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 genuine mistake, or a symptom of overzealous moderation? Let’s dive in.
Don Pettit is widely regarded as one of the greatest photographers to ever venture into space. His work, showcased in stunning collections like The Best Photos Taken by Astronaut Don Pettit (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 from the r/aviation subreddit deemed one of his photos 'low quality' and removed it. The image in question? A rare shot of an airplane from an angle few will ever witness—taken from the ISS, a vantage point that Pettit masterfully exploits with his creative eye.
And this is the part most people miss: The photo wasn’t just a random snapshot; it was a testament to the extraordinary opportunities astronauts have to document our world from above. When news of the deletion spread, r/aviation users were quick to voice their frustration. One user sarcastically quipped, 'Dear mods, please teach NASA how to take better pictures from space' (https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/1qtgwbl/stateofredditnasapicturesfromspace_are/), while another summed it up with, 'Reddit in a nutshell.'
To their credit, another moderator stepped in to rectify the situation. They acknowledged the mistake, attributing it to a new team member still learning the ropes, and reinstated the post (https://www.reddit.com/r/aviation/comments/1qtfxv1/iphotographedthisplanefromtheiss/). The same moderator even apologized directly to Pettit, admitting, 'The quality of the picture is pretty dang good considering it’s from about 250 miles away.'
While the airplane photo may not rival Pettit’s more iconic works, like his atmospheric distortion of the Moon (https://www.reddit.com/r/astrophotography/comments/1qqr3wl/atmosphericdistortionofthemoonasseenfrom/) or orbital star trails mingling with Starlink satellites (https://www.reddit.com/r/astrophotography/comments/1pzpmcj/orbitalstartrailsmarkedbystarlink_satellites/), it holds its own significance. It offers a fresh perspective on everyday objects, reminding us of the ISS’s role as a platform for both scientific exploration and artistic expression. With the ISS set to be decommissioned around 2030, every photograph captured from its orbit becomes a precious piece of history.
But here’s the bigger question: Should moderators have the authority to judge the quality of content from experts like Pettit? Or is this a case of platform rules clashing with artistic value? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. After all, in an era where space photography is both science and art, who gets to decide what’s 'good enough'?
Image credits: Photographs by NASA / Don Pettit. PetaPixel articles may include affiliate links; purchases through these links may earn PetaPixel a commission.
