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.

      Not too long ago, Trevor relocated from one tea-loving island nation that drives on the left (Britain) to another (Japan)…

      This is the most fascinating camera lens swap you’ll ever witness.

      Don Pettit has been at it again. Not satisfied with mesmerizing people on Earth with incredible photos taken from his current residence aboard the International Space Station (ISS), the NASA astronaut has now offered a behind-the-scenes look at the most impressive lens switch you’ve ever seen.

      Read more

      This rocket-launch photo is unlike any you’ve encountered before.

      Blue Origin launched its New Glenn heavy-lift rocket for the first time last week, prompting news outlets and social media platforms to quickly share dramatic images of the 98-meter-tall rocket ascending into the sky. Simultaneously, NASA astronaut Don Pettit captured the launch with a long exposure from the International Space Station (ISS), located about 250 miles above Earth. The outcome is a unique rocket-launch photograph that stands apart from any you've seen before.

      Read more

      An astronaut’s latest captivating photo features so much detail.

      NASA astronaut Don Pettit has been busy with his camera again. The talented photographer recently shared another breathtaking image, this time taken from the window of a Crew Dragon spacecraft docked at the International Space Station (ISS).

      “One photo includes: Milky Way, Zodiacal light, Starlink satellites appearing as streaks, stars as pinpoints, the atmosphere at the edge showcasing OH emissions in burned umber (my favorite Crayon color), the soon-to-rise sun, and cities at night as streaks,” Pettit noted in a post accompanying the photo.

      Read more.