The Most Stunning Space Photograph Ever Captured

Astronaut Don Pettit has captured what experts call the most extraordinary space photograph from the

(ISS). The image showcases breathtaking details: the core of the , (scattered sunlight from ), streaks from SpaceX Starlink satellites, Earth's , a sunrise on the horizon, and city lights glowing from Earth at night.

The photo was taken through the side window of the Crew Dragon Freedom

, which has been instrumental in transporting astronauts to the ISS. This spacecraft is expected to return astronauts to Earth in the coming months.

Photographing stars from space is particularly challenging due to the brightness of nearby

and fast-moving missions. Despite these difficulties, Pettit's dedication and technical skill made this image possible.

Currently on his third mission aboard the ISS, Pettit has spent nearly 500 days in space. Like many astronauts, he enjoys photographing Earth and the universe from the station, which orbits the planet every 90 minutes, offering unique views of 16 sunrises and 16 sunsets daily.