What beats seeing eclipses from space? Try the northern and southern lights

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — Eclipses may be wondrous, but nothing beats seeing the northern and southern lights from space. Astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, who have spent the past six months aboard the International Space Station, told The Associated Press that the space station's orbit prevented them from witnessing totality during last week's solar eclipse.

However, they still enjoyed a partial eclipse and expressed excitement for next week's lunar eclipse. Meir, the space station's commander, noted that the sun's recent period of lower activity has made the northern and southern lights more vivid and dramatic. She observed a particularly large burst of plasma from the sun, resulting in a green aurora dancing beneath them.

Meir has also enjoyed cooking in space, donning a space cat-patterned apron while sampling fresh mustard greens and kale grown on the station. Hathaway, who joined the crew last month, has taken up culinary and musical talents, preparing a cooking show on the ISS and participating in karaoke nights. Upon their return to Earth, the current six-person crew, consisting of three Americans, three Russians, and one French astronaut, will be replaced.