On a recent evening flight from SFO to Lisbon, Portugal, TAP Air Portugal pilots filmed the heavenly sights they encountered.
The one-minute time-lapse video taken in September was shared on the Best Airplane Seat channel on YouTube. In the beginning of the video as the plane ascends from North America, there are pointers to the Andromeda Galaxy and the planet Jupiter, but that’s not all of it.
Gradually the dazzling flickering of the Aurora Borealis, or Northern Lights comes into view. The stunning waves of color light up the sky.
The airline confirmed the filming of the flight by the pilots on social media. “When you get the best seat on the plane and the best view of the flight,” it wrote.
Quando tens o melhor lugar no avião e a melhor vista do voo. 👨✈️✈️
When you get the best seat on the plane and the best view on the flight. 👨✈️✈️
📷 YouTube: @bestairplaneseat pic.twitter.com/fkOtAuymln
— TAP Air Portugal (@tapairportugal) November 4, 2023
The Aurora Borealis is caused by disturbances in the Earth’s magnetosphere caused by solar activity. It appears as brilliant, colored patterns of lights in the sky typically near the Arctic or Antarctica. Scientists anticipate more frequent displays of the aurora borealis in 2024 due to more solar activity.