Astronauts aboard the International Space Station (ISS) often share stunning photos and videos of Earth from space, leaving humans on Earth in awe. However, a recent video posted by NASA astronaut Don Petit has sparked a debate online. While most viewers were impressed by the footage, some were sceptical, questioning its authenticity and even suggesting it might have been generated using artificial intelligence. “Flying over aurora; intensely green,” Petit wrote alongside the video. The display is much more striking than what other astronauts have captured before, with the bright lights of Earth's cities also visible in the background. This unusual intensity of the aurora led to doubts about the video's legitimacy. Watch the video: Flying over aurora; intensely green. pic.twitter.com/leUufKFnBB — Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) January 6, 2025 Many claimed that the International Space Station (ISS) couldn’t be that close to Earth and that the footage was doctored. One X user wrote, “Hi, looks like my Eric Clapton Candy Green Strat with those green lasers moving around, just amazing.” Another said, “The aurora's green glow looks unreal from above. Pure magic!” Another X user wrote, “Intensely fake!” while someone else said, “It’s like AI. The Aurora Borealis moves and shifts constantly, not just a static image that flickers.” What is aurora? Auroras are breath-taking natural light displays that occur when charged particles from the sun interact with the gases in Earth’s atmosphere. These particles are often released during solar activity, like magnetic storms. When these phenomena happen near the North Pole, they’re known as aurora borealis or the Northern Lights, while those near the South Pole are called aurora australis or the Southern Lights. But auroras aren't just a feature of Earth. Any planet with a magnetic field and atmosphere can experience these stunning displays.
