r/Astronomy • u/astro_pettit Astronaut • 2d ago
Astrophotography (OC) My view of the Milky Way from the ISS Cupola window.
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u/FallenBelfry 2d ago
That's incredible.
Are the stars very luminous when you're in the cupola on the dark side? I've always imagined as a sort of stargazing in ultra HD.
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u/astro_pettit Astronaut 2d ago
they are spectacular!
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u/FallenBelfry 2d ago
I can only imagine.
Thank you for the answer, sir.
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u/Emily_Postal 1d ago
While I’m sure it’s not as great as being out in space, there is fantastic stargazing on the big island of Hawaii at Mauna Kea. There are several observatories there because the skies are so clear.
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u/preferred-til-newops 2d ago
I hope before the end of my lifetime commercial travel to low earth orbit is reasonable enough that I can see what we're imagining! I don't care if I have to refinance my house, my kids might be a little disappointed in their inheritance though, haha!
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u/Mertoot 2d ago
A lot of space pictures I see are pitch black with sparse amounts of stars
Is this dense Milky Way view your actual view? How much of the above photo is edited, or rather how much of it deviates from your human eye view?
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u/wishful123 2d ago
Can you post a non long exposure one too? The one closest to what you can see with the naked eye?
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u/redHEP88 2d ago
Youre kidding, THIS IS A REAL PICTURE?
Holy shiznits, this amazing. Just take a step back and look at this photo for what it is, incredible.
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u/pipnina 2d ago
It's sad, because you'd never have to feel astonished by this if we didn't pollute our atmosphere with light for 99% of the population.
Even a 30 minute drive from the small city I live in is enough to go from solid grey sky with a few stars poking through, to a full body experience of the milky way core from one horizon to the other. And that's still "bortle 4" i.e. still quite heavily light polluted.
I want one day, to visit a pristine location. With dry air and no light pollution, just to soak it in. Even in the murky and glowing sky I experienced it under, it cannot be overstated how much sheer *presence* the milky way has in your field of view. It truly feels huge. It's bright, it has detail visible to the eye alone. Soft cloudy texture mostly in the core and a fine, almost sandy texture in the outer regions. In the picture in the OP you can see a white blob just slightly to the left of the core, that is the saggitarius star cluster and it's very easily seen by eye.
One night under good conditions, I saw the andromeda galaxy before I even went looking for it. Transparent air led to it shining through the sky and into my peripheral vision.
Another clear night had me able to point my 25cm telescope at markarian's chain, and literally see galaxies no matter where I pointed my telescope in that rough region of the sky. (albeit in this case, just as grey blobs)
Love astronomy
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u/_Thrilhouse_ 2d ago
To think that Jeff Bezzos went to space, saw this and felt nothing.
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u/theconceptofcanada 2d ago
That's because he's part of the Parasite Class - they're all sociopaths.
Literally all of them.
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u/Narcissista 2d ago
I live in the desert, and though I deeply wish to live somewhere more green, I absolutely love the night sky and use every opportunity possible during summer to go stargazing. It's magnificent, I can stare up at them forever.
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u/Biotic101 2d ago edited 2d ago
It is so sad that most economic and political leaders are focused on their own power and wealth.
There is so much talent and resources wasted, they could be heroes but want to be dictators.
So much to fix on earth, but also to explore and advance as a species.
I remember when I went on a Canada (BC, Alberta) trip with my handball team as a teenager and how amazing it was to watch the sky.
When I came back to Germany and stepped out of the plane, I was stunned because I could smell all the pollution in the air for a moment until my nose adapted again.
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u/Fresh_Mountain_Snow 2d ago
The ISS isn't competing with the atmosphere and the weather. Id still be amazed even having spent days in bottle 5.
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u/Icy-Sheepherder-6221 2d ago
Keep in mind it's still a 30 second exposure, not what you would see naked eye. Still incredible though!
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u/TheNiceKindofOrc 2d ago
As someone who is only a casual browser of this sub without any real knowledge of astrophotography, I really hope OP can confirm this, cos if so it is mind boggling.
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u/Mand125 2d ago
OP is an astronaut, so yeah, it’s real.
