Amazing pics and video show beauty of aurorae from space

Astronaut Reid Wiseman gives us a stunning view of the southern lights - from the best seat in the house.

NASA astronaut Reid Wiseman, currently hurtling over our heads aboard the International Space Station (ISS) is the latest in a distinguished line of ISS inhabitants to use the power of social media to regale the rest of us with the beauty of our planet, as seen from orbit.

The latest in his enchanting series of 'pics from space' is a special one - the shimmering lights of the aurora australis (the southern hemisphere equivalent of the aurora borealis) captured from out of the window of the ISS.

The southern #Aurora came out and flew with us for a bit. pic.twitter.com/ktlnVG97YX

— Reid Wiseman (@astro_reid) July 15, 2014

Wiseman, a native of Baltimore, Maryland, also shot this captivating Vine as the aurora unspooled around him.

#spacevine - Mind bending double ‘s’ curve #AuroraAustralis time lapse https://t.co/gCtV8i2Lrc

— Reid Wiseman (@astro_reid) July 15, 2014

Now who doesn't have job envy after watching that? What a privilege...

(Wiseman is also a fan of Ireland, having tweeted this gorgeous picture during the fine spell a while back).