Don Pettit Shares Milky Way Photo From ISS Using 1.2 Million-Image Archive
Updated
Updated · India Today · Aug 2
Don Pettit Shares Milky Way Photo From ISS Using 1.2 Million-Image Archive
3 articles · Updated · India Today · Aug 2
Summary
Don Pettit posted a Milky Way image captured from the ISS that shows the galaxy arcing above Earth’s city lights and a thin band of green airglow.
1.2 million raw photos from his 220-day Expedition 72 mission gave Pettit the data to process the image only after returning to Earth in April 2025.
A custom tracking device kept stars sharp despite the ISS flying at nearly 28,000 km/h, while a Nikon Z9 and 15 mm Arri Zeiss lens gathered light from the Cupola.
The photo highlights how orbit avoids atmospheric distortion and light pollution, giving astronauts a rare, clearer view of faint celestial detail.