Satellite snaps rare birds-eye view of the ISS | Space photo of the day for Nov. 12, 2026
(Image credit: HEO) A commercial satellite has spotted the International Space Station (ISS), giving us a unique view of the orbiting lab from above.
- While it might seem that satellites are just hovering above Earth, the space station and other spacecraft in LEO are hurtling through space at roughly 17,500 mph (28,160 kph), hundreds of miles above our planet's surface.
- Rather, it requires incredible coordination and technical skill; satellite operators must know precisely when their target will present itself, and their equipment must be capable of getting the shot.
- Most of the time, when we see the ISS, it is from down here on Earth or from the viewpoint of the astronauts onboard, peering out the windows at the station's limbs, solar arrays and instruments.
So far, HEO and its partners have captured imagery of a variety of spacecraft in orbit, including the ISS, China's Tiangong space station and the European Space Agency's ERS-2 satellite (while it was hurtling back to Earth in 2024).
This great photo of the ISS from above, for example, was taken by a satellite operated by BlackSky, a Virginia-based company that holds a non-Earth imaging agreement with HEO.
- The Hubble Space Telescope has captured a breathtaking view of thousands of stars glittering like cosmic jewels in a dazzling display of blue, gold and orange.
- HEO specializes in using satellites in low Earth orbit to capture images of other spacecraft, though longer-term the company aims to capture observations far out into the solar system.
- HEO doesn't build the satellites that take these photos; rather, the company's software tasks the spacecraft to image targets as they come into range.
- A snapshot of a satellite from above is therefore far from mundane.
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