National Geographic
@NatGeoOct 14
Photographer Michael Seeley used a single 426-second exposure to capture the launch of the SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket in the early hours of October 13, creating a portrait of humanity’s reach beyond Earth. See more Photos of the Day: on.natgeo.com/ZhrPre

Oct 14, 2026 · 10:00 PM UTC

158
502
73
2,916
297,433
RelevantRecentLikes
Wooooooooooo ,,, amazing 🥳
1
1
137
National Geographic
@NatGeoOct 16
The way the sunlight hits it 😍
1
2
332
View more replies
426 seconds of patience for a moment that will last forever. That's the kind of shot you keep looking at and finding something new.
1
172
I used my iPhone 11 from my backyard
1
9
396
426 seconds of light collected into one frame and somehow that's the simplest tool in the whole shot.
8
910
The photos are beautiful, but... To be honest, having humans live in deep space or on Mars for the long term would not be more comfortable than living on Earth.
6
65
that glowing cloud at the top looks unreal
4
734
426 seconds and the water still looks like glass
4
556
Julian C
@JulianUnlockedOct 14
Wonder what the stars looked like mid-launch.
1
4
704
I can't stop looking at these pictures 🖼️ It's just beautiful
2
149
426 seconds is just over seven minutes in one frame. That whole arc is one continuous exposure, not a stack of shorter shots. That's a lot of patience and a very steady tripod.
1
210
426 seconds of light capturing a rocket. Man reaches up, but the heavens still declare the glory of God. Psalm 19:1
41
The timing on this is absurdly precise.
28
the sky basically kept a record of departure
12
the night sky barely stood a chance
8
seconds turned a launch into a glowing thread through the sky
12
It's actually a portrait of a rocket hitting the firmament.
39
are you avin a larf space is supposed to be upwards that things headin for splashdown and retreivel in the bermuda triangle
66
426 seconds open shutter and you get a light painting of a rocket. that's patient photography
53
Great shot, @MikeSeeley !
3
183
426 giây cho một lần phơi sáng nghe kiên nhẫn ghê, ước gì được xem bức ảnh đó 🌌
41
A single 426-second exposure to capture a rocket launch. Patience and skill make a striking picture.
6
405
Congrats @MikeSeeley Awesome Pic!!!
1
5
239
A single photo showing the bridge between Earth and the stars. Incredible work by Michael Seeley!
5
366
wow
1
5
203
426 seconds is a little over seven minutes of open shutter, which is how the whole climb turns into one unbroken streak. Shots like this are worth the early alarm on launch mornings.
3
239
One of the greatest moments in human history.
2
159
One of the best photos I have ever seen
2
72
@NatGeo
2
53
Stunning 💫 Pleased to see coverage .✨
2
130
One launch, one exposure, a million reasons to dream. 🚀✨
3
210
A single long exposure capturing the whole launch is stunning.
2
165
Great photo
1
32
426 seconds for one streak, wow
1
34
Excellent Photo NG
1
22
Load more replies