image: Thomas Pesquet / ESA\* ## Strongest Auroras European Space Agency astronaut Thomas Pesquet was able to spot this year's super intense solar storm from the International Space Station — and snap at least one beautiful photo. The rare event saw our planet's atmosphere bombarded with the Sun's highly charged particles as it enters a particularly active part of its solar cycle. The space weather also triggers some gorgeous natural phenomena, visible from both the ground and orbit. "We were treated to the strongest auroras of the entire mission, over north America and Canada," Pesquet tweeted, accompanied by a breathtaking picture of the northern lights from above. "Amazing spikes higher than our orbit, and we flew right above the center of the ring, rapid waves and pulses all over." https://twitter.com/Thom_astro/status/1457104662683955202 ## All of the Lights Auroras are the result of the Sun's incoming particles becoming trapped in the Earth's magnetosphere, the oblong magnetic shield surrounding our planet. Some of these rays [make it through and collide]() with atoms in the Earth's upper atmosphere, releasing energy in the form of light. In sum, billions of these collisions result in auroras, as seen in Pesquet's picture. This fall, the Sun's activity has reached a fever pitch, a period [also known as the solar maximum](), during its 11-year cycle. This stretch sees the most activity, making auroras all the more [likely to occur](). It's a dazzling show that's so large and dazzling that it can be spotted by nature enthusiasts on the ground and in the sky alike — a reminder, if nothing else, of the size and power of our precious atmosphere. **READ MORE:** [Space station astronaut captures unbelievable view of fiery Earth auroras]() \[*CNET*\] **More on auroras:** *[The Sun Just Blasted the Earth With an Enormous Solar Flare]()* ## Author I've been at Futurism since 2017, where my role has evolved to encompass design, writing, and increasingly editing. I've always been fascinated by space exploration and advanced transportation, which I've leaned into by interviewing luminaries in those fields while closely following the dimensions of policy and regulation that allow next-generation projects to succeed -- or, sometimes, to fail. I'm also keenly interested in the effects of generative AI on society, policies, and democratic institutions, as well as clean energy, physics and biology, and the vagaries of tech leadership. My work for Futurism has been cited by publications including Ars Technica, Gizmodo, PC Magazine, Jalopnik, Fox News, and the New York Post. I spent my childhood living in locations including Manila, the Philippines, and Geneva, Switzerland, attended McGill University, and now live in Toronto, Canada. Before Futurism I worked at AskMen and a small photography studio. In my free time, I'm an avid gardener, foodie, and craft beer lover, as well as a maker of artisanal hot pepper sauces. I have a magnificent dog named Freida. ### Author social links [Bluesky]()