Auroras are a visually spectacular phenomenon that rely just as much on the Sun's weather as they do Earth's. According to SPACE.com, it has a lot to do with magnetics fields on the sun. "When these fields become knotted together, they burst and create so-called sunspots."

They go on to note that, as the surface of the sun boils from the intense heat, bits and pieces of it splatter into space. Sometimes, the particulate is carried all the way to Earth by solar wind. "It takes these winds around 40 hours to reach Earth. When they do, they can cause the dramatic displays known as the aurora borealis." SPACE.com was more precise than they had to be, though — it's the same process that causes the aurora australis, too. Of course, if it's cloudy down on Earth when an aurora is up above, it'll go unseen by most. Unlike those of us on Earth, the astronauts at the International Space Station can see it all regardless of Earth's forecast.

It's majestic enough seeing it from Earth, but seeing it through NASA Astronaut Scott Kelly's eyes is a whole 'nother ball game. He's currently up on the International Space Station on a one-year mission, which is twice the length of a standard stay.

Kelly graduated with a Masters of Science degree in Aviation Systems from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville in 1996. While none of his education involved photo-journalism or anything of the like, it's clear from the clip below that he's got an eye for it.