Latest news with #Ayers
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Behind the camera: Astronauts talk with students from space station
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Nichole Ayers with NASA and Takuya Onishi with the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), both Expedition 53 crewmates, are seen on board the International Space Station broadcasting their answers to students questions about life on orbit. How do astronauts record their frequent video conversations with children and others on the ground? This photo, taken by an unidentified crew member aboard the International Space Station reveals the May 20, 2025, Ayers and Onishi replied to questions submitted by students from schools in New York and Ohio. In this photo, they are shown during the first session, fielding the pre-recorded queries from Long Beach Middle School in Lido Beach. As is often used for such video sessions, Ayers and Onishi are set up in the International Space Station's Kibo laboratory, JAXA's primary contribution to the orbiting complex and its largest science International Space Station orbits Earth at about 260 miles (420 kilometers) above the planet. Besides being a rare behind-the-scenes view of a regular activity aboard the space station, this photo also answers a question that one of the students may have asked that day. If astronauts are in microgravity aboard the space station, how do they stand still and upright during a long Q&A session on camera? Look carefully at Ayers' and Onishi's feet and you can see they are hooked under a blue metal bar positioned there for just such a reason. If you look along the lower wall closer to the camera, you can also see foot restraints for when astronauts are working with the science racks. While astronauts have demonstrated being able to "stand" without such tools, every motion they make can start them slowly tumbling or spinning in place. You can read more about the activities aboard the International Space Station and you can watch astronauts demonstrate the effects of motion in microgravity.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
You've Never Seen the Northern Lights Like This—Astronauts Share Incredible View From Space
Experiencing the northern lights is on many travelers' bucket lists. But a NASA astronaut recently scored the ultimate encounter when she captured a unique view of the natural phenomenon from the International Space Station (ISS). On May 23, Nichole Ayers shared a video showing the aurora borealis spanning the Earth's poles. "The Aurora showed up this last weekend when I wasn't expecting it!" she wrote on X. "I was trying to capture the massive storms that went through both North and South America and got a nice surprise." Ayers headed to the ISS from Florida in March as part of NASA's Crew-10 mission with SpaceX. The northern lights are created when charged particles from the sun interact with gas molecules like oxygen and nitrogen in the Earth's atmosphere. These collisions create vibrant colors known as the northern lights. Ayers said the lights appeared around sunset over the northern U.S. and Canada. In April, Ayers shared a spectacular time-lapse video of her view from ISS. "Tried my hand at a few aurora time-lapses, and they aren't too bad! Working on exposures still but happy with the first attempt," she wrote on X. "We have the most amazing view, and I hope to share it with you! For those of us on Earth, you might have a chance to see the northern lights tonight and tomorrow. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), they will be most visible across Canada and Alaska, with a lower likelihood forecast for parts of northeastern Washington, northern Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, northern Minnesota, Upper Michigan, and northern Wisconsin. Areas in Wyoming, South Dakota, northern Iowa, New York, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine may also get a glimpse of the phenomenon. The agency says that the best time to view the northern lights is between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. local time, adding that the best aurora is usually within an hour or two of midnight. Read the original article on Martha Stewart
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
NASA Astronaut Unexpectedly Captures a Stunning Video of the Northern Lights from Space
Nichole Ayers unexpectedly captured a video of the northern lights from space The NASA astronaut shared her footage on X, explaining that she "wasn't expecting it" when she filmed and got a "nice surprise" as a result The clip featured a beautiful pan of the phenomenon that dazzled in shares of blues, greens, oranges and reds around Earth in spaceNichole Ayers was among the stars. The NASA astronaut shared a stunning shot of the northern lights from space in a video posted on X on Friday, May 23, explaining how she captured the dazzling display of the aurora borealis unexpectedly. "The Aurora showed up this last weekend when I wasn't expecting it! I was trying to capture the massive storms that went through both North and South America and got a nice surprise. The Aurora appeared right at sunset over the Northern US and Canada," Ayers wrote on X. Related: Are Solar Storms Dangerous to Humans on Earth? About the Effects, Including Possible Communication Disruption "I'm also fascinated by just how many satellites are orbiting the Earth at any given moment. There's so much to share with you all!" she concluded her caption alongside the video. Ayer's clip featured a mesmerizing pan of Earth from space, twinkling with lights and colors that perfectly contrasted the dark surroundings in the galaxy. The auroras radiated shades of greens, blues and purples — and towards the end of the video, hues of reds and oranges appeared. According to her NASA bio, Ayers, a Colorado native, was selected by the space organization to join the 2021 Astronaut Candidate Class before reporting for duty in January 2022. Ayers has flown missions both nationally and globally as an instructor in both the T-38A and F-22 Raptor since she graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs in 2011 and a master's degree from Rice University in Houston. On March 14, Ayers embarked on her first spaceflight. She launched as pilot of NASA's SpaceX Crew-10 mission to conduct research, technology demonstrations and maintenance activities aboard the microgravity laboratory, per her bio. Related: How to Watch