Stunning ISS Footage Shows Aurora Borealis Dancing Over North America

The International Space Station captured mid-November footage of the aurora borealis moving over North America, offering a rare orbital view of the northern lights. NASA astronaut Zena Cardman shared the clip and called auroras “a frequent show” from orbit, noting last week’s display was particularly strong. She encouraged viewers to look for Houston and Florida in the same frame before the ISS crossed the Gulf and recorded lightning over South America at sunrise.

11:25 AM, 11/22/2025Science

Stunning ISS Footage Shows Aurora Borealis Dancing Over North America

Spectacular footage captured in mid-November from the International Space Station shows the aurora borealis sweeping across the night sky above North America. The ISS, traveling southward over the continent, provided a rare orbital perspective of the glowing curtains of light as they danced along the horizon.

“I’ve still never seen aurora from below, but up here, it’s a frequent show,” NASA astronaut Zena Cardman wrote on social media. “Last week’s was especially good.”

Cardman noted that viewers can try to spot Houston and parts of Florida in the same frame before the station crossed the Gulf of Mexico and captured dramatic lightning storms over South America at sunrise.

Auroras arise when charged particles from the Sun collide with gases in Earth’s upper atmosphere, producing vivid colors and large-scale structures near the polar regions. From orbit the display can stretch across thousands of miles, offering a broader view than ground-based observers typically see.

Watch closely to see shifting colors and motion as the ISS moves—this clip is a striking reminder of how dynamic our planet’s upper atmosphere can be.

Stunning ISS Footage Shows Aurora Borealis Dancing Over North America

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