A Cosmic Ballet: Star Trails and Starlink from the ISS

From the vantage point of the International Space Station (ISS), the night sky transforms into a canvas of celestial artistry. Astronauts have the unparalleled opportunity to capture phenomena that are simply impossible to witness from Earth's surface.

Streaking Through the Darkness

This incredible image, taken during Expedition 72, showcases the dynamic beauty of our planet from orbit. As the ISS traverses the globe, its perspective reveals stunning "star trails" – arcs of light created by the movement of the stars relative to the space station during a long exposure. These trails paint a mesmerizing picture of our galaxy's rotation.

But the spectacle doesn't end there. The image also captures the illuminated lights of cities on Earth below, creating a stark contrast with the darkness of space. Further adding to the celestial narrative are flashes of Starlink satellites, a constellation of human-made objects, caught in the brilliance of the rising sun. These moments highlight the convergence of natural cosmic phenomena and our increasing presence in the final frontier.

Technical Details of the Shot

This remarkable photograph was captured using a Nikon Z9 camera with a 14mm lens set at f/1.4, with an exposure time of 30 seconds. The image underwent post-flight processing and color adjustments to bring out the full vibrancy of the scene.

Follow the Journey

For more incredible views of space and astrophotography, be sure to follow the astronaut's work on and .