Astronaut Don Pettit's Milky Way Photo from ISS Stuns Skeptics
On July 31, 2026, NASA astronaut Don Pettit posted an extraordinary image of the Milky Way Galaxy taken from the International Space Station (ISS) on X (formerly Twitter). The photograph, captured with a Nikon Z9 camera and a specially designed sidereal drive, features the galaxy above Earth, with ISS elements visible in the foreground from the Cupola module. Some users expressed doubt about the authenticity of the image. In response, on August 1, 2026, Pettit clarified the use of the sidereal tracker, which was developed by the Rochester Institute of Technology (RIT) to negate the ISS's orbital movement. After Expedition 72, the mount was returned to RIT for exhibition, underscoring photography's importance in conveying space exploration to those on Earth.
Key facts
- Don Pettit is a NASA astronaut.
- The photo was taken from the ISS Cupola module.
- Camera used: Nikon Z9 with Arri Zeiss 15mm lens.
- Custom sidereal drive canceled out star motion.
- Pettit processed 1.2 million RAW images from Expedition 72.
- The sidereal tracker was built by Rochester Institute of Technology.
- The tracker is mechanical, bypassing NASA electrical requirements.
- The mount is now displayed at RIT.
- Pettit shared the photo on X on July 31, 2026.
- Some X users doubted the photo's authenticity.
Entities
Artists
- Don Pettit
Institutions
- NASA
- Rochester Institute of Technology
- International Space Station
Locations
- Earth
- International Space Station