NASA has shared a breathtaking photo taken by astronaut Don Pettit from the International Space Station (ISS). The image captures the colorful airglow of our planet, surrounded by two nearby galaxies known as the Magellanic Clouds.
Located just outside our cosmic neighborhood, the Large Magellanic Cloud is 160,000 light-years away, while the Small Magellanic Cloud is 200,000 light-years away. Although they can only be seen from the Southern Hemisphere, astronauts on the ISS can view these galaxies whenever the station crosses into nighttime conditions.
The photo was taken using a homemade tracker that cancels ISS motion, and Pettit’s orbital astrophotography skills have captured stunning images of star trails and city lights in the past. This latest image also reveals the Milky Way, with billions of stars visible, as well as an airglow and Earth shrouded in soft green light.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/tech/breathtaking-photo-shows-iss-astronauts-120000195.html