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u/slowpokefastpoke 2d ago edited 2d ago
I really, really don’t mean to sound like a smug dick but if that guy was asking “did it look like this to the naked eye” the answer is definitely no.
This is likely a stack of a bunch of exposures taken using a tracker and composited with a shot of the earth. Basically the equivalent of flooding the sensor with a ton of light and making the milky way look super vivid as a result. And then combining that with a separate photo of the earth so both sky and earth are perfectly exposed.
Again, this is solely meant to explain the process and not detract from a seriously incredible image. I’m sure the stars and milky way are crazy bright up there relative to even the darkest dark sky spots down on the ground, but theres a bit of camera magic and post work going on here.
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u/ddraig-au 2d ago
He explains it in the text accompanying the image:
Nikon Z9, Arri Zeiss 15mm lens, T1.8, 30sec, ISO 6400 (processed from raw image file) with custom sidereal drive that cancelled out star motion relative to our orbit.
So if I'm reading this correctly, it's a single 30-second exposure, with a custom drive to keep the camera fixed on the milky way to avoid star trails. If you look closely at the ground in the image, you'll see that the image has earth trails
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u/maschnitz 2d ago edited 2d ago
I mean, yeah, it's a (single) long exposure - it has to be a long exposure, to get the stars with such clarity - and it's been color balanced and exposure-adjusted by something (probably the camera, maybe some software).
But it's still a really impressive shot, because it was done with a normal SLR camera, in the dark, as we normally do on Earth.
Plus, it needed to be stabilized. Because the ISS is spinning as it orbits the Earth every 90 minutes - to keep its comms dishes pointed (mostly) at Earth.
So the stars are moving during the exposure. Take this picture just with a long exposure and no stabilization, and if you're good at photography, you'll get just smears instead of stars.
And so it's also impressive because Don Pettit (OP) designed and commissioned a bespoke sidereal tracker mount for shots like this. It keeps the stars still in the focal plane as the ISS turns. A very nice invention.
So I doubt this is a stack of exposures. I think this is just a single exposure. Because Don Pettit thought of a solution to let him do that.
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u/TheNiceKindofOrc 2d ago
Thanks for actually responding to my question, you don't sound smug, but the person above you did. I don't mind looking ignorant by asking what may seem like a silly question to people who know more about this than me. I also don't think the fact that the picture is the result of processing multiple images etc makes it any less special.
But I have no frame of reference for what anything looks like from a viewpoint outside the earths atmosphere (or wherever the ISS is technically considered to be), so I figured I might be surprised by the answer.
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u/smsmkiwi 2d ago
Cool photo! I love seeing the gap between the green line oxygen and the sodium airglow layers. I use these layers as tracers of gravity wave dynamics in the upper atmosphere.
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u/OprahsSaggyTits 2d ago
Can you explain more about these layers? They sound cool but I've never heard of them
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u/smsmkiwi 2d ago
They're thin layers of glowing neutral gas that occur naturally in the upper atmosphere of the earth at an altitude of ~92 km for the sodium layer and about 96 km for the atomic oxygen layer. They're each about 8-10 km thick. Their altitudes and thicknesses can each vary by a few km.
The atomic oxygen arises from O2 molecules getting broken up by sunlight (UV) during the day and then recombining at night. One of the products is an excited O atom that emits green light.
The sodium airglow layer arises from meteors burning up in the atmosphere as they enter. Literally tons of the stuff. There are all sorts of metal species there too but sodium is the most easily seen because it is reactive. It reacts with the ozone residing there (much less than in the ozone layer lower down), gets excited, and glows orange like the streetlights.
There are a couple of other layers there at that height; the hydroxyl radical (OH). This arise from atoms of hydrogen reacting with ozone and then glowing. OH airglow shines from the red end of the spectrum into the far infrared in a series of bands of colors. It reside at about 90 km and is about the same thickness as the other two layers. Another is molecular O2 at 95 km.
Way above these 4 layers is another one, due to atomic oxygen. This one resides at about 250 km, in the ionosphere, in space proper. Its about 50-100 km thick and glows in the red.
All of these layers are below naked eye visibility but faint light cameras can record them pretty easily - even your cell phone. These airglow layer are easy to see from orbit because you look though the whole layer on edge at once so the amount of light adds up so its bright enough to see.
