Don Pettit Captures Stunning Long-Exposure Photos from the ISS

Nasa Astronaut Don Pettit’s Innovative Star Tracker for Astrophotography

NASA astronaut Don Pettit has made waves in the world of astrophotography with his groundbreaking creation: a homemade star tracker specifically designed for capturing breathtaking images of the night sky from the International Space Station (ISS). His remarkable achievements have sparked interest, especially among photography and space enthusiasts.

What is a Star Tracker?

A star tracker is an essential device that helps astrophotographers take long-exposure photographs of celestial bodies by compensating for the Earth’s rotation. In the unique environment of space, where the ISS travels at high velocities, the need for precise tracking is even more critical.

Pettit’s Custom Design and Its Functionality

Pettit’s innovative tracker rotates at a rate that complements the pitch rate of the ISS, completing a full rotation every 90 minutes. This synchronization allows him to capture long-exposure images without the stars appearing as blurred streaks.

He elaborates, "Without this tracker, you cannot take photo[s] longer than 1/2 second without star blur due to the rate of orbital motion." His remarkable images, including a stunning 15-second exposure shot, demonstrate the effectiveness of his creation.

The Challenges of Astrophotography from Space

Despite the success of his star tracker, Pettit faces several challenges while capturing images:

• Aligning on a Moving Platform: Proper alignment of the tracker on the ISS proves to be a challenging task due to its constant movement.
• Duration of Exposure: Currently, he can achieve exposure durations of up to 30 seconds with minimal star motion.
• Optical Distortion: Taking pictures through the ISS’s windows, which include four panes of glass (two 30mm thick), can create distortion and relative optical motion of stars.

Explore Pettit's Astounding Images

Fascinated by Pettit’s work? You can view more phenomenal images taken by him on his Reddit account, X, and Instagram. These platforms showcase a variety of photos, including some that highlight the stunning view of space without the motion compensation.

Conclusion

Don Pettit’s ingenuity in creating a homemade star tracker has opened new doors for astrophotography in space. His dedication to capturing the beauty of the universe from the ISS serves as an inspiration for both amateur and professional photographers alike, demonstrating the powerful intersection of creativity and technology in space exploration.