NASA astronaut shares a stunning photo of Moon over Pacific Ocean from space; check out the breathtaking image here

(Representative Image: Canva)

High above Earth, aboard the International Space Station, NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick found himself in the right place at the right time to capture a breathtaking moment. As he aimed to photograph a tropical storm, the universe had other plans. Instead, Dominick’s lens captured the serene and mesmerising beauty of the moon setting over the vast Pacific Ocean, a sight that has since touched the hearts of many around the world.

Astronaut Matthew Dominick, who has been orbiting Earth aboard the ISS for nearly four months, recently shared a breathtaking image that has quickly gone viral. The photograph, taken from the station’s cupola, showcases the moon descending over the Pacific Ocean, framed by the delicate blue hues of Earth's clouds and atmosphere. The image’s serene beauty offers a rare glimpse of our planet from a vantage point most can only dream of.

Dominick, in a reflective social media post, described the moment he took the photograph: "I headed to the cupola to capture Tropical Storm Hone near Hawaii, but just after we passed the storm, the moon began to set." The resulting image, which contrasts the celestial grace of the moon against Earth’s ethereal atmosphere, was taken with a 400mm lens at ISO 500, using a shutter speed of 1/20000s and an aperture of f/2.8. Dominick further enhanced the photo by cropping and denoising it, bringing the clarity and detail to life.

The moon setting over the Pacific.Went to the cupola to shoot Tropical Storm Hone near Hawaii but right after we passed by the storm the moon started to set.400mm, ISO 500, 1/20000s shutter speed, f2.8, cropped, denoised. pic.twitter.com/YtboVnRNpF
Matthew Dominick (@dominickmatthew) August 24, 2024

Since its release, the image has garnered widespread attention, accumulating over 400,000 views and more than 5,000 likes. Social media users have been effusive in their praise, with comments ranging from "Incredible shot!" to "This image moved me deeply." One user even remarked on the photograph’s "Star Wars vibes," while another reflected on the vastness of space, noting, "It still takes nearly three days to reach the moon. The enormity of space is both humbling and beautiful." Beyond the moon itself, viewers were equally captivated by the towering clouds near the horizon, marvelling at their impressive height and structure.

Just days before this image, Dominick shared another remarkable photograph from the ISS. This one depicted a crescent moon rising above Earth's atmosphere, with layers of orange and black clouds set against a blue band stretching across the centre. The crescent moon, a sliver of light amidst the blackness of space, provided a striking contrast and a unique perspective from the orbiting station. Dominick described this scene in a poetic social media post: "A sliver of a moon rises out of noctilucent clouds and seems to gaze towards the horizon, awaiting the imminent sunrise."

NASA continues to share these awe-inspiring images, offering the public a window into the wonders of the universe and the unparalleled beauty of our planet as seen from space. Through the lens of astronauts like Dominick, we are reminded of the splendour and fragility of the world we call home, and the vast, mysterious expanse that lies just beyond our reach.