In pictures: Through the eyes of an astronaut

Ever wondered what it would be like to travel into space? While it may be a nightmare for some to leave behind the comforts of earth, astronauts travel hundreds of thousands of miles away into the depths of space to explore a world we are constantly learning things about.

Astronaut Donald R Pettit has spent 370 days aboard the International Space Station (ISS) and 13 hours space-walking. During his time in space, he created a unique collection of photographs documenting the Earth, the universe and life on board the ISS. The results have been published in Spaceborne by PSG.

Here we look at a series of pictures documenting life through the eyes of an astronaut.

The International Space Station, its construction complete, as seen from Space Shuttle Discovery. PHOTO: CREW OF STS-119

The Bahamas, showing underwater coral sand dunes. PHOTO: DONALD R PETTIT

The east cost of the US showing (bottom to top) Washington DC, Baltimore, Philadelphia, New York City and Boston. PHOTO: DONALD R PETTIT

A time-lapse photo showing stars and the lights of Earth streaking past. The bright white flashes are created by lightning bursts illuminating the clouds.PHOTO: DONALD R PETTIT

A space-grown zucchini. PHOTO: DONALD R PETTIT

An astronauts selfie. Pettit photographed himself reflected in a window on board the International Space Station. PHOTO: DONALD R PETTIT

A shot of clouds casting long shadows as the sun sets over Earth. PHOTO: DONALD R PETTIT

Snorting fire from its nozzles, a European Space Agency un-piloted cargo vehicle approaches the International Space Station. PHOTO: DONALD R PETTIT

Stars and the lights of Earth leave trails in this time-lapse photograph. The white flashes are lightning illuminating the clouds. PHOTO: DONALD R PETTIT

Pettit would often rig an array of as many as six cameras in the cupola windows and set them all to fire continuously for events such as sunsets, which only last around seven seconds on the ISS. PHOTO: DONALD R PETTIT

A meteorite from the Lyrid meteor shower burns up over Florida. PHOTO: DONALD R PETTIT

These photographs originally appeared on The Guardian