Astronauts on the space shuttle Atlantis captured these amazing photos last Thursday of the green Aurora Australis, also known as the Southern Lights. The photos were snapped as the crew passed west of Australia.

The green lights enveloping Earth are known as aurora, which is the collective name given to the photons (light) emitted by atoms, molecules and ions that have been excited by energetic charged particles (principally electrons) travelling along magnetic field lines into the Earth's upper atmosphere. Aurora results from the interaction of the solar wind with the Earth's magnetic field.

In the photos below, the Aurora Australis can be seen on Earth's horizon with a number of stars also visible:

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The Southern Lights or Aurora Australis is pictured in this July 14, 2011 NASA handout photo by an astronaut from the space shuttle Atlantis while visiting the International Space Station. Part of the orbiter boom sensor system (OBSS) is seen (L), as it was attached on the end of the shuttle's robotic arm (out of frame). A part of the port side wing of the shuttle is at right. REUTERS
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This panoramic view, photographed from the International Space Station, looks past the docked space shuttle Atlantis' cargo bay and towards part of the station including a solar array panel. The photo was taken on July 14, 2011 as the joint complex passed over the southern hemisphere. Aurora Australis or the Southern Lights can be seen on Earth's horizon and a number of stars are also visible. REUTERS
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The sun shines above the Earth's horizon with the International Space Station in the foreground in this photo taken by spacewalker Ron Garan during the final spacewalk. REUTERS
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