A New Zealand photographer spent 40 hours creating a dramatic image of the night sky, only to face accusations that it was made by artificial intelligence. Brendan Larsen, a 51-year-old astrophotographer, captured hundreds of pictures over Mount Taranaki in September. When he combined the photos, the final picture revealed around 1,400 satellites creating 14,000 crisscrossing trails of light above the mountain peak.
Larsen created the image by setting his camera to take 578 separate shots over two hours. He then used photo-editing software to carefully layer the images and erase background stars so the satellite paths were clear. When he shared the picture online in mid-October, it quickly went viral and received tens of millions of views. However, many viewers thought the image looked too extraordinary to be real. Because AI image tools have improved so rapidly, Larsen had expected these doubts and recorded a video of his work process to prove the image was genuine.
While many online viewers admired the striking view, Larsen said the picture also carries a serious message. Around 16,000 working satellites currently orbit Earth, along with thousands of pieces of old rocket parts and space debris. Larsen explained that in the six years he has photographed the night sky, satellite traffic has increased noticeably. Experts and United Nations officials have also warned that crowded skies threaten astronomy and natural darkness. Larsen hopes his photo encourages people to protect the night sky and use satellites responsibly.