Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla shares mesmerising images of beautiful nebula captured from Bengaluru skies

Orion Nebula, also called M42. (Image: Shubhanshu Shukla/Instagram)

Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, who recently returned to Earth after his historic 19-day mission aboard the ISS, shared something special—his personal story of stargazing back home in India.

From Bengaluru Nights to Space Views
After completing his first training phase in Russia, Shukla returned to India. There, he met Prof. Aloke Kumar from IISc, who also loved the night sky. That meeting sparked a journey into astrophotography. It began with simple attempts at capturing the Orion Nebula, also called M42. The “M” refers to the Messier catalogue, which lists deep-sky objects.

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A post shared by Shubhanshu Shukla (@gagan.shux)

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All the photos were taken from Bengaluru’s skies. With each try, the results improved steadily. The final image, clearer and sharper, showed how much progress had been made.

A Journey Written in Light
Shukla’s shared images are of the same nebula. But each photo marks a step forward in skill. This patience and practice reflect not just his love for space but also his belief—“Slow or fast, if you keep moving, progress is guaranteed.”

Now stationed aboard the International Space Station, he continues to connect back to Earth through his lens. The Bengaluru night sky that once inspired him now looks up at one of its own.

These shared moments show us that wonder begins from home, even when the destination is space.