Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                2026 July 13
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                             Auroras from Space
   Image Credit: [2]ESA, [3]NASA, [4]ISS Expedition 74; Capture: [5]Sophie
                                   Adenot;
      Music: [6]Circle of Light ([7]Patrick Hawes & [8]Grace Davidson)

   Explanation: What do auroras look like from above? Behold! From the
   ground, [9]auroras dance high [10]above clouds, frequently causing
   [11]spectacular [12]displays. From space, they look a bit different. As
   the [13]International Space Station (ISS) circles the Earth every 90
   minutes, it sometimes sees [14]auroras below that are active on the
   night side. A one-hour time-lapse video showing [15]auroras from above
   was captured about two weeks ago from the orbiting ISS. The [16]ISS --
   and all objects in [17]low Earth orbit -- will pass well above
   [18]green auroras but just a bit above [19]red glowing auroras. The
   auroras' [20]electron and [21]proton streams are too thin to be [22]a
   danger to the ISS, just as [23]clouds pose little danger to airplanes.
   From orbit, as [24]magnetic fields change, auroras can appear to
   squiggle and crawl like giant [25]snakes. The [26]featured one-minute
   video was captured by [27]French astronaut [28]Sophie Adenot of the
   [29]ISS Expedition 74 crew.

      Sky Surprise: [30]What picture did APOD feature on your birthday?
                                (after 1995)
                     Tomorrow's picture: asteroid double
     __________________________________________________________________

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    Authors & editors: [42]Robert Nemiroff ([43]MTU) & [44]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([45]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [46]Specific rights apply.
            [47]NASA Web Privacy, [48]Accessibility, [49]Notices;
                A service of: [50]ASD at [51]NASA / [52]GSFC,
                         [53]NASA Science Activation
                           & [54]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://www.esa.int/
   3. https://www.nasa.gov/
   4. https://www.nasa.gov/mission/expedition-74/
   5. https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Human_and_Robotic_Exploration/Astronauts/Sophie_Adenot
   6. https://www.audionetwork.com/browse/m/track/circle-of-light_106778
   7. https://www.audionetwork.com/browse/m/composer/patrick-hawes_15
   8. https://www.audionetwork.com/browse/m/composer/grace-davidson_821
   9. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120209.html
  10. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap010402.html
  11. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260210.html
  12. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250210.html
  13. https://www.nasa.gov/international-space-station/
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260516.html
  15. https://science.nasa.gov/sun/auroras/
  16. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap161105.html
  17. https://www.nasa.gov/humans-in-space/commercial-space/low-earth-orbit-economy/
  18. https://youtu.be/VtIJG40WKT4
  19. https://assets.iflscience.com/assets/articleNo/70857/iImg/70943/aurora-color-chart-l.webp
  20. https://www.energy.gov/science/doe-explainselectrons
  21. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proton
  22. https://w0.peakpx.com/wallpaper/221/906/HD-wallpaper-scared-cat-funny.jpg
  23. https://www.pilotmall.com/blogs/news/12-types-of-clouds-pilots-must-recognize-12-can-be-deadly
  24. https://pwg.gsfc.nasa.gov/Education/Imagnet.html
  25. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/A9xCwRBdtx4
  26. https://www.esa.int/ESA_Multimedia/Videos/2026/07
  27. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/France
  28. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sophie_Adenot
  29. https://www.nasa.gov/mission/expedition-74/
  30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  31. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260712.html
  32. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  33. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  34. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  35. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  36. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  37. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  38. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  39. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  40. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260713
  41. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260714.html
  42. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/department/faculty/nemiroff/
  43. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/
  44. https://inspirehep.net/authors/1073087
  45. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  46. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  47. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  48. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  49. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  50. https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/astrophysics/
  51. https://www.nasa.gov/
  52. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  53. https://science.nasa.gov/learn/about-science-activation/
  54. http://www.mtu.edu/