NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick has once again captured the internet’s attention with a stunning photograph of the Moon setting over the Pacific Ocean. Dominick, currently aboard the International Space Station (ISS), shared this mesmerizing image on social media, showing the Moon in a brilliant blue sky with Earth’s atmosphere in the foreground.
Details of the photograph
Dominick revealed that he initially went to the ISS’s cupola—a dome-shaped observatory module designed for viewing and remote operations—to capture images of Tropical Storm Hone near Hawaii. However, shortly after passing the storm, he noticed the Moon beginning to set. The result was a breathtaking photograph that captured the moon with a 400mm lens, using ISO 500, a shutter speed of 1/20000 seconds, and an aperture of f/2.8. He mentioned that the image was cropped and denoised for clarity.
Public reaction to the photo
The photo quickly went viral after being shared on social media, accumulating over 400,000 views and more than 5,000 likes. Netizens were captivated by the beauty of the image, with many expressing their amazement:
- “This is absolutely mind-boggling,” one user commented, capturing the sense of wonder shared by many viewers.
- “Great shot!” another user exclaimed, praising Dominick’s photographic skills.
- Others likened the image to scenes from science fiction, with one person remarking, “Star Wars vibes.”
- Another user shared a reflective thought, “And to think it still takes nearly 3 days to arrive to the moon. The vastness of space is so humbling and so beautiful.”
Several people also noted the impressive sight of towering clouds near the horizon, with one user commenting, “While that moon is beautiful, I was more impressed by those towering clouds near the horizon… How high do they reach!!”
Previous viral image by Dominick
This isn’t the first time Matthew Dominick has captured the internet’s imagination. An earlier photo of a moonrise from the ISS, showing a crescent moon above noctilucent clouds against Earth’s atmosphere, also went viral. Describing the scene, Dominick wrote, “A sliver of a moon rises out of noctilucent clouds and appears to look towards the horizon awaiting the imminent sunrise.”
These images continue to showcase the beauty of space and the unique perspectives offered by astronauts aboard the ISS. Through these photos, Dominick and NASA provide a glimpse into the vastness and wonder of the universe, sparking awe and inspiration among people worldwide.