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Birthday · September 18, 2012

Orbiting Astronaut Self-Portrait

September 18, 2012

There are stars whose light will never reach us, worlds we will never touch, mysteries we may never solve.

Orbiting Astronaut Self-Portrait

A little universe, just for you

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APOD published September 18, 2012. Full image credits are on the original APOD entry below. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.

Behind the image

Orbiting Astronaut Self-Portrait

Original APOD · September 18, 2012

Is it art? Earlier this month, space station astronaut Aki Hoshide (Japan) recorded this striking image while helping to augment the capabilities of the Earth-orbiting International Space Station (ISS). Visible in this outworldly assemblage is the Sun, the Earth, two portions of a robotic arm, an astronaut's spacesuit, the deep darkness of space, and the unusual camera taking the picture. This image joins other historic -- and possibly artistic -- self-portraits taken previously in space. The Expedition 32 mission ended yesterday when an attached capsule undocked with the ISS and returned some of the crew to Earth. What do you think: Is it Art?

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