Earth takes on ‘eyeball’ vibes from space

Known as the blue marble and the blue planet, Earth has a new nickname: the “Earthly eyeball,” according to NASA astronaut Don Pettit.

Pettit recently shared footage of Earth taken from the International Space Station’s Cupola module, giving it the appearance of an eyeball when viewed through a wide-angle lens.

Throughout his six-month stay aboard the space station, Pettit has captured stunning images, including star trails, auroras, and even a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft returning from a mission.

His photos showcase Earth’s beauty from above, with shots of rivers in the Amazon basin and the Betsiboka River estuary in Madagascar.

Unfortunately, Pettit will be returning to Earth this month, but his photos will continue to inspire and tell the story of human exploration in space.

Reflecting on his photography from space, Pettit said, “Images from space help tell the story to people on Earth that don’t have the opportunity to go into space,” emphasizing the importance of sharing the experience of space exploration through photography.