'Intensely Fake': NASA astronaut's recent aurora video from space sparks authenticity debate online

Aurora From Space (Image: @astro_Pettit/X)

NASA astronaut Don Pettit has shared a mesmerising video showcasing vibrant green auroras seen from the International Space Station (ISS). The clip, shared on January 6 via X, left viewers in awe and stirred debates about its authenticity.

Aurora Video Captivates and Divides the Internet
The nine-second video highlights the auroras' green glow, created by charged particles from the Sun interacting with Earth’s magnetic field. Pettit captioned the post, “Flying over aurora; intensely green.” Social media erupted with admiration and scepticism.

Flying over aurora; intensely green. pic.twitter.com/leUufKFnBB
Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) January 6, 2025

Comments ranged from awe to disbelief. One viewer exclaimed, “Oh my goodness, wow!” while another asked, “Does it have any effect on your equipment?”

Oh my goodness wow Jack Beyer (@thejackbeyer) January 6, 2025

Awesome as always, I need to ask does it have any affect on your equipment?
Mani (@opensaysmani) January 6, 2025

the aurora's green glow looks unreal from above. pure magic! Grow (@GrowTreeswMe) January 6, 2025

However, some doubted its authenticity, labelling it “lazy CGI” or “intensely fake.”

Intensely fake!
Billy Zig (@BillyZigouras) January 6, 2025

lazy cgi lols Joe (@clevernameer) January 7, 2025

Pettit’s Mission and the Science Behind Auroras
Don Pettit, a flight engineer for Expedition 72, launched to the ISS aboard the Soyuz MS-26 spacecraft on September 11, 2024. He joined cosmonauts Alexey Ovchinin and Ivan Vagner. Pettit has logged over 370 days in space and completed more than 13 hours of spacewalks.

Auroras, or polar lights, are caused by magnetic storms from solar activity, such as flares or coronal mass ejections. These stunning ribbons of light are most visible in high-latitude regions near the Arctic and Antarctic.

As debates continue, Pettit’s video remains a captivating glimpse of Earth’s natural beauty from space.