Aurora Australis in Antarctica | European Space Agency

Aurora Australis in Antarctica | European Space Agency

A mesmerizing display of Aurora Australis (southern lights) glows over the Concordia research station in Antarctica with yellow hues shimmering near the horizon and red lights stretching upwards into the vast polar sky.

These beautiful colors result from the interaction of charged particles from the Sun with gases in our atmosphere, guided by Earth's magnetic field to the polar regions. Green aurorae, the most common display, form at altitudes between 100 and 200 km, where oxygen atoms are highly concentrated and require less energy to emit light. During periods of high solar activity, charged particles become more energetic and can interact with oxygen at higher altitudes above 200 km, where oxygen atoms are less concentrated and need more energy to emit light. This higher energy corresponds to light with a longer wavelength, producing the stunning red aurorae. The beautiful yellow hues seen on the horizon occur when green and red aurorae mix in areas of overlap.

Standing beneath this incredible natural phenomenon is Jessica Studer, the European Space Agency-sponsored medical doctor for Concordia's 2024 winter-over. Jessica lived with a small team in complete isolation during the harsh Antarctic winter where the Sun does not rise for four months and temperatures plunge as low as –85°C. Concordia is one of the most remote places on Earth; the closest humans are at Russia's Vostok research station 600 km away, making it more isolated than the International Space Station. The station is an unique platform for research in fields like astronomy, glaciology, and human physiology, offering insights into how humans adapt to extreme isolation, cold, and darkness—conditions that mirror those faced by astronauts in space.

The aurorae visible here were captured in May 2024, during a period of heightened solar activity associated with the ongoing solar activity maximum, a phase in the Sun’s 11-year cycle that increases the intensity and frequency of auroral displays. These vibrant skies are just one of the benefits of living and working in Concordia, alongside the opportunity to contribute to groundbreaking science in a challenging environment.

Would you like to experience these breathtaking sights yourself? The European Space Agency (ESA) is currently accepting applications for a medical doctor to spend the winter of 2026 at Concordia station—apply here: https://bit.ly/3P4WXWc

Image Credits: ESA/IPEV/PNRA-J. Studer

Image Date: May 2024

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