Launched in February of 1999 on a historic voyage to a comet, the Stardust spacecraft is no different. On 15 January 2001 Stardust made its closest approach to planet Earth since launch, coming within about 6,000 kilometers of the surface. Shortly before its time of closest approach, astronomer Gordon Garradd recorded this exposure of Stardust sailing through the skies above Loomberah, Australia. Nearby and moving fast , the spacecraft appears as a streak against a background of faint stars in the constellation Cetus . Stardust cruised within just 98,000 kilometers of the Moon about 15 hours later.
Specific rights apply .