Aurora Australis and the Milky Way over the Indian Ocean, from the ISS
The aurora australis over the Indian Ocean, photographed from the International Space Station by astronaut Chris Williams on 17 April 2026. Green aurora arcs along Earth's limb, red light bleeds above it and the Milky Way rises into the sky. The top is dark, so the clock reads well.
Free · 1440×2560 px. Tap and hold the opened image (right-click on a computer) to save it.
About this wallpaper
An ISS photograph from NASA's image library (iss074e0491096, taken 17 April 2026), cropped to 9:16 around the arc of aurora. According to NASA's caption it was taken at about 8:55 p.m. local time from the station orbiting roughly 435 km up, with a wispy aurora australis arcing across the Indian Ocean and the Milky Way protruding above Earth's atmosphere. The lower third holds the green band of aurora and the dark Earth, a layer of red light sits above it, and the band of Milky Way stars spreads across the top. Credit NASA/Chris Williams; public domain.
On the home screen
The aurora sits in the lower third and the top is dark, star-scattered sky, so icons at the top keep the arc visible.
On the lock screen
The top is dark sky scattered with stars, so a white clock reads clearly.
Colors and mood
Green aurora, a layer of red light, black space and white stars.
Specs
- Aspect ratio
- 9:16
- Resolution
- 1440×2560
- Region
- Neon Forest
- Coordinates
- 10·02
- Sector
- ISLAND III
- Lock-screen clock
- ◎ Clearly readable
- Home screen
- ◎ Icon labels stand out
- Pure black
- 25%
- Brightness
- 48 / 255 · dark
- Artist
- Chris Williams / NASA · 2026-04-17
- License
- Public domain (NASA)
This is a public-domain photograph by NASA. You may use it freely, but not in a way that suggests NASA endorses or is involved with your use. See the license
