The International Space Station (ISS) is about as good as it does when it comes to aerial photography.
So it’s no surprise that many astronauts visiting the orbiting outpost make their way quickly to the Cupola, the space station’s seven-window observation module that offers fascinating views of Earth 250 miles away. low.
Current ISS inhabitant Thomas Pesquet has become one of the most skilled shooters on the current crew, with the French astronaut regularly sharing jaw-dropping images of Earth on his Instagram and Twitter accounts.
But getting those incredible images isn’t just a matter of looking out of the dome and hoping for the best.
It’s been a while, but the blues of #Bahamas and #KeyWest never disappoint, seeming to change color with each visit to the area and brighten up our day each time we see them. Dive into the blue tones, and if you want more, there is also a mapping: ?https: //t.co/d4Pw9S4WDq pic.twitter.com/ZmEg6ccXWJ
– Thomas Pesquet (@Thom_astro) September 21, 2021
Today’s astronauts typically use a Nikon D5 DSLR with a telephoto lens to photograph the Earth, but as Pesquet pointed out in a recent article online, it actually takes a lot of preparation to increase the chances of capturing a great image.
“Proper planning for a photo is half the job, and for us it starts with our navigation software,” said the astronaut, who arrived at the ISS in April. “The software shows us where it is day and night and even the cloud cover forecast, but most importantly, it shows us future orbits. “
This helps us to anticipate the passages above our targets, taking into account the time of day, the lighting, the weather … but even if the orbits and the weather are in our favor and we have the time … still it is necessary to locate the target at 400 km above and correctly configure the parameters of the camera! pic.twitter.com/ouc9SgopxL
– Thomas Pesquet (@Thom_astro) September 23, 2021
Pesquet said he also planned many of his images before leaving Earth, which would save him time once he got to the space station.
According to the astronaut, whose current mission ends in October 2021, many people “think you can take a photo of a specific place on Earth on command, but it’s much more difficult than that.” First of all, our orbits mean that we only periodically fly over specific areas. Second, even if we fly over an area of interest, it may be at night, so there won’t be anything to see unless it’s a city with illuminated street lights.
From space #LosAngeles shines as bright as the stars who roam its streets ✨ https://t.co/HMepv8zaPW
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City of stars, are you shining just for me? Los Angeles at night lights up like stars in the sky. https://t.co/HMepv8zaPW #MissionAlpha #Big image pic.twitter.com/CZ2t3Hcvar– Thomas Pesquet (@Thom_astro) September 18, 2021
The two main obstacles to capturing the desired photo are cloud cover and the work schedule, with ISS astronauts spending most of their time working on science experiments.
“A lot of times we pass over areas when we are working. », Pesquet explained. “We can’t let go of everything we do at 2:35 pm, for example, just because we really want to take a photo of a city or a mountain or some other wonder of the Earth. Even if the stars align and we have time [and] orbits and weather [are] in our favor, we still have to spot the target 400 kilometers above and configure the camera settings correctly! “
Spring has not taken over the entire northern hemisphere – three examples in Asia where snow is still found. ?? #MissionAlpha https://t.co/LongHxMHsf pic.twitter.com/iEGQloFCiu
– Thomas Pesquet (@Thom_astro) May 16, 2021
Just from the small number of images we have posted on this page, it is clear that Pesquet has an eye for a great photo, and that his meticulous preparation pays off.
Andes again. This region, between Peru, Chile, Bolivia, is an endless source of magical shapes and striking colors. Do you prefer a burgundy red lake, or a neon blue amphitheater? #MissionAlpha pic.twitter.com/VZhDr1id7q
– Thomas Pesquet (@Thom_astro) September 19, 2021
For more on Pesquet’s stunning space photographs, check out this collection of images we featured earlier this year.
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