Two weeks ago, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) issued an alert about a massive geomagnetic solar storm that commenced on August 11, leading to a breathtaking display of auroras. This natural phenomenon, fueled by a series of coronal mass ejections (CMEs), lit up the skies for over 48 hours and could be seen as far south as Alabama and Northern California. Among those who captured this incredible light show were NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick and commercial airline pilot Scott Bateman, each from vastly different vantage points. Dominick, aboard the International Space Station, took stunning photos of the aurora with the moon visible behind a supply craft and the Soyuz spacecraft set against a backdrop of bright green auroras. His images quickly gained popularity online, showcasing the awe-inspiring beauty of Earth from space.
On the other hand, pilot Scott Bateman had a unique perspective from within Earth’s atmosphere as he flew a long-haul route in an Airbus A350-1000. As he soared at 39,000 feet above the planet, Bateman witnessed the auroras unfold in vivid detail, capturing the scene on his iPhone 15 without any editing or filters. Describing the experience as “spectacular,” Bateman noted that the light show began as his flight passed over Chicago and continued until dawn over Ireland, where the auroras shifted to stunning purples. His close-up view from the cockpit provided an extraordinary, real-time connection to the same natural event that Dominick observed from orbit, highlighting the incredible beauty and power of our planet’s interactions with solar activity.
