This Scene from Space is Almost too Perfect to be Real

The gentle red glow of aurora and the richness of a star-filled sky make a picture-perfect backdrop the International Space Station.

The remote-controlled Canadarm was cocked in preparation to catch and pull in the JAXA space cargo tug HTV5 launched on Wednesday and due to arrive at the station on Monday. After unloading fresh supplies on the International Space Station, astronauts will reload the spacecraft with garbage over the next few months. HTV5 is doomed to eventually burn up during destructive reentry.

Image credit: NASA/Scott Kelly