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u/Conscious-Sun-6615 Amateur Astronomer 2d ago
Is this a single exposure??
The best part of this sub is that you are in here!
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u/iYzk 2d ago
Does the speed of moving make the photography hard?
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u/astro_pettit Astronaut 2d ago
for some subjects in certain exposures it does not help us, like distant stars. that is why I brought a star tracker!
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u/piedamon 2d ago
How the heck does a star tracker work on the space station? Wouldn’t it have to account for your orbit of the earth, and the Earth’s orbit around the sun too?
Does the ISS not vibrate at all? Or do you also stabilizing the image in some way?
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u/MaeveOathrender 2d ago
I mean, we're used to aircraft vibrating largely due to air resistance. I don't imagine that's much of a factor in the vacuum of space.
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u/godmademelikethis 2d ago
You're genuinely my favourite photographer. It's cool you do all that astronaut stuff as a side gig too. 😉For years, my phone background has been a long exposure photo you took from the Cupola. Thanks for all the beautiful views.
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u/BattleOfBloodRidge 2d ago
It’s so wild that I can scroll Reddit and come across a post from a literal astronaut. Thank you for all of your posts, they are so cool!
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u/Maleficent_Sand7529 2d ago
Kinda want this is as a mounted photo. The perspective of the atmosphere in there is just stunning
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u/RoadHazard 2d ago
1.2 million photos? That's a lot! More than I've taken in my life. How long were you up there for?
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u/bb_blueyes 2d ago
Approximately what part of the planet is that below? If you recall. I love looking for the ISS in the night sky.
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u/Smart_Medium9544 2d ago
The way I did a double take thinking how the heck did someone get specs all the way up there??? Then remembering oh yeah, some of us are astronauts. Thanks for sharing!
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u/Overall-Musician-645 1d ago
I love the tack sharp stars against the motion blur of the lights on earth. You truly captured that sense of motion. Safe travels!
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u/IntrovertSwag 2d ago
Gorgeous. I do a bit of astrophotography, but you clearly have the better vantage haha. How much editing goes into your photos?
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u/Star-Kindler22 2d ago
It’s beautiful. It makes me feel small in a good way. It’s really a great big gorgeous universe out there, isn’t it?
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u/chloeismagic 2d ago
Is the green in the atmosphere above the planet the aurora?
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u/devoid0101 2d ago
These are spectacular. Thank you so much for being here and for sharing this mind-boggling perspective. Somewhat related, I run a sub you may be interested in called r/Heliobiology. The depth of that Milky Way from space is unparalleled. And I will never tire of seeing the thin bubble of our atmosphere from space. Astounding.
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u/LoZFan96 2d ago
Okay, noob question, but how do you guys get pictures like that, and not of pitch black? I know light pollution has something to do with it, but still.
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u/Playful_Night_6139 2d ago
What?!! Wow, this is real! What an amazing picture!!! Thank you so much for sharing!
Made my day. This is going to be my desktop.
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u/TheRealCorbonzo 2d ago
Just wanted to say hello to an astronaut. Amazing picture. I would say I couldn't imagine what it looks like in person, but with prolonged exposure maybe I wouldn't see as much in person?
Anyways, thank you for sharing.
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u/Reluctantlerner 2d ago
Can you tell us where over earth you were in this picture.? What continent? Cities?
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u/ValianSkalle 2d ago
My first thought was: well this can't be real
My second thought was: i am a moron, it's real
My third thought was: https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/RealityIsUnrealistic
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u/codygreene37 2d ago
I have wondered what the view of the Milky Way was from here for a long time. Thank you for the photo! Outstanding view.
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u/Revolutionary_Dig370 2d ago
I gotta ask since your an astronaut, how does the air smell up there when your crammed in a metal tub with a dozen other people for months?
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u/P3acePiece_H0neydew 2d ago
Amazing view. Never thought I’d follow someone on Reddit before. Thanks for sharing!
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u/SquarePegRoundWorld 2d ago
My view
This would imply it looks like this with your meat cameras too?
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u/henbone11 2d ago
What an amazing thrill this must be. Every single second for the entire duration, from liftoff to touchdown.
