An incredible timelapse video has been released by Nasa that shows what the aurora borealis looks like from space. The still images taken by ESA astronaut Samantha Cristoforetti on the International Space Station were added together to create the 18-second video.

Cristoforetti is living and working on board the International Space Station as part of the six-strong Expedition 42 and 43 crew.

The aurora borealis is a spectacular natural phenomenon that occurs predominantly in the northern hemisphere. It is caused by cosmic rays, solar winds and magnetospheric plasma interacting with the upper atmosphere to create an astound array of colours.