New Delhi (Staff Correspondent): As soon as the mention of Northern Lights i.e. ‘Aurora Borealis’ comes to mind, one starts imagining snowy mountains and green-blue lights waving in the dark sky. Photos and videos of these amazing views from places like Norway, Iceland, Canada often go viral on social media. But this time this view has been shared not from the ground, but from space – and the view is really staggering.
NASA astronaut Colonel Anne McClain recently shared a video of the Northern Lights from SpaceX’s Dragon spacecraft orbiting the Earth which is thrilling people. This view is not a common aurora as we see from Earth, but like a green, neon-colored ribbon stretched along the curve of the Earth.
McClain shared the video on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), writing, “The aurora from space always draws crew members to the Cupola. I loved how it lit up our dragon… I’ve added traveling to see the aurora from Earth to my bucket list!”
His post quickly went viral, garnering over 37,000 likes. It has once again sparked people’s desire to see the Northern Lights – whether from space or Earth.
Auroras from space always draw crewmembers to the Cupola. I love how this one illuminated our Dragon, and I also love the dance of satellites on the left in the latter part of the video. It’s interesting how the aurora creeps along the top of the atmosphere as it comes up over… pic.twitter.com/4FGu5n0LpN
— COL Anne McClain (@AstroAnnimal) June 2, 2025
The best places on Earth to see the aurora
If you too want to see this celestial wonder with your own eyes, then definitely add these places to your travel list:
- Tromso, Norway
This city above the Arctic Circle is called the “Capital of the Aurora”. From September to March, the clear skies and snow-covered landscapes here are perfect for aurora.
- Iceland
Amid waterfalls, glaciers and volcanoes, head out of Reykjavik to areas like Vik or Thingvellir National Park, where the darkness of the night lets you witness the magic of the northern lights.
- Lapland, Finland
It is a dreamlike experience to lie in one of the famous glass igloos here and watch the lights dance across the sky. This place is especially popular among couples and adventure seekers.
- Abisko, Sweden
This small village is considered ideal for viewing the aurora due to its dry weather and clear skies. The microclimate here makes this experience even more special.
- Yukon and Northwest Territories, Canada
This region is far from light pollution and extremely quiet, where the aurora can be seen in complete peace and depth. Whitehorse and Yellowknife are the top destinations here.
- Fairbanks, Alaska
The best option to see the northern lights while in the US. The long, cold and dark nights here are perfect for viewing the aurora.
Maybe from space in the future!
Although most of us will never be able to experience the aurora from space right now, Colonel McClain’s video proves just how spectacular the view of Earth from space can be. And until that dream comes true, traveling to these magical places on Earth and enjoying this celestial show can be a memorable experience.
