Space, Light, And A Camera: 10 Times NASA Astronaut Don Pettit Wowed Earth With His Cosmic Photography

Don Pettit, a NASA astronaut currently aboard the International Space Station, uses his camera to capture stunning images of Earth and the cosmos, revealing the elegance of the universe.

By : ABP News Bureau | Updated at : 27 Feb 2025 09:57 AM (IST)

Don Pettit space photography Ten Times NASA Astronaut Wowed Earth With Cosmic Photography space light Nikon Z9 camera ISS Space, Light, And A Camera: 10 Times NASA Astronaut Don Pettit Wowed Earth With His Cosmic Photography

An accomplished photographer, astronaut Don Pettit seems to approach space photography with an inventor’s mind and a scientist’s curiosity

Source : X/@astro_Pettit

Space is often described as the final frontier, a vast and endless expanse where science and wonder collide. Few people have captured its breathtaking beauty quite like NASA astronaut Don Pettit. A scientist, engineer, and veteran space traveller, Pettit has become an unexpected artist in orbit, using his camera to reveal the mesmerising elegance of Earth and the cosmos. His photographs and time-lapse videos — crafted with precision, patience, and appreciation for light — have transformed the way we perceive our planet and the universe beyond.

An accomplished photographer, Pettit seems to approach space photography with an inventor’s mind and a scientist’s curiosity, unlike most of the other astronauts who document their missions with standard imagery. He uses custom camera settings and experimental techniques to capture the unseen: from glowing auroras dancing like liquid fire, to city lights forming intricate web-like patterns across continents, and hypnotic star trails circling above Earth’s horizon.

The posts he shares on social media not only fascinates space enthusiasts but also helps laypersons understand complex scientific phenomena.

Beyond his photography, Pettit has a flair for making life aboard the International Space Station delightfully quirky. His social media is filled with amusing glimpses of the astronaut life. His innovative “zero-G coffee cup” (https://www.rit.edu/vignellicenter/product-timecapsule/nasa-capillary-cup) designed to let astronauts sip their drink naturally without a straw became an instant hit. Most recently, he shared two videos of him putting on his pants in microgravity, which left social media in splits.

OK; you all asked if this was possible….. pic.twitter.com/sMmJJtQNMy
— Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) February 23, 2025

Don Pettit is currently on a mission to the International Space Station (ISS), as part of Expedition 71/72. He reached the ISS in September 2024, and has since shared a number of breathtaking and fascinating images and videos.

Here is a took at some the most amazing posts he shared on social media.

ALSO READ ON ABP LIVE | Mercury, Venus, Jupiter & 4 More Planets In Rare Alignment, See Them Now Or Wait Until 2040

10 Don Pettit Posts You Can Watch In Loop

1.

In this image posted on January 20, Don Pettit showed the New Glenn rocket launch shot from the ISS. This image with a 4-minute time exposure shows the New Glenn following booster separation. Can you spot it? Here is a tip: see through the bright vertical stripes of star trails the "faint streak moving from lower right to upper left".

Pettit said this was not an easy photograph to take as he explained how he managed it. "To photograph New Glenn, I set up three cameras with wide angle lens in the Cupola, figuring one would catch its exo-atmospheric trajectory," he shared in the comments section.

New Glenn rocket launch photographed from ISS on Jan 16th. This shows New Glenn upper stage in coast phase following booster separation. In this 4 minute time exposure, New Glenn is seen as the faint streak moving from lower right to upper left as it crosses the brighter… pic.twitter.com/YwWtCfMoZt
— Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) January 19, 2025

2.

Captured from the ISS, this stunning satellite image showcases the surreal hues of Lake Natron in Tanzania, a unique body of water known for its extreme alkalinity and vibrant biological activity. Swirling patterns of green and reddish-brown in the lake reveal the presence of cyanobacteria and salt-loving microorganisms, which thrive in its mineral-rich waters. These resilient organisms play a crucial role in producing oxygen, shaping the lake's otherworldly appearance.

Despite its harsh conditions, Lake Natron serves as a critical breeding ground for flamingos and supports a delicate balance of life. Pettit's image not only offers a glimpse into Earth's extraordinary landscapes but also reminds us of the unseen processes — like oxygen generation by algae — that sustain life on our planet.

Happy Algae in Africa making oxygen. Natron Lake region of Tanzania. pic.twitter.com/MM94Yx2ZiK
— Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) January 8, 2025

3.

This stunning satellite image of Madagascar’s Betsiboka River Delta resembles the branching "arteries in your retina", in Don Pettit's own words. The river’s striking rust-red colour is caused by heavy soil erosion due to deforestation, as loose sediment is carried downstream into the Mozambique Channel. This ever-changing delta is vital for biodiversity, supporting unique wetland ecosystems.

Betsiboka river in Madagascar, remind me of the arteries in your retina. pic.twitter.com/ZM7KG0nFgx
— Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) January 23, 2025

This image of the Panama Canal reveals its shimmering, liquid-metal appearance due to sun glint, where sunlight directly reflects off the water’s surface. Typically obscured by clouds, the canal is elusive, with clear views only occurring about once per mission. This rare shot showcases the canal’s intricate waterways, snaking through Central America like molten silver.

