A breathtaking video captured aboard the International Space Station () showcases a SpaceX vehicle gliding over the luminous auroras of Earth. This remarkable footage, recorded by seasoned astronaut and amateur photographer Don Pettit, depicts numerous satellites reflecting sunlight as they traverse the atmosphere, shining as brightly as Jupiter against the vibrant green glow of the northern lights. On October 7, 2025, Pettit shared this video on X (formerly Twitter), igniting a sense of wonder among skywatchers. This phenomenon underscores the increasing visibility of SpaceX’s expanding satellite network and the extraordinary perspective that astronauts experience from orbit. Pettit’s video provides a unique view of how SpaceX’s Starlink satellites can transform the night sky into a breathtaking display. The auroras, which result from charged solar particles colliding with atmospheric gases, created a radiant green curtain beneath the satellites as they soared overhead. Pettit characterized the Starlink constellation as “very visible,” mentioning that many of the satellites “flashed for one to ten seconds” and appeared almost as bright as Jupiter. The visual spectacle produced a surreal “celestial parade,” merging human-engineered technology with one of nature’s most stunning light displays.
