In a rare celestial event, the International Space Station (ISS), carrying India’s own astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla, was photographed as it soared across the skies above India.
The remarkable images were captured by scientists at the historic Kodaikanal Solar Observatory, nestled in the Palani Hills of Tamil Nadu.
The Kodaikanal Solar Observatory, operated by the Indian Institute of Astrophysics since 1899, is renowned for its pioneering role in solar research and its century-long legacy of astronomical observation. On this occasion, the observatory’s team turned their gaze from the Sun to the night sky, tracking the ISS as it made its high-speed pass over Indian territory.
The ISS, orbiting Earth at an altitude of about 400 kilometers and travelling at 28,000 km/hr, appeared as a fast-moving, bright dot streaking across the sky.
Onboard, Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla, the first Indian to reside on the ISS, continued his historic mission, conducting cutting-edge scientific research on behalf of Indian institutions.
Capturing the ISS in flight is a technical feat, requiring precise timing and tracking. The observatory’s location—at 2,343 meters above sea level—offers clear, dust-free skies ideal for such astronomical photography.
Dr Chrisphin Karthick, a scientist at the Indian Institute of Astrophysics, captured the images using his camera.
To precisely time the shot, he used the ISS Detector mobile app, which provided accurate tracking and pass predictions. During the initial setup, he carefully selected the observation location to align with the ISS trajectory. For the photography, he used a camera setup with ISO 4000 sensitivity, a 2.2mm focal length, an aperture of f/2.2, and a shutter speed of 1/17 second—settings that allowed him to clearly capture the fast-moving space station in low light conditions.
The resulting images not only highlight the ISS’s trajectory over India but also symbolise the growing connection between Indian science and global space exploration.
The event was met with excitement among astronomers and the public alike. The Kodaikanal Solar Observatory, already a jewel of Indian astrophysics, has added another achievement to its storied history by chronicling this national moment.
As Shukla looks down on his homeland from orbit, the observatory’s photographs remind millions across India to look up and celebrate the nation’s stellar strides in space.
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