When your thoughts aren't the only thing swirling around at night This swirling aurora australis was captured from the ISS in June 2025. It illuminated the skies just off the coast of New Zealand. You might have heard the term “aurora borealis” before. The difference between an aurora borealis and an aurora australis is location. Both are caused by energetic solar wind hitting Earth’s magnetic field and dissipating into a colorful light show. Aurora borealis is the name of this phenomenon when it occurs in Earth’s Northern Hemisphere, and it's known as aurora australis when it takes place in the Southern Hemisphere. Image description: A swirling, green aurora dominates the image against the dark backdrop of Earth and black space, with stars barely visible. The aurora glows bright, illuminating the misty clouds below it. Credit: NASA #NASA #Space #SpaceStation #Aurora #SouthernLights