Astronaut Captures Stunning Photo of Nearby Galaxies From ISS
In space, you can see stars!
I flew a home-made tracking device that allows time exposures required to photograph star fields.
Stay tuned for more photos like this. pic.twitter.com/OO57o4oU8l— Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) December 5, 2024
From the unique vantage point of the International Space Station (ISS), astronaut Don Pettit has captured a stunning image of the universe revealing two glimmering galaxies. The photo, taken using a makeshift star-tracking device, showcases the vastness of space, with countless stars twinkling as petals amongst these celestial wonders.
Pettit, renowned for his fascination with celestial photography, designed a custom device to counteract the movement of stars when seen from orbit. This ingenious contraption allows him to capture clear, long-exposure photographs that wouldn’t be possible with the unaided eye or traditional photography techniques used on Earth.
“I flew a home-made tracking device that allows time exposures required to photograph star fields,” Pettit wrote on X, accompanying his breathtaking photo. The image unveiled two prominent galactic figures – the Large Magellanic Cloud and its smaller companion, the Small Magellanic Cloud.
Both of these celestial neighbors are found within the Local Group of galaxies, Just a stone’s throw away in cosmic terms, albeit still 210,000 light-years away for the Small Magellanic Cloud, and 160,000 light-years for the larger one. These galaxies can be seen from Earth, with the best vantage points found in the southern hemisphere.
The Large Magellanic Cloud houses an estimated 30 billion stars, a collective nearly as light-years away as this celestial treasure explores
The image signifies humanity’s ability to explore and capture the universe from a perspective rarely seen before.
This wasn’t Pettit’s first foray into showcasing celestial phenomena from the ISS. Earlier this month, he shared what were initially thought to be “cosmic fireflies,” emanating from the station. These turned out to be Starlink satellites reflecting sunlight, showcasing the growing density of satellites in Earth’s orbit.
A Legacy of Space Exploration
At 69 years old, Pettit, who is the oldest active astronaut at NASA, launched to the ISS in September aboard a Russian Soyuz crew capsule, joining the Expedition 72 mission. During his time on board, he painstakingly documenting the wonders of space with more than 370 days under his belt and over 13 hours of spacewalk experience, He continues to inspire with breathtaking images and perspectives.
For Pettit, the chance to capture these unique astronomical sights underscores the continuous spirit of exploration and intellectual curiosity about the universe we inhabit.
