STS039-342-28
| NASA Photo ID | STS039-342-28 |
| Focal Length | 35mm |
| Date taken | 1991.__.__ |
| Time taken | GMT |
Resolutions offered for this image:
540 x 355 pixels 1782 x 1173 pixels 640 x 480 pixels 1782 x 1173 pixels 400 x 263 pixels
540 x 355 pixels 1782 x 1173 pixels 640 x 480 pixels 1782 x 1173 pixels 400 x 263 pixels
Cloud masks available for this image:
Spacecraft nadir point:
Photo center point:
Photo center point by machine learning:
Photo center point:
Photo center point by machine learning:
Nadir to Photo Center:
Spacecraft Altitude: nautical miles (0km)
Country or Geographic Name: | AURORA |
Features: | AUSTRALIS-RED/GREEN PROM |
| Features Found Using Machine Learning: | |
Cloud Cover Percentage: | |
Sun Elevation Angle: | ° |
Sun Azimuth: | ° |
Camera: | Nikon 35mm film camera |
Focal Length: | 35mm |
Camera Tilt: | High Oblique |
Format: | 5030: Kodak, natural color negative, Ektapress 5030, ASA 1600,standard base |
Film Exposure: | Normal |
| Additional Information | |
| Width | Height | Annotated | Cropped | Purpose | Links |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 540 pixels | 355 pixels | No | Yes | Earth From Space collection | Download Image |
| 1782 pixels | 1173 pixels | No | Yes | NASA's Earth Observatory web site | Download Image |
| 640 pixels | 480 pixels | No | No | ISD 1 | Download Image |
| 1782 pixels | 1173 pixels | No | No | Download Image | |
| 400 pixels | 263 pixels | No | No | Photographic Highlights | Download Image |
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Image Caption: Red and green colors predominate in this view of the Aurora Australis photographed from the Space Shuttle in May 1991 at the peak of the last geomagnetic maximum. The payload bay and tail of the Shuttle can be seen on the left hand side of the picture. Auroras are caused when high-energy electrons pour down from the Earth's magnetosphere and collide with atoms. Red aurora occurs from 200 km to as high as 500 km altitude and is caused by the emission of 6300 Angstrom wavelength light from oxygen atoms. Green aurora occurs from about 100 km to 250 km altitude and is caused by the emission of 5577 Angstrom wavelength light from oxygen atoms. The light is emitted when the atoms return to their original unexcited state.
At times of peaks in solar activity, there are more geomagnetic storms and this increases the auroral activity viewed on Earth and by astronauts from orbit. Photographing them requires careful technique with long exposures and fast film (in this case ASA 1600). Such film can only be used on short-duration Shuttle flights and not from the Space Station because it is sensitive to radiation damage in orbit over time. The most recent astronaut photograph of aurora was taken before the April 2001 flurry of solar activity, and showed only a relatively low-energy green glow.
At times of peaks in solar activity, there are more geomagnetic storms and this increases the auroral activity viewed on Earth and by astronauts from orbit. Photographing them requires careful technique with long exposures and fast film (in this case ASA 1600). Such film can only be used on short-duration Shuttle flights and not from the Space Station because it is sensitive to radiation damage in orbit over time. The most recent astronaut photograph of aurora was taken before the April 2001 flurry of solar activity, and showed only a relatively low-energy green glow.
