Astronaut Don Pettit has taken a breathtaking photo from the International Space Station (ISS) that is being hailed as one of the best ever captured onboard. The image shows the Earth streaking by in a reddish, orange glow, surrounded by the vast expanse of space.
The stunning photograph also captures the Milky Way, zodiacal light, and Starlink satellites as streaks, with stars visible as pinpoints. Pettit shared the image on social media, explaining that it was taken two days prior from the Dragon Crew 9 vehicle port window.
At 69 years old, Pettit is currently NASA’s oldest-serving astronaut and second oldest to visit space. He has a long history of capturing incredible photos, starting with his childhood using a Kodak Brownie camera.
Pettit’s remarkable skills in photography are no surprise, as he had already mastered the craft before being selected as an astronaut. The veteran astronaut continues to capture stunning images, including a recent photo of aurora lights illuminating the night sky against the ISS silhouette.
The image has been praised by astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy, who comments that it “might be the best photo ever taken from the ISS.”
Source: https://petapixel.com/2025/01/14/astronaut-captures-milky-way-starlink-satellites-and-false-dawn-in-one-photo