NASA astronaut celebrates St. Patrick's Day from space

From high above Earth on the International Space Station, one NASA astronaut sent a special message for those celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. 

On Friday, Doug Wheelock tweeted a gorgeous image of dawn breaking with a green aurora shining over Ireland. Framed against the pitch black backdrop of space, the image is a beautiful sight to behold. 

“Crowned with a breaking dawn and green aurora; Hello Ireland...from space!” Wheelock tweeted under his handle @Astro_Wheels. He then added Happy St. Patrick’s Day wishes in Irish Gaelic, wishing Irish Earthlings “Lá fhéile Pádraig sona dhaoibh!” including the hashtag “#Eire,” which is Irish for Ireland.

This isn’t the first time Wheelock has commemorated the holiday with a stunning space photo. In fact, he’s made it something of a tradition. Check out some of his past otherworldly St. Patrick’s Day messages below.

• NASA