Glowing planet: Awe-inspiring images of the Northern Lights taken by crew member aboard the International Space Station




The planet earth is shrouded in a mysterious green glow i n what look like scenes from Hollywood's latest science fiction blockbuster.



But these awe-inspiring images of the natural phenomenon known as Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights are not the result of camera trickery or any computer generated special effects, but were captured by a crew member aboard the International Space Station.

The stunning images were taken using a 50mm lens as the orbital outpost floated approximately 233 nautical miles above the south of Australia. Parts of solar array panels of the space station are visible at right.

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Other worldly: This spectacular picture of the natural phenomena known as Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights was photographed from the International Space Station

Glow: The astonishing images were captured by one of the crew members aboard the International Space Station in orbit approximately 223 nautical miles above earth

Meanwhile back on terra firma, celebrated Korean photographer O Chul Kwon has released a set of equally spectacular scenes of the phenomenon.



Dedicated Kwon has spent half a decade taking photos and creating stunning time-lapse videos of the beautiful light display at the Aurora Village in Yellowknife, Canada.

With its flat geographical landscape and clear weather conditions, the tipi laden village boasts the highest percentage of Aurora sightings in the world.

Situated in the extreme cold of Canada's northern territories, the shimmering rays in these shots are solar flares from the sun caught up in the Earth's atmosphere, setting the sky ablaze with a ripple of colours.

Terra firma: Meanwhile back on earth, Korean photographer Chul Kwon captured the Northern lights at the Aurora Village in Yellowknife, Canada, one of the best places to view the phenomenon

Lights alive: Ribbons of green tinged with pink swirl above the night sky above Aurora Village in Yellowknife, Canada

Dedication: The Korean photographer has spent half a decade taking photos and creating stunning time-lapse videos of the beautiful light display

Mystical: With its flat geographical landscape and clear weather conditions, Aurora Village in Yellowknife, Canada boasts the highest percentage of Aurora sightings in the world

Kwon said: 'Because the Aurora is so bright at Yellowknife, it almost always feels like something great is going to happen.



'The weather is important, but my predications are usually right, so I just set up my camera to continuous mode and starting shooting.



'The funny thing is the Northern Lights are always over the earth, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, it's just in the day time or in bad weather we cannot see them.'

Kwon, who lives in Seoul, has been taking pictures of solar activity for more than 24 years and is regarded as one of the most reputable astro-photographers in Korea.



And although his favourite place to shoot is at Yellowknife, Kwon has photographed in other locations, including 4200m above sea level at Lake Waiau near Hawaii, Mount Kilimanjaro, Daedunsan in Korea and is currently on an expedition at Monument Valley in Arizona.



The shimmering green rays are solar flares from the sun caught up in the Earth's atmosphere, setting the sky ablaze with a ripple of colours Photographer Mr Kwon stands by his camera at the Aurora Village in Canada as he captures the stunning natural phenomenon swirling across the night sky

Kwon has photographed the lights in other locations, including 4200m above sea level at Lake Waiau near Hawaii, Mount Kilimanjaro and Daedunsan in Korea

Mr Kwon, who lives in Seoul, has been taking pictures of solar activity for more than 24 years and is regarded as one of the most reputable astro-photographers in Korea.

He said: 'Yellowknife is unique exactly because of weather.



'I've been to shoot the lights in Iceland, and the scenery was great but the weather was too unpredictable.



'I could see only one clear night for a week but at the Aurora Village the weather is incredible.'



The so-called Northern Lights occur when particles omitted from the sun are trapped between the Earth's magnetic poles.

