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Astronauts Take In Spectacular Northern Lights From Space

/ CBS San Francisco

(CBS SF) -- Astronauts on board the International Space Station captured otherworldly photos of the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights, Tuesday night.

The celestial phenomenon formed from a severe solar storm Tuesday -- the strongest in over eight years -- resulting in a rare light show seen as far south as Pennsylvania and Oregon.

Solar storms are created when a coronal mass ejection blasts a billion tons of solar particles off the surface of the sun and into space. When it comes into contact with the Earth, it energizes the outer atmosphere and creates vibrant auroras that paint the night sky neon green and pink.

Here are some of the images astronauts shared on Twitter.

Meanwhile on Earth, aurora-gazers around the world captured their own awe-inspiring images.

 

© 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

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