NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick, a US Navy test pilot, has captured an awe-inspiring image of the aurora from the International Space Station (ISS). The photograph, shared on the social media platform X, showcases a mesmerizing blend of celestial beauty and technological wonder.
Dominick’s image depicts a stunning display of green and red auroral lights dancing across the Earth’s atmosphere. The lights are reflected off the space station’s service module solar arrays, with the Milky Way core shining brightly behind the station. The image also reveals the faint glow of city lights in the foreground, adding a touch of sparkle to the scene.
The astronaut provided technical details about the captivating shot, revealing that it was a single image taken from a timelapse sequence. He used a 15mm lens with a T1.8 aperture, exposing for 1.6 seconds at an ISO sensitivity of 6400. The image was later denoised to enhance its clarity.
Dominick’s image has captivated social media users, garnering over 194,000 views and 513 likes in just a few hours. Netizens have expressed their amazement at the breathtaking spectacle, with many praising the astronaut’s skill and vision.
One user commented, “I love how this reverses the star trails. Stars are points and earth is streaked. Stoked with your work in transforming how we see what you see from space!” Another user remarked, “All the beauty we’ve not seen since the cupola (spacecraft) arrived…all because we didn’t have a real photographer aboard. Wonderful, Matthew, wonderful. That’s why the flight Everyday Astronaut was selected …. We’d see it all through the eyes of artists.”
This image follows a series of stunning pictures captured by Dominick during his time at the ISS. His previous post featured a short timelapse video depicting the aurora, the San Francisco Bay Area from space, and the Milky Way core.
Dominick’s images offer a unique perspective on the beauty of Earth and the vastness of space, reminding us of the wonders that lie beyond our planet. His work showcases the power of photography to inspire awe and wonder, connecting us to the universe in a profound way.
