Astronaut captures stunning Earth and star photo from space

NASA astronaut Don Pettit recently shared a remarkable photograph taken from the International Space Station (ISS). The image captures a long-exposure view of Earth and the stars, creating a stunning visual effect. In the photo, the Earth appears to merge with a starry night sky. This unusual scene combines streaks of light from stars above with flashes of lightning and city lights below. Pettit took the picture while aboard the SpaceX Crew Dragon capsule Freedom, which is returning four Crew-9 astronauts to Earth. The ISS orbits the Earth at over 14,500 miles per hour, allowing for this unique perspective. Pettit has a strong background in space photography and worked with famous astrophotographer Babak Tafreshi to enhance the image. Views from space often give astronauts a deep sense of wonder, known as the "overview effect." This photograph exemplifies the beauty and complexity of our planet from above.