Science & Tech · Space · 2 hrs ago
New Zealand astrophotographer defends image of satellites crossing the night sky
Brendan Larsen combined hundreds of photos to show satellites crisscrossing the night sky above Mount Taranaki in New Zealand.
In September, the astrophotographer took 578 eight-second pictures over two hours, then spent about 40 hours layering and editing them.
The finished image shows about 1,400 satellites and 14,000 trails, and it drew tens of millions of views after he posted it in mid-October.
Some viewers accused him of making it with AI, so Larsen shared video documenting how he created the image.
He says the growing number of satellites is worrying, even though they do not yet overwhelm the sky to the naked eye.
About 16,000 working satellites orbit Earth, alongside tens of thousands of defunct spacecraft, rocket parts and other debris.
Larsen hopes the image will prompt debate about using satellites responsibly and protecting the night sky.
Astrophotographer Brendan Larsen says his image of satellites crossing the night sky over Mount Taranaki was made from photographs, not generated by AI.
He took 578 eight-second photographs over two hours in September and spent about 40 hours layering them in Photoshop.
The resulting image shows about 1,400 satellites and 14,000 trails above the mountain.
After Larsen posted it on social media in mid-October, the image gained tens of millions of views and prompted accusations that it was made with AI.
Larsen says the image is intended to raise awareness and debate about protecting the night sky.
- Who
- New Zealand astrophotographer Brendan Larsen, 51, created the image.
- What
- He combined hundreds of photographs to show satellites crossing the night sky. Some viewers accused him of using AI.
- When
- He took the photographs in September and posted the image in mid-October. The article was published on 4 November 2026.
- Where
- Over Mount Taranaki, in New Zealand’s North Island.
- Why
- Larsen hopes the image will raise awareness and prompt debate about using satellites responsibly and protecting the night sky.
Viewers alleging AI use
Brendan Larsen
Authenticity
Viewers alleging AI use
Some viewers dismissed the image as AI-generated.
Brendan Larsen
Larsen says he created it by layering photographs he took himself.
Larsen took 578 photographs of the night sky over Mount Taranaki during a two-hour session.
Larsen spent about 40 hours layering the images in Photoshop.
Larsen posted the image on social media, where it went viral and drew accusations that it was made with AI.
- Photographer
- Brendan Larsen, 51
- Location
- Mount Taranaki, North Island, New Zealand
- Photographs
- 578 images, each eight seconds long, with a two-second gap between shots
- Processing
- About 40 hours layering photographs in Adobe Photoshop
- Image
- About 1,400 satellites and 14,000 trails
- Online response
- Tens of millions of views and 15,000 new followers
What people are saying
I left her running for two hours and captured 578 photos … That was the easy part.
AI generating software is becoming so good it is becoming difficult to tell AI images from real images … especially if you’re not familiar with the location or with astrophotography
It’s interesting and fascinating seeing satellites, but it’s also disturbing
We can raise awareness, and through that get a groundswell of support for protecting the night sky.