In a captivating photo posted by the International Space Station, a radiant golden glow known as the night glow or airglow is depicted, which results from the interaction of sunlight with the particles and molecules of the Earth’s atmosphere. The image, shared by NASA last month in January, shows a luminous golden arc encircling the Earth, surrounded by a reddish-brown band against the star-studded sky.
The photo was captured at an altitude of 415 kilometers from the International Space Station as it passed over the Pacific Ocean northeast of Papua New Guinea, revealing the phenomenon of night glow in the upper layers of the Earth’s atmosphere. The Swedish physicist, Anders Angstrom, was the first to identify this phenomenon in 1868.
Night glow occurs when the molecules of nitrogen, oxygen, sodium, and ozone in the upper atmosphere become active due to ultraviolet radiation from the sun. When these molecules collide, they emit a glowing light appearing in this halo.
The image also shows elements of the International Space Station, such as the “Pirs” docking unit and the “NAUCA” multipurpose laboratory module on the left side of the image. These units, belonging to the Russian space agency “Roscosmos,” work to enhance the space station’s capabilities by periodically replenishing its fuel supply.
The International Space Station travels at high speeds of approximately 8 kilometers per second, completes an orbit around the Earth every 90 minutes, and experiences 16 sunrises and sunsets in a single day.
