An astonishing photo taken by an astronaut reveals a unique type of ‘aurora’.
Don Pettit / NASA
Forget about spotting the Great Wall of China from space; that notion has been debunked—unless, of course, you have an astronaut using a high-powered lens. However, one thing that is clearly visible from orbit is the fishing boats of Thailand. Current astronaut aboard the space station, Don Pettit, has recently shared a striking long-exposure photograph capturing the boats' green lights as they streak across the image. The top portion of the photo also features a part of the space station and background star trails.
Referred to as the Thai Aurora, the fishing boats along Thailand's coast use green lights to attract their catch. A stunning view from orbit! pic.twitter.com/xVM3HisSUb — Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) March 4, 2025
Pettit describes this phenomenon as the “Thai aurora,” occurring in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea. The green hue resembles a true aurora, which occurs when solar particles collide with Earth's atmosphere—a spectacle that produces dramatic visuals. As Pettit notes, the so-called Thai aurora results from the bright green lights of fishing boats designed to attract squid.
These lights are engineered to replicate plankton and other food sources favored by squid. Researchers have found that the ideal wavelength for attracting squid falls within the range of 495 to 570 nanometers, corresponding to green light. Recently, energy-efficient green LED lights have replaced older high-powered halide lamps that caused considerable light pollution and consumed more energy.
The green glow visible on the horizon has even become a tourist draw, enticing visitors from far and wide to Thailand's coastal regions. Pettit’s image of the Thai aurora adds to the impressive collection of photographs he has shared since becoming a part of the orbital crew back in September.
One photograph highlighting the high concentration of iron-rich sediments in Madagascar’s Betsiboka River reminded Pettit of “the arteries in your retina,” while another image resembles “flowing silver snakes.” A particularly surreal exposure captures the Cupola module of the space station in a unique light, showcasing bright city lights through its windows.
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An astonishing photo taken by an astronaut reveals a unique type of ‘aurora’.
NASA astronaut Don Pettit has released a stunning image of an unusual type of aurora.