A striking image of satellites crossing the night sky above Mount Taranaki in New Zealand has drawn millions of views online—and accusations that it was made with artificial intelligence. Astrophotographer Brendan Larsen says the image is a composite built from hundreds of photographs he took himself.
In September, Larsen set his camera to take eight-second exposures with a two-second pause between shots. He left it running for two hours, producing 578 photographs. Each captured about 25 satellites, according to Larsen.
He then spent around 40 hours combining the images in Adobe Photoshop, layering the photographs and removing stars to make the satellites stand out. The finished image depicts about 1,400 satellites and 14,000 trails in a dense pattern over the mountain.
Larsen posted the image on social media in mid-October. It quickly spread, attracting tens of millions of views and bringing him 15,000 new followers. Some viewers called it AI-generated. Larsen said he understands why people might be unsure, but finds the accusations frustrating. He recorded his process on video, anticipating questions about how the image was made.
The image has also prompted discussion about the changing night sky. Larsen, who grew up amazed by the stars visible in rural New Zealand, says he has noticed more light pollution and satellites during the six years he has photographed the sky. He described satellites as both fascinating and disturbing, and said many commenters have expressed concern about their effect on the view of the night sky.
Larsen hopes the image will encourage debate about responsible satellite use and help build support for protecting the night sky.
Sources: The Guardian Science.