NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick, currently residing on the International Space Station, has been sharing captivating photos and videos of life inside and outside the orbital outpost with his followers on X (formerly Twitter). Dominick recently announced that he will be teaming up with fellow NASA astronaut and renowned photographer Don Pettit for a live chat on astrophotography in low-Earth orbit. This exciting event will take place on Wednesday, July 24, at 4:05 p.m. ET on X, and the astronauts will be taking questions from the audience.
At 69 years old, Pettit is NASA’s oldest active astronaut and is scheduled to embark on his fourth space mission in September. Throughout his illustrious career, Pettit has earned a stellar reputation for capturing stunning images from space. His exceptional skills and artistic vision have consistently produced breathtaking results, making him a highly anticipated speaker for Wednesday’s event.
Dominick shared that shortly after his selection as an astronaut, Pettit was assigned as his mentor, passing on his photography expertise to Dominick before his first mission to the ISS in March. While many astronauts capture a few snapshots during their time on the ISS, Pettit elevates his photography to an entirely new level. His creativity and keen eye consistently deliver remarkable outcomes.
One example of Pettit’s work is his breathtaking image showcasing star trails, Earth, and a portion of the ISS. Another captivating shot was captured from within the station’s seven-window Cupola module. Some of Pettit’s images possess a scientific dimension, such as his long exposure taken from the ISS using a fisheye lens. Pettit notes that this image reveals four small lines caused by cosmic rays striking the camera sensor.
A particularly intriguing image showcases Earth reflected in the lens of a Nikon D3s, the camera Pettit used to capture many of his remarkable images. Lastly, a photo captures Pettit himself, expertly handling some of the cameras kept aboard the ISS.
With such an impressive body of work already under his belt, we eagerly anticipate the stunning images Pettit will capture during his upcoming mission later this year. Until then, make sure to tune in and witness the engaging conversation between Dominick and Pettit on Wednesday’s live X event.
