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Astronaut Don Pettit shows how to take long-exposure photos from the ISS
NASA astronaut Don Pettit has taken photography to new heights by creating his own star tracker, allowing him to capture stunning long-exposure images of the stars while on the International Space Station (ISS). The remarkable images have been shared on Reddit and Instagram, giving space enthusiasts a unique glimpse into life on the ISS.
Pettit built his own homemade star tracker, which he brought with him to space. This device helps compensate for the movement of the ISS, ensuring that his camera captures sharp, distortion-free images of the night sky. In a Reddit thread, Pettit explained how he was able to take photos with exposures as long as 30 seconds without significant star motion.
The astronaut notes that aligning the tracker on a moving platform is no easy task and requires careful calibration. He also highlights the challenges of taking photos through the ISS’s windows, which involve distortion and optical induced star motion due to the thick glass and angle at which light passes through it.
Pettit’s impressive images showcase the beauty of the stars and the Earth from orbit. His Reddit account page features a range of incredible images that have been shared online, providing a fascinating glimpse into life on the ISS.
Source: www.theverge.com
