In an extraordinary display of celestial beauty, our moody sun has been unleashing powerful solar flares, resulting in captivating auroras that have graced the skies of Earth. While people on the ground have been mesmerized by the stunning light shows, astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) have been treated to an even more breathtaking spectacle from their unique vantage point in space.

NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick recently shared an enchanting timelapse video of the moon setting into a mesmerizing red and green aurora. The video, posted on August 12, captures parts of the ISS as well as a docked Russian Soyuz capsule bathed in blue light during a picturesque sunrise following the moonset. The ISS's rapid motion allows its inhabitants to witness an astounding 16 sunrises and sunsets each day, providing them with numerous opportunities to observe both moonrises and moonsets. In the timelapse, the moon appears as a radiant dot descending toward Earth.

Dominick's passion for photography is evident in his numerous captures of vibrant auroras dancing gracefully through the atmosphere. He expressed his excitement in a tweet, stating, "The aurora have been amazing the past few days... Great timing for trying out a new lens that recently arrived on Cygnus." Cygnus, a cargo ship that delivered 8,200 pounds of supplies, including new camera lenses, to the ISS on August 6, has enabled Dominick to further explore his photographic talents in space.

The ISS has a rich history of skilled photographers, and Dominick continues this legacy as he captures stunning images from his celestial home. He embarked on his journey to the ISS as commander of the SpaceX Crew-8 mission in March and is currently scheduled for a six-month stay in space.

Dominick has also provided a glimpse into his photographic process in microgravity by sharing a timelapse video oriented with Earth at the bottom of the frame. However, he clarified that this orientation does not reflect how ISS astronauts experience their surroundings. In a series of tweets on August 11, he demonstrated how the view appears when looking out of the ISS's cupola, a multi-window lookout spot where astronauts can observe the planet. He explained, "I normally rotate the images 180 degrees before posting them online since that appears more natural if you haven't been hanging out in the cupola... I guess I forgot this time perhaps because I have grown accustomed to the 'upside down' orientation."

The sun's activity has been at an all-time high, releasing powerful solar flares and coronal mass ejections that expel large amounts of solar material. These phenomena pose potential risks to spacecraft and astronauts, as warned by NASA in an August 8 notification about an intense solar flare. However, these solar events also contribute to the creation of the stunning auroras that feature prominently in Dominick's photographic masterpieces.

For those who cannot get enough of the ISS's breathtaking views, NASA's Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth offers an opportunity to explore, search for, and download images captured by astronauts. Alternatively, following Dominick's photographic journey provides a unique perspective of our world through the eyes of a space-dwelling artist with an exceptional talent for capturing celestial beauty.