Video Thursday – Auroras

The Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, shines above Bear Lake, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. (Photo Wikimedia Commons)

One sees lots of strange sights flying at night, but one of the most beautiful and mysterious displays are the polar auroras.  Aurora Borealis in the northern latitudes and Aurora Australis in the southern latitudes.  Aurora is the Roman goddess of dawn. Borealis is Greek for the North Wind and of course Australis implies Australia  in the south. As our days grow shorter and the nights longer, the cool and clear nights will make for wonderful viewing of our skies. Though in South Carolina auroras are seldom seen, our scouts who camp on the Yorktown at Patriots Point are able to make observations during astronomy classes and learn the names of stars and constellations.  Watch below the amazing videos and the last two are of the southern lights from the International Space Station!

Video from Eagle Scout/Astronaut Mike E. Fossum from aboard the International Space Station as commander of Expedition 29, showing the Aurora Australis or Southern Lights.