Imagine a photo taken from the International Space Station, capturing a commercial airliner 250 miles below, only to be dismissed as 'blurry' by a Reddit moderator. Yes, you read that right. Don Pettit, a legendary astronaut and astrophotographer whose breathtaking images have captivated audiences for decades, found himself at the center of a bizarre online controversy. But here's where it gets controversial: was this a mere oversight, or does it reveal a deeper issue about how we value and understand space photography?
Don Pettit is widely regarded as one of the greatest photographers to ever venture into space. His work, showcased in stunning collections like those featured on PetaPixel (https://petapixel.com/2025/04/21/the-best-photos-taken-by-astronaut-don-pettit-on-his-most-recent-space-mission/), offers a unique perspective on our planet and beyond. Yet, a moderator on the r/aviation subreddit deemed one of his photos 'low quality' and removed it—a decision that sparked outrage among users. The photo in question wasn’t just any snapshot; it was a rare view of an airplane from an angle few will ever witness. Pettit’s ability to seize these fleeting moments aboard the ISS is a testament to his artistic vision and technical skill.
And this is the part most people miss: The ISS, scheduled for decommissioning around 2030, is a fleeting platform for such photography. Every image captured from its vantage point is a precious piece of history. While the airplane photo might not rival Pettit’s more iconic shots, like atmospheric distortions of the Moon (https://www.reddit.com/r/astrophotography/comments/1qqr3wl/atmosphericdistortionofthemoonasseenfrom/) or orbital star trails intertwined with Starlink satellites (https://www.reddit.com/r/astrophotography/comments/1pzpmcj/orbitalstartrailsmarkedbystarlink_satellites/), it offers a unique perspective on everyday objects—a reminder of the extraordinary in the ordinary.
As the controversy unfolded, a screenshot of the deletion (https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/1qtgwbl/stateofredditnasapicturesfromspaceare/) went viral, prompting backlash against Reddit’s moderators, who are often criticized for overzealous enforcement. One user sarcastically quipped, “Dear mods, please show NASA how to take better pictures from space so you don’t have to delete them,” (https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/1qtgwbl/stateofredditnasapicturesfromspaceare/) while another summed it up with, “Reddit in a nutshell.”
To their credit, another moderator stepped in, issuing an apology and acknowledging the mistake. “We brought some new people onto the mod team, and unfortunately, there are some learning curves,” they explained. The post was reinstated (https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/1qtfxv1/iphotographedthisplanefromtheiss/), and the moderator personally apologized to Pettit, conceding, “The quality of the picture is pretty dang good considering it’s from about 250 miles away.”
Pettit, who regularly shares his vast archive of photos from his 590 days in space, continues to inspire with his work. This incident, while minor, raises a thought-provoking question: How do we balance community guidelines with the appreciation of art and science? Is it fair to judge space photography by the same standards as Earth-based images? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—this is a conversation worth having.
Image credits: Photographs by NASA / Don Pettit. PetaPixel articles may include affiliate links; purchases through these links may earn PetaPixel a commission.
