Astronaut Who Leaves the ISS Captures Stunning Nighttime Photograph.
The NASA astronaut, Matthew Dominick, is taking some final photographs of Earth from the International Space Station as he prepares to return home after spending more than seven months in space.
Matthew Dominick, NASA astronaut, is in the final stages of his Crew-8 mission, a seven-month journey aboard the International Space Station. Recently, Dominick had the opportunity to capture an impressive nighttime image of the Nile River, the Nile Delta, and the city of Cairo. "The moonlight illuminates Cairo and the Mediterranean on a mostly clear night," the astronaut commented in a message he shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.
The astronaut explained that they were adjusting their sleep schedule in preparation for the scheduled launch and return to Earth in the coming days. "Cairo at night is one of my favorite views. I’m glad the timing worked out to see it once more before our departure," he added. The photograph was taken from an altitude of 250 miles above Earth, using a 50mm lens at f1.2, with a 1/10 second exposure and an ISO of 3200. Though he did not specify the exact camera model, it is likely to have been a Nikon Z9, based on his previous work.
Dominick has impressed his followers with several stunning images during his time at the space station, and this latest capture is considered one of his best nighttime shots. He is currently preparing for his return to Earth along with three other astronauts. Although the return was initially scheduled for earlier days, it had been postponed due to adverse weather conditions in the landing area off the coast of Florida.
NASA reported that there had been a "marginal improvement in weather forecasts" at the potential landing sites, and plans for the Crew-8 mission to depart the International Space Station are set for no earlier than 9:05 PM ET on Monday, October 21, with the first estimated landing opportunity on Tuesday, October 22 at 12:55 PM ET.
Meanwhile, SpaceX's Crew Dragon prepares for an unusual flight, as there will be empty seats for the first time. This is part of the final preparations for the Crew-9 mission, which will launch from Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