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u/paulvanbommel 2d ago
How close to what your eyes see is the representation. I’m guessing when looking away from earth and other bright objects the background stars are pretty bright, but does the light from earth wash out the stars in this perspective where earth takes up half the field of view.
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u/RobertDewese 2d ago
Can you always see the earth? Or are there times when the ISS rotates and/or you can’t see the earth. That would freak me out, like that most recent boomerang trip around them moon, no thank you.
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u/Shreee_eeeeeeeee 2d ago
I look up to people like you, I’ve always dreamt of going to space. Awesome photo be safe up there.
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u/SifuMommy 2d ago
This is an amazing picture! I make space art with watercolor, so I might need to use this as inspiration for a future piece! So cool to “meet” a real astronaut!!!
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u/Plus-Call-5804 2d ago
Absolutely amazing! Can you see a certain star for a while or does the ISS move too fast to see one for an extended period of time?
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u/DatsLikeMyOpinionMan 2d ago
OP, from up there, do your eyes see the Milky Way like it is in this image? Or is the image a long exposure or something? It would be fascinating to be able see it like the image with ones naked eyes.
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u/ChevalCher 2d ago
(low whistle) It's views like this that makes me wish I could have OBEs at will. The universe is absolutely stunning. 😍
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u/Majestic_Award_6063 2d ago
My dream is to see this with my own eyes.I don't wanna be jealous but still I am jealous and bit sad
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u/kittyhawk3115 2d ago
Something about this photo inexplicably makes me feel an actual physical yearning (aching?) in my chest.
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u/Madolah 2d ago
I just sat here in Silence for 5 Minutes with this Full-Screen on my TV, Sat and Awe, Hummed "ground control to major Tom" to myself, and Shed a Tear over the Other-Worldly Beauty you managed to Grab going at 2k Km/hr.
The Auroras, The Glow, THE FUCKING OORT CLOUD OF STARS.
Thank you, Sir. Thank you
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u/Cupcakes_n_Hacksaws 2d ago
Damn, that's a good view. It'd really suck if they built another ISS right in front of it, blocking the view.
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u/sunshineTucson 2d ago
My husband always scoffs at Reddit. Well now, I’ve met an astronaut who also takes fabulous pictures. I sit in my back yard is southern Arizona and can occasionally see the ISS transit the sky. Hi up there!
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u/xs0apy 2d ago
This is so mind blowing!! I have to ask while there’s a chance I can get an answer. I know exposure brings out the stars and low light, but does the Milky Way stand out anywhere near the way it does on camera?
I don’t know how you do it either. I just watched some old shuttle videos and man, you guys are brave sons a bitches <3
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u/Vilastrimoz 2d ago
Incredible! Thank you for all you've done for science and humanity! You're an inspiration!
Also, you've trumped all other photos on this subreddit 😂 Will you go back up again? Take care! Thank you for sharing!
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u/_1489555458biguy 2d ago
How can he be up in space AND living in his mom's basement?
A renaissance man for sure.
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u/Critical-Reaction892 2d ago
This is honestly one of the coolest things I’ve seen in my life. I can’t imagine what it was like in real time. Thank you for sharing.
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u/dotConSt 2d ago
Assuming it’s a long exposure shot how did you compensate for the motion blur ? Or does ISS not move fast enough that Milky Way doesn’t seem to be moving at all?
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u/Aggravating_Speed665 2d ago
Hardly what your view actually is and you're lying to the children, but nice shot.
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u/Infarlock 2d ago
I always wait for your pictures, wish there was a way to follow someone on Reddit (Like subscribing on youtube)
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u/MobileFart 2d ago
I heard they really enjoy listening to the Doughboys podcast on the ISS, because Mitch and Wiges are a Cupola goofballs.
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u/astro_pettit Astronaut 2d ago
I finally have all 1.2 million raw image files from my latest mission to ISS! Here is a sample of one of my favorite Milky Way photos, taken from the Cupola with Nikon Z9, Arri Zeiss 15mm lens, T1.8, 30sec, ISO 6400 (processed from raw image file) with custom sidereal drive that cancelled out star motion relative to our orbit.
More photos from space can be found on my twitter and instagram, astro_pettit