Watch: Southern Lights timelapse filmed from space
Watch: Southern Lights timelapse filmed from space – A time-lapse of the Southern Lights has been recorded from orbit by NASA astronaut Jessica Meir during her mission aboard the SpaceX Dragon spacecraft. These luminous auroras, which occur near Earth’s poles, are as frequent as their northern counterparts but remain less recognized due to the sparse population in regions near the South Pole. The phenomenon arises when charged solar particles are directed toward the poles by the planet’s magnetic field, colliding with atmospheric gases to produce dazzling displays of light.
“Shaking as I filmed the encounter, it was a moment I’ll never forget,” said a volunteer diver who recently captured footage of an endangered Great White shark in the waters between Tunisia and Sicily.
Meanwhile, a Blue Origin New Glenn rocket exploded on a Florida launch pad on Thursday night, marking a setback for the company’s space program. In a separate event, the 98-meter-tall Space Launch System (SLS) and Orion spacecraft traveled four miles from their assembly facility to Pad 39B at the Kennedy Space Center. The Artemis II mission also saw a significant moment as the capsule’s hatch was unlocked, welcoming the crew back to Earth after a space journey.
Wildlife enthusiasts celebrated rare sightings, including Steve Backshall’s documentation of two of the UK’s last surviving orcas, which he called one of his “greatest British wildlife moments.” Earlier, a video message from Buckingham Palace featured a collaboration between the monarchy and nature, with a gesture to honor Sir David Attenborough’s birthday.
Global landmarks joined in a dark hour on Saturday, with France’s Eiffel Tower and Barcelona’s Sagrada Família Basilica among those turning off lights. In another notable event, Tenerife experienced snowfall as Storm Therese swept through the Canary Islands, showcasing nature’s unpredictable power.
Environmental Insights and Urban Spaces
Baroness Kathy Willis emphasized the role of green and blue spaces in urban environments, highlighting their importance for city dwellers. Meanwhile, scientists study ice cores to unlock an environmental history spanning over a million years, offering clues about climate change. The Met Office recently issued yellow severe weather warnings for wind and rain, urging preparedness across the UK.
A BBC science correspondent explored the challenges of space medicine, addressing what occurs when an astronaut falls ill in orbit. In a different angle, London Zoo held its annual animal weigh-in, where over 10,000 creatures were assessed to track their health and well-being.
President Trump proposed wind power as a potential cause for the UK’s rising energy costs, a claim scrutinized by BBC Verify’s Ben Chu. Separately, an animal rights pioneer passed away at 91 after a groundbreaking career dedicated to studying chimpanzees. These diverse events reflect the intersection of science, nature, and human activity across the globe.
