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Between the branches

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あくび砲

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Do you love the color of the—uh, well, does this even count as the sky anymore?

Astronaut Don Pettit took this photo from space in January 2025, as the Sun began to rise over a cloudy Pacific Ocean. This long-exposure image shows off the wide band of the Milky Way, our home galaxy, above the aurora and airglow that shine closer to Earth's horizon.

Astronaut Don Pettit has been to space four times: most recently, he spent 220 days on the International Space Station, returning to Earth in April 2025. Pettit grew space plants, printed 3D metal parts, and studied human health during his time in orbit. When he wasn't working on more formal studies, though, he found plenty of time for what he calls the "science of opportunity:" exploring and experimenting with his surroundings through a combination of science and art.

Pettit shares his experience with the art side of his time in space on our astrophotography episode of “Houston, We Have a Podcast” alongside astronaut Matt Dominick. Give it a listen here or on your favorite podcast app.