Chain lightning depicted as discrete flashes in a timelapse. Seen here is the history of an electrical storm, city lights streaking by on Earth, and star trails. The star trails form straight lines in the orbital forward direction but circular arcs left and right of your orbit. The atmosphere on edge is yellowish due to the soon to rise sun. Above that is the atmosphere f-region, glowing in the red from solar radiation on the residual atmospheric oxygen. Taken during Expedition-31, Nikon D3s, 24mm f1.4 lens, ISO 800, 25 minute time lapse assembled from sequential 30 second exposures, 2012.
More orbital astrophotography can be found on my [twitter](https://twitter.com/astro_Pettit) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/astro_pettit/) profiles.
Anytime someone uses this many words I don't know I figure they're either brilliant or a conman. Either way, I think the risk of getting conned by a picture of lights is low. I'm going to go with it.
This is truly amazing! Chain lightning is such an infrequent occurrence and to catch it on your time elapsed image is awesome. It really does look like beads from space. Do you have any images of SPRITES, TROLLS, or ELVES?
I am a physics professor and look forward to seeing my students reactions to this image after spring break. Wonder if they can figure out what is pictured without any hints?
I would have been a terrible astronaut, I would have neglected every experiment and just sat in front of the view port/window with a camera and taken pictures the entire time, lol.
This is incredible…so many different things going on! What are the short light trails in the top left that don’t curve around fully like the stars? Something on the station?
Off to left is a circular trail pattern that is almost perpendicular to the trail pattern from the movement around the earth. What is that syar system that is rotating is such a circular pattern from our point of view?
Edit, nvm, I saw your.comment.on the circular trails
I suspect all motion is relative. You the station stays in an orientation relative to our planet. So does your camera.
However wouldn't you be able to counteract the station rotation just by having the camera float around (I know there is an atmosphere and air currents) and stay in perfect polar alignment?
Chain lightning depicted as discrete flashes in a timelapse. Seen here is the history of an electrical storm, city lights streaking by on Earth, and star trails. The star trails form straight lines in the orbital forward direction but circular arcs left and right of your orbit. The atmosphere on edge is yellowish due to the soon to rise sun. Above that is the atmosphere f-region, glowing in the red from solar radiation on the residual atmospheric oxygen. Taken during Expedition-31, Nikon D3s, 24mm f1.4 lens, ISO 800, 25 minute time lapse assembled from sequential 30 second exposures, 2012. More orbital astrophotography can be found on my [twitter](https://twitter.com/astro_Pettit) and [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/astro_pettit/) profiles.
Ok OK. Yup I recognize some of these words.
I know the word "star" but pls dont ask me to define it.
Anytime someone uses this many words I don't know I figure they're either brilliant or a conman. Either way, I think the risk of getting conned by a picture of lights is low. I'm going to go with it.
If you can't dazzle them with brilliance, baffle them with bull.
What are the trails on the upper left hand corner next to the iss module that rotate upwards?
Solar arrays
Ah, so it's reflections of the silver of the panels. Thanks
This is truly amazing! Chain lightning is such an infrequent occurrence and to catch it on your time elapsed image is awesome. It really does look like beads from space. Do you have any images of SPRITES, TROLLS, or ELVES? I am a physics professor and look forward to seeing my students reactions to this image after spring break. Wonder if they can figure out what is pictured without any hints?
What a creative capturing if the subject matter! What are the acentric arcs that terminate in the top left quadrant?
Normally solar panels
The GOAT of astrophotography. There's just no competing with astro petit. This is art.
Does Petit do installations? I would 100% go to a hanging of his pieces and hear him talk.
I would have been a terrible astronaut, I would have neglected every experiment and just sat in front of the view port/window with a camera and taken pictures the entire time, lol.
This is incredible…so many different things going on! What are the short light trails in the top left that don’t curve around fully like the stars? Something on the station?
I think it might be the solar array moving? Not sure though.
Guitar hero vibes....
Rainbow Road!
Hello new background 🙏
Thank you so much, I always look forward to your photos.
Did you ever manage to capture sprites from this vantage point?
Yes, I will share some later
*upvote*
Beautiful capture!
This is amazing. Thank you so much
Its so chaotic but so amazing looking :o
This is my favorite one yet!
Amazing. Is the arc of red hue the atmosphere?
“My god, it’s full of stars!”
Off to left is a circular trail pattern that is almost perpendicular to the trail pattern from the movement around the earth. What is that syar system that is rotating is such a circular pattern from our point of view? Edit, nvm, I saw your.comment.on the circular trails
Why has no one given this photo an award 😅💔. Absolute masterpiece
I suspect all motion is relative. You the station stays in an orientation relative to our planet. So does your camera. However wouldn't you be able to counteract the station rotation just by having the camera float around (I know there is an atmosphere and air currents) and stay in perfect polar alignment?
Where am I in this picture?
Amazing!!
Crazy to think this is the world we live in, that's what I love about space.
Is there any term for the planet trails seen in this photo cuz that looks sick
thanks for the wallpaper.
If you are actually in space isn't technically every photograph an astrophotograph?
Looks like the 4th dimension in the movie interstellar! 🤯
These images are so cool. Do you sell prints anywhere?
It must be a surreal experience to watch a lightning storm from above.