The astronaut's most recent breathtaking photograph is filled with an abundance of captivating details.

Earth and space as seen from the space station.

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Don Pettit / National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)

NASA astronaut Don Pettit has been hard at work with his camera once more. The talented photographer recently unveiled another breathtaking image, taken from the window of a Crew Dragon spacecraft that is currently docked at the International Space Station (ISS).

“In a post accompanying the image, Pettit described it as: ‘A single shot capturing the Milky Way, Zodiacal light, Starlink satellites appearing as streaks, stars twinkling like pinpoints, the atmosphere on the horizon displaying OH emission in a burnt umber hue (my favorite crayon color), the sun about to rise, and the glow of cities at night as streaks.’”

One photo with: Milkyway, Zodical light, @Starlink satellites as streaks, stars as pin points, atmosphere on edge showing OH emission as burned umber (my favorite Crayon color), soon to rise sun, and cities at night as streaks. Taken two days ago from Dragon Crew 9 vehicle port… pic.twitter.com/iCIXwgw9JB

— Don Pettit (@astro_Pettit) January 13, 2025

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Earth is easily identified at the bottom of the picture, as are the many stars that dot the rest of the image. Look more closely, however, and you’ll see a number of streaks in the blackness, which Pettit identifies as SpaceX Starlink satellites that provide internet connectivity to folks back on terra firma.

The Milky Way is prominently displayed across the center of the image, and the zodiacal light referenced by Pettit manifests as a subtle, diffuse glow resembling a triangular or cone-like shape. This otherworldly phenomenon occurs when sunlight scatters off dust particles floating in the space between planets within our solar system.

OH emission, commonly referred to as hydroxyl airglow, is a natural occurrence found in the upper atmosphere of Earth, particularly within the mesosphere and lower thermosphere. This phenomenon is marked by the emission of infrared radiation from energized hydroxyl (OH) molecules, creating a distinctive brownish hue that can be observed encircling the Earth, as depicted in Pettit’s photograph.

As the ISS orbits the Earth, astronauts witness 16 sunrises and sunsets daily, offering them a constantly shifting view from their unique vantage point in space.

Across his four space missions over the last 30 years, Pettit has earned a deserved reputation for his outstanding photography work, capturing sublime images of Earth and beyond.

The advent of social media has allowed him to share his work with a growing audience of fans who never quite know what he’s going to post next.

Surprises from his current mission, which began in September and runs through March, have included a remarkable shot of a Crew Dragon spacecraft returning to Earth at high speed at the end of a mission. He also managed to capture a Starship launch from SpaceX’s Starbase site in Texas when the ISS, through sheer luck, passed overhead during liftoff.