Capturing Three Galaxies in a Single Frame: A View from Orbit

Prepare to be awestruck by a celestial panorama unlike any other! During Expedition 72 aboard the International Space Station (ISS), an astronaut aboard the SpaceX Crew 9 Dragon spacecraft managed to capture an absolutely spectacular image featuring not one, not two, but three distinct galaxies: our own Milky Way and the two Magellanic Clouds.

This incredible shot showcases the grandeur of our galactic neighborhood. Below the dazzling starfield, streaks of city lights paint a vibrant tapestry across the Earth's surface, separated from the cosmos by a delicate band of red atmospheric airglow.

The Technology Behind the Magic

Achieving such detail in a photograph taken from a moving spacecraft is no small feat. The key to this breathtaking image lies in a custom-built star tracker. This ingenious device allowed the photographer to effectively cancel out the Earth's rotation (and that of the ISS itself!), enabling the stars to be captured as fixed, sharp pinpoints of light. This stability is crucial for long exposures, especially when photographing faint, distant objects like galaxies.

The camera equipment used for this mission was equally impressive: a Nikon Z9 paired with a Sigma 14mm f/1.4 lens. The settings for this specific shot were a 20-second exposure at ISO 12800, followed by meticulous adjustments in Photoshop to enhance levels and contrast, bringing out the subtle details of this extraordinary scene.

This photograph is a testament to the cutting-edge technology enabling us to explore and document the universe, and it serves as a powerful reminder of our place within the vastness of space.

For more stunning images from space, be sure to follow the astronaut's journey on and !