| ISS006 Earth Sciences and Image Analysis Photographic Highlights |
| TOP PICKS |
| Click here to view the complete online collection of astronaut photography of Earth >> |
| ISS006-E-44689 |
 ISS006-E-44689 Click the photo number to access all resolutions available and the database record. |
| São Paulo, Brazil, at Night: A favorite activity of astronauts
and cosmonauts aboard the International Space Station is looking at
the city lights below when the Station crosses the Earth’s dark side.
The lights outline the densest population centers and coastlines, and
suggest cultural patterns. Taking these low-light images using the
equipment on board the Station has been challenging to the crew
members because of the long exposure times required. Astronaut Don
Pettit, who leaves the station for Earth today (May 3, 2003), has
pioneered an approach using a home-made tracking system to track the
ground as it moves relative to the Station, allowing him to acquire
long-exposure images under low light conditions. Don’s ingenious
“Barn-Door Tracker” is a camera mount with a rigged with a hand drill
to create a motion tracking system (see http://science.nasa.gov/headlines/y2003/24mar_noseprints.htm
for a description). This image shows the sprawling urban footprint of São Paulo, Brazil, South America’s largest city with roughly 17 million people. The different colors (pink, white, and gray) define different types and generations of streetlights. The port of Santos, on the right side of the photograph, is also well defined by lights. |
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This service is provided by the International Space Station program and the JSC Astromaterials Research & Exploration Science Directorate. Recommended Citation: Image Science and Analysis Laboratory, NASA-Johnson Space Center. "The Gateway to Astronaut Photography of Earth." . |
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