New timelapse footage from orbit
European Space Agency astronaut Sophie Adenot has shared a timelapse video on her social media platforms, showcasing what she describes as the most spectacular aurora observed during the ongoing εpsilon mission. The footage was recorded on the 139th day of the mission, during the spacecraft's 2155th orbit around Earth.
Visual characteristics of the aurora
The video features a broad, bright green ribbon of light sweeping across the high‑latitude regions. Its fluid motion gives the impression of a shimmering curtain moving in space. Adenot notes that the scene was accompanied by carefully selected music to convey the emotional impact she experienced while watching the phenomenon from orbit.
High‑resolution imagery available
In addition to the short video, the astronaut has uploaded high‑definition still images to her Flickr account, where they can be downloaded in full resolution for further analysis or personal use.
Technical context of the observation
The recordings were made during a routine Earth‑overflight, using a camera mounted on the European spacecraft. A combination of low solar activity and favorable magnetospheric conditions produced the unusually clear green auroral display.
Relevance to the εpsilon mission
While the primary objectives of the εpsilon mission focus on scientific experiments in low Earth orbit, observations like this contribute to the study of solar‑wind interactions with Earth's magnetic field. The data may be valuable for geophysicists modeling auroral dynamics.