The question of what the Earth would look like from space has always been a topic of discussion among people. The blue planet, shining in the lap of black space, holds within itself countless colors and mysteries. When an astronaut takes a picture of the Earth from above, it is not just a photo, but becomes a wonderful combination of science, nature and human civilization.
Recently, NASA astronaut Don Petit has shared such a rare and mind-blowing picture from space, which has caught the attention of the whole world. In this single picture, Earth’s shimmering aurora, the lights of glowing cities in winter and the Andromeda galaxy present in distant space are seen together. This is the reason why this picture has become a topic of discussion on social media and among science lovers.
Earth’s celebration seen from space
In this picture shared by Don Petit, the Earth’s horizon looks colorful like a festival. Bathed in waves of green, purple and pink colors, Aurora is seen dancing in the sky. This view seems as if nature itself has spread colors in the sky.
Aurora is actually formed when charged particles coming from the Sun collide with the Earth’s atmosphere. Due to this collision, atmospheric gases sparkle and waves of light are formed in the sky. Usually this sight is seen in the polar regions of the Earth, but seeing it from space is an even different experience.
Shining cities below, dancing lights above
Not only the natural beauty but also the man-made world is clearly visible in the picture. The lights of cities spread over the earth’s surface appear as small glowing clusters. Due to the long winter nights and clear weather, these cities appear even more shining. These artificial lights below and the natural aurora above, together create a unique scene. This shows that both humans and nature illuminate the earth in their own ways.
Glimpse of the Andromeda Galaxy
The most special thing about this picture is that Andromeda Galaxy is also visible in it. Andromeda is the nearest spiral galaxy to our Milky Way Galaxy and is located about 2.5 million light years from Earth. Despite this great distance, Andromeda appears as a faint glow in this picture. It shows how vast the universe is and how small a part we are in it.
Such scenes have been shown before also
Don Pettit humorously called this picture the best holiday lights. This statement makes the time and atmosphere of this picture more special. On one hand, scientific discovery and observation and on the other hand, a festive atmosphere. This picture combines both together. It is very rare that Earth, human civilization and a distant galaxy are seen together in the same picture. This is the reason why this picture is not only beautiful but also scientifically very special. This is not the first time that Don Petit has shared spectacular photos or videos related to Aurora. Even before this, he has posted pictures of sunrise with Aurora and a video of Aurora Australis between Australia and Antarctica. His photographs and videos give people a glimpse of space and increase interest in science.
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