Art World
Astronaut Tweets Incredible Photos From Space
Is Reid Wiseman the International Space Station's first artist-in-residence?
Cait Munro
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While you’ve been busy posting videos of animals and griping about Downton Abbey snafus, astronaut and current International Space Station (ISS) resident Reid Wiseman has been using his Twitter account to share jaw-dropping images of life in space. More than just snapshots, these photos and videos are art, plus a quick, 140-character lesson in science, geography, and astrophysics.
According to WRAL, Wiseman is one of six Expedition 40 astronauts aboard the ISS. The Baltimore native is living out his childhood dream of going to space, and he’s decided to share the glory. In June, he made social media history by becoming the first ISS crew member to send a Vine video from space. Over the course of his stay on the ISS, he has amassed over 220,000 Twitter followers who eagerly anticipate the next glimpse into his incredible journey.
The astronaut appears to be as blown away by what he sees as his audience, often accompanying images with simple text like “Unbelievable” and “Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine this.” His most recent post, a green-tinged aurora rising around the “arms” of the space station, was one of his most magical, garnering more than 8,000 shares.
When he isn’t documenting lighting storms, the Northern Lights, and other natural phenomena, he often zooms in on specific locations on Earth with shocking clarity. Through a 400mm zoom lens, London becomes visible, and with an 800mm, you can pick out specific buildings in downtown Philadelphia. Bangkok is shockingly bright from above, and surrounded by mysterious green lights. Inspecting the globe from above, he shares glimpses of Greece, Africa, and Oahu that are literally out of this world.
He also posts behind-the-scenes peeks into the daily life of an astronaut, documenting his colleagues doing tasks around the station (like experimenting with a yoyo or smilingly preparing for the deployment of CubeSats), and even “enjoying the view on a Sunday afternoon,” as he proudly looks down upon planet Earth.
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