the Northern Lights Display from These Select States Tonight The northern lights have been visible from various parts of the United States in recent months. They form when solar activity, like solar flares or coronal mass ejections (CME), causes magnetic storms. When the storms occur, they trigger interactions between the Earth's magnetic field and charged particles from the sun. Then, a display of beautiful and often vibrant colors results and lights up the night sky. The intensity and location of these storms impact the colors produced. The planetary K index or Kp, which ranges from 0 to 9, measures geomagnetic activity. Related: Northern Lights Illuminate Skies in Rare Showings Across the Country — See the Breathtaking Photos! While the northern lights have been visible from several states across the United States in recent months, October 2024 had a memorable display due to the rare auroras' appearance in states that don't typically see them. The northern lights illuminated night skies across the eastern and southern parts of the country. Stunning purple, pink and green skies were seen in New Jersey, New York, Maine, Connecticut, Virginia, Wisconsin and Washington, D.C. Read the original article on People
Time of India
6 days ago
- Science
- Time of India
NASA astronaut captures rare Northern Lights aurora display over North America from the International Space Station
Source: X A recent celestial display left both Earthbound viewers and astronauts aboard the International Space Station in awe, as the Northern Lights lit up the skies over parts of the United States and Canada according to the ET reports. Captured by NASA astronaut Nichole Ayers , the aurora appeared unexpectedly while she was photographing severe storms on Earth. The stunning green and purple lights were triggered by heightened geomagnetic activity, with the NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center reporting a Kp index of 6. This level of intensity not only enhanced visibility from space but also offered a breathtaking natural spectacle across much of the Northern Hemisphere. NASA astronaut captures glimpse of northern lights over North America Ayers subsequently posted the video online, showing colorful green and purple waves of aurorae swooshing through the top part of the atmosphere over much of the northern United States and Canada. "The Aurora appeared this past weekend when I didn't anticipate it!" Ayers posted. "I was attempting to catch the huge storms that moved through both North and South America and had a pleasant surprise." — Astro_Ayers (@Astro_Ayers) by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Tabletă 2 în 1 Ultraportabilă - Reducere Explozivă Azi! LYH Cumpără acum Undo The aurora occurred at local sunset times in the Northern Hemisphere and could be seen both from space and on Earth in parts of the US and Canada. The NOAA Space Weather Prediction Center (SWPC) said the activity in the aurora was caused by high geomagnetic conditions, with the Kp index, a system for measuring the strength of geomagnetic storms reaching a level 6 out of a maximum of 9. A Kp index at this level tends to produce brighter and more extensive auroral activity, increasing visibility from Earth and low-Earth orbit. Ayers captures Earth's beauty while contributing to science Since her landing on the ISS in March 2025 as a member of NASA's Crew-10 mission aboard SpaceX, Ayers has posted regular time-lapse footage and Earth photography, providing both scientific information and visual magic. One of her earlier posts in April also recorded aurora activity while in orbit, showing how common and large such displays can be under good solar conditions. In a recent blog, Ayers commented on the double nature of her imagery: scientific usefulness and aesthetic beauty. "We see beauty, while scientists see data," she wrote. "These pictures can help researchers get the information they need." Ayers also discussed her filming of geological landforms, such as a flyby of Italy's Mt. Etna volcano, which is currently active. Observing the clear absence of city lights surrounding the active volcano, Ayers explained how she knew the landmark at once. "I knew right away where we were because of the absence of lights where the volcano is." What causes the northern lights Aurora borealis , or northern lights, are a result of the interaction between streams of charged particles that are emitted by the Sun, referred to as solar wind, and Earth's magnetosphere. The particles spiral down magnetic field lines towards the poles and collide with atoms in the upper atmosphere, specifically oxygen and nitrogen. These impacts eject photons, creating the aurora's characteristic glow. Green and red light are emitted by oxygen, while nitrogen adds purples and blues, yielding an active spectrum of color in the sky. Also Read | How big is the universe? Discover what scientists have uncovered beyond Pluto
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Science
- Yahoo
Northern Lights show surprises NASA astronaut on ISS
A Nasa astronaut on the International Space Station was recently surprised by a beautiful display of the Northern Lights while trying to photograph active storms on Earth. Astronaut Nichole Ayers shared the video above showing aurora lights dancing over the Earth's poles on May 23. "The Aurora showed up this last weekend when I wasn't expecting it!" Ayers wrote on X. "I was trying to capture the massive storms that went through both North and South America and got a nice surprise." The astronaut said the aurora lights appeared around sunset over the northern U.S. and Canada. Under the right space weather conditions, people on Earth in those areas could have seen the lights, too. At the time of the aurora lights, NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center issued a Geomagnetic Storm Warning with KP levels forecast to reach 6 out of 9. Vivid Northern Lights are created when energized particles from the Sun interact with oxygen and nitrogen in Earth's magnetic field. During these space weather reactions, different molecules create different colors of light. Ayers launched to the ISS from Florida in March as part of NASA's Crew-10 mission with SpaceX. Since arriving at the station this spring, Ayers has enjoyed sharing amazing views of the Earth from space. One of her first time-lapse videos included this display of aurora lights in late article source: Northern Lights show surprises NASA astronaut on ISS
