NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick shared an awe-inspiring timelapse video of red and green auroras captured from his vantage point aboard the Dragon Endeavor spacecraft, leaving viewers around the world mesmerized by the beauty of the phenomenon. The auroras were filmed on October 8, showcasing a vibrant display of natural light in the sky caused by solar activity interacting with Earth’s atmosphere.
Auroras, often referred to as the “Northern Lights” or “Southern Lights” depending on their location, occur when charged particles from the sun collide with gases in Earth’s atmosphere, producing stunning waves of color. The recent solar activity amplified the intensity of the auroras, resulting in an extraordinary sight from space.
In a post shared on the social media platform X, Dominick described the breathtaking moment as he gazed out of Dragon Endeavor’s window: “Red and green aurora appear to dance in a timelapse as we flyby looking out Dragon Endeavour’s window with Dragon Freedom in view.” The spacecraft was docked at the International Space Station (ISS) at the time, offering a unique perspective of the light show from orbit.
Dominick revealed that the incredible footage was captured while the crew waited to undock from the ISS. Due to the arrival of the Crew-9 mission, he had moved out of his ISS crew quarters to make space for the newcomers and was temporarily living in the Dragon Endeavor. Reflecting on his current living arrangements, he shared: “When Crew-9 arrived, I moved out of my crew quarters on the ISS to make room. I now sleep in Dragon Endeavor while we wait to undock. We take most of our images from the cupola, but sleeping here has been amazing.”
Along with the timelapse video, Dominick posted a single frame shot of the auroras, giving viewers a glimpse of the ethereal beauty of the red and green lights streaming by the spacecraft. He shared his excitement over the experience, noting how close the crew came to missing it: “This is the view out the window this evening. I miss my family and friends, but we would have missed today’s insane aurora if we had undocked today.”
To capture the perfect shots of the auroras, Dominick and his team dedicated hours of work across multiple orbital nights. “We shot a couple of thousand images yesterday trying to get the settings, lighting, and framing just right because the aurora was amazing due to recent solar activity,” he explained.
The timelapse video and images left viewers across the globe captivated. Many marveled at the sheer beauty of the natural light display, while others reflected on the rare perspective of witnessing such a spectacle from space. The video became an instant sensation online, with Dominick’s post receiving widespread appreciation from space enthusiasts and casual viewers alike.
As NASA and SpaceX continue to monitor conditions on Earth due to Hurricane Milton, Dominick and his fellow astronauts on the Crew-8 mission will remain aboard the ISS for a few more days before returning home. Their departure was originally scheduled for October 7 but was delayed as the hurricane is on a direct path toward Florida, where the crew planned to splash down. NASA expects the crew to undock and return by Sunday, October 13, if weather conditions permit.
For now, Dominick and his team continue to make the most of their extended stay, capturing more stunning visuals and sharing their extraordinary experiences with the world.
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