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Astronaut Don Pettit shows how to take long-exposure photos from the ISS
NASA astronaut Don Pettit has taken stunning photos of the stars while on the International Space Station (ISS). To achieve this, he created his own star tracker device to help capture clear images without trails behind the stars. The innovative technique allows him to take longer exposure photos without distortion.
In a Reddit thread, Pettit explained how he brought a homemade star tracker with him to space, allowing his camera to capture long-exposure photos of the night sky. He notes that traditional star trackers are designed to rotate with the Earth or ISS, preventing any distortion in images taken during this time.
Pettit’s star tracker completes a rotation every 90 minutes to match the ISS’s pitch rate. He emphasizes that without this device, it would be impossible to take photos longer than half a second without stars leaving trails behind them due to the orbital motion of the ISS.
In addition to his homemade star tracker, Pettit also faces challenges taking photos through the ISS’s windows. “Looking through 4 panes of glass, two of which are 30mm thick, at an angle makes for some distortion and relative optically induced star motion,” he notes.
The astronaut’s innovative approach allows him to take photos with up to 30-second exposures without significant star motion. He has shared his incredible images on his Reddit account page, X, and Instagram, offering a unique glimpse into the beauty of space from the ISS’s perspective.
Pettit’s remarkable work showcases not only his exceptional skills as an astronaut but also his ability to adapt and innovate in challenging environments.
Source: www.theverge.com
