ISS Astronaut Captures Star Trails and Indonesian City Lights from Orbit

Key points

• Astronaut Anil Menon, part of Expedition 75, captured the image from the ISS orbiting 258 miles above the Banda Sea.
• The photograph was taken on September 20, 2026, and features star trails created by the long exposure duration.
• The image displays blue lights from squid-fishing boats and yellow lights from Indonesian cities on the ground.
• The Expedition 75 crew is currently focused on scientific research, including in-space manufacturing and bioprinting human tissue.

Background

Recent coverage has highlighted various perspectives on Earth from space, including ground-based star trail observations from Chile and the cultural influence of space media on NASA. This new image adds to the visual record of Earth's night side from the ISS, complementing earlier discussions on the agency's diverse crew and scientific missions.

How outlets are covering it

NASA emphasizes the technical aspect of the long-duration image and the specific geographic location over the Banda Sea. WQOW frames the footage as part of a broader timelapse video, highlighting the visual spectacle of city lights and lightning storms, while also noting the crew's current scientific priorities in bioprinting and AI testing. Both sources agree on the visual elements but differ in their focus, with NASA highlighting the static image and WQOW emphasizing the dynamic video content and mission goals.

Why it matters

The image provides a visual representation of Earth's rotation and the distribution of human activity at night, offering insights into both astronomical phenomena and human settlement patterns. It also underscores the ongoing scientific and observational capabilities of the ISS and its crew.

What to watch

The Expedition 75 crew will continue their research into in-space manufacturing and bioprinting. Further images and videos from the ISS may be released as the crew continues their orbit and observations.