Don Pettit used a Nikon Z9 with a Sigma 70-500mm lens to capture this fleeting moment, emphasising the interplay of light, shadow, and the Earth’s dynamic atmosphere. A breathtaking, lucky pass from orbit!

Panama Canal with sun glint (1st photo) and without (2nd photo). The Panama Canal is elusive. It is typically shrouded in clouds. Being close to the equator, we only get a near-perpendicular view about once every 10-11 days. Due to the clouds, having a clear canal view only once… pic.twitter.com/T2b1VbDIon
— Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) October 7, 2024

5.

This "false-colour" infrared image captures the Los Alamos and Valle Grande Caldera region of New Mexico, a place deeply connected to astronaut Don Pettit’s early scientific career. At Los Alamos National Laboratory, he transitioned from a fresh graduate student to a professional researcher, shaped by brilliant scientific minds.

In this near-infrared view, vegetation and volcanic cliffs glow in magenta, revealing features invisible to the human eye. Captured using a modified Nikon Z9, the image by Pettit is both a scientific and personal tribute to the landscape.

Los Alamos, Valle Grande Caldera, Jemez region of New Mexico. I spent my early career at Los Alamos National Laboratory, where I grew up from a freshly minted graduate student into a professional staff researcher. My scientific colleagues helped warp me into the scientist I am… pic.twitter.com/FOqW9U4oSD
— Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) October 5, 2024

6.

Mount Everest, Earth’s tallest peak, isn’t as easy to spot from space as one might think. It blends into a vast Himalayan range, requiring a trained eye and a unique geographic mnemonic. Don Pettit says astronauts approaching the region from west to east use two nested lakes shaped like “wine glasses” as landmarks. Just 15 seconds from Everest, they quickly locate “Bow Tie Lake”, then track eastward to a large drainage, follow its right fork, and shift southeast—there lies Everest!

Captured with a Nikon Z9, this photo reveals the legendary peak hidden in plain sight.

Mt. Everest is in this photo; can you find it? It is the big mountain that sticks up high. Mount Everest is the tallest peak in a whole range of tall peaks and not easily found. We have a way of picking it out, sort of like a geographic mnemonic that serves to impress rookie… pic.twitter.com/tgAoLLoS21
— Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) October 11, 2024

7.

At first glance, these glowing lines may resemble bright city lights, but in reality, they were the wildfires blazing across northeastern Australia, captured from orbit. Taken on September 9, this image highlights fires near Talaroo and Clermont, their scalloped edges burning intensely against the dark landscape.

Seen from space, the scale and brightness of these wildfires are striking — a sobering reminder of nature’s power.

Wildfires from orbit.

What first looked like bright street lighting really turned out to be wildfires in Australia. Taken today (Sunday September 9th) at 16:00 UT, these fires are in the North East region, the largest near Talaroo and the smaller one near Clermont.

It’s amazing… pic.twitter.com/24Z6gTyV8y
— Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) September 22, 2024

8.

This breathtaking image captures the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy of the Milky Way, set against the backdrop of Earth's red-orange f-region — the upper ionosphere glowing in response to solar radiation. A stunning fusion of astrophotography and orbital science, this long-exposure shot from the ISS was made possible by astronaut Don Pettit’s "homemade star tracker", which compensates for the station’s motion, preventing star trails. Using his Nikon Z9 with a 50mm f/1.2 lens, he achieved a 20-second exposure, revealing cosmic detail rarely seen from orbit.

Large Magellanic Cloud visible in the southern hemisphere with the upper “red-orange” part of our atmosphere (called the f-region) seen in the lower part of the photograph. This is a time exposure using my homemade tracker that compensates for @space_station motion, thus allowing… pic.twitter.com/YcCwSqkIzV
— Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) December 13, 2024

9.

This stunning long-exposure image captures M31 (Andromeda Galaxy) and M33 (the Pinwheel Galaxy in Triangulum) against a cosmic canvas, with Earth’s f-region airglow glowing red alongside green aurora near the soon-to-rise Sun. Taken from the Cupola of the ISS, Don Pettit used his "homemade star tracker" again to stabilise the view, allowing for a sharp star field while city lights streak below due to orbital motion. A breathtaking fusion of Earth and deep space in a single frame.

Star field showing M31, Andromeda and M33, the Pinwheel in Triangulum. The red is f-region atmospheric airglow coupled with some red and green aurora near the soon to rise sun with streaking city lights. Time exposure taken from Cupola using my homemade star tracker. pic.twitter.com/r6siFiD5ut
— Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) February 19, 2025

10.

In this serene image, Earth's aurora dances beneath the rising Sun, blending vivid greens and purples against the deep black of space. Above, the Milky Way stretches across the sky. Don Pettit showcases the ever-changing beauty of space, where each sunrise brings a new and awe-inspiring view of the universe glowing with cosmic energy.