An astronaut aboard the International Space Station (ISS) has shared a breathtaking image that reveals the dazzling beauty of Earth as seen from 400 kilometers above. The photo captures a radiant mixture of city lights, fishing fleets scattered across Southeast Asia, atmospheric glow, the Milky Way, and part of the ISS itself.
What makes this photo truly remarkable isn’t just what it shows—but how it was taken. The image required a long exposure time, during which the ISS was moving at a staggering speed of approximately 28,000 kilometers per hour. This motion causes the blurring of elements on the station, while the distant stars remain sharp thanks to a special technique known as sidereal tracking. This method moves the camera in sync with the apparent motion of the stars, eliminating streaks and capturing their crisp brilliance.
The photograph showcases not only our planet’s natural and human-made wonders but also the technical mastery behind capturing such imagery in orbit.
A Glimpse Into the Daily Photography Routine Aboard the ISS
The city lights of Southeast Asia beneath the Milky Way.
Vibrant colors of LED cities, orange atmospheric airglow, and fishing fleets are blurred by my sidereal drive, while tracking stars as fixed points in space. pic.twitter.com/C98QQecx6q
— Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) June 16, 2025
NASA astronaut Don Pettit, known for his passion for astrophotography, has previously explained how astronauts manage to take these stunning photos while aboard the ISS. In an interview with Time magazine, Pettit shared that cameras are always ready to go—never turned off and rarely fitted with lens caps. Positioned near the Cupola’s panoramic window, the cameras are pre-configured so astronauts can act quickly when an amazing view appears.
“We have a camera with a 200mm telephoto lens, another with a 14mm wide-angle, and several others in between,” Pettit said. “You don’t have time to switch lenses. You just grab a camera, click click click, put it down, grab the next one—click click click—and another—click click click. That’s your 10-second window to catch your hometown or the Pyramids.”
This grab-and-shoot method allows astronauts to quickly capture fleeting moments as the ISS speeds across continents in mere minutes. The fact that these images are often spontaneous makes them even more impressive.
The Beauty of Earth From Above Never Ceases to Amaze
Though this latest photo has gone viral, it’s far from the first time astronauts have shared awe-inspiring views from space. From glowing auroras and thunderstorm patterns to cityscapes and sunrises above the horizon, the ISS continues to provide a unique perspective of Earth’s magnificence.
Despite the political and budgetary challenges NASA faces—including cuts proposed during Donald Trump’s presidency—astronauts aboard the ISS persist in delivering powerful images that remind us of our planet’s fragile beauty and the vastness of the universe beyond.
These photos don’t just serve as scientific documentation. They stir emotion, provoke reflection, and emphasize just how small and precious our home truly is in the grand cosmic scale.
As technology improves and missions become more ambitious, our window to the stars continues to expand—thanks in part to astronauts like Don Pettit and their dedication to sharing the view.