NASA has released astunning time-lapse video of Earth as seen in 4K quality from theInternational Space Station. The video serves as a reminder of thecomplex interactions constantly taking place between Earth'satmosphere and the relentless stream of particles emanating from ourSun.
Beyond the obviousscientific applications of Earth imagery, stunning vistas of our planet takenfrom space have become a regular feature for NASA's impressive publicoutreach program. They grant a rare sense of perspective, serving asa reminder that we are in the grand scheme is things a very smallpart of a larger universe.
Earth imagery has takena number of sizeable leaps forward in recent years. With the successful insertion of NASA's Deep Space Climate Observatory(DSCOVR) into its operational orbit in February 2015, fresh shots of the full disk of our planet are readily available for the first time in the history of our young species, with new images uploaded every day.
In January 2015, the crewof the ISS took receipt of a RED Epic Dragon camera. The imaging device, whichis of the same design as the camera used to film Peter Jackson's TheHobbit trilogy, has been put togood use bringing the public the highest resolution views oflow-Earth orbit to date.
Thecamera, which is capable of filming 300 frames per second in6K quality (6144 x 3160 pixels), had previously been used to showthe lighter side of life in space by filming Terry Virtsplaying with a water bubble and an effervescent tablet (because there is no such thing as boredom in space).
Tocapture footage for the newly-released video, astronaut Tim Peaksecured the Epic Dragon to the interior of the ISS's Cupola.From this position the camera recorded several time-lapse videos thatwere edited together to form the new release. The time-lapseshows the spin of the Earth relative to the station bringing intoview stunning aurorae, city lights and sporadic thunderstorms.
Scroll down to view the new NASA video.
Source: NASA (YouTube)