Brendan Larsen is defending a dramatic night-sky photograph from claims that it was generated by artificial intelligence, explaining that the image was built from hundreds of real exposures taken above Mount Taranaki in New Zealand.
The composite shows a dense network of satellite trails crossing the sky above the North Island mountain.
Larsen says the image contains approximately 1,400 individual satellites and about 14,000 satellite-trail appearances captured during a two-hour photography session.
The picture has prompted questions about how it was made because the finished frame is far more crowded than a normal single exposure.
Larsen has responded by documenting his camera setup and editing process, including the manual work used to combine the photographs.
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How Brendan Larsen made the image
Larsen said he set up his camera to take eight-second exposures with a two-second gap between shots.
Over roughly two hours in September 2026, the camera recorded 578 photographs of the same section of sky.
Each individual photograph contained a much smaller number of satellite trails.
Larsen then layered the images in Adobe Photoshop to create one composite view showing the movement of satellites through the same part of the sky.
The editing process took approximately 40 to 45 hours, according to Larsen’s account.
He manually masked the satellite trails from the original exposures and removed much of the overlapping star detail so the trails would be visible against the landscape and sky.
That distinction is important: the image is a composite rather than a single photograph showing every trail at once.
The satellite trails came from the original camera exposures, while the final arrangement was created by stacking those frames together.
Why viewers questioned the photograph
Larsen said he expected some viewers to suspect AI because image-generation software has made it increasingly difficult to distinguish synthetic pictures from heavily edited photography.
He has also said that some people downloaded the image and recreated it with obvious visual errors, adding to the confusion about which versions were authentic.
His behind-the-scenes material was intended to show the original capture and the steps used to produce the finished composite.
The photograph does involve substantial digital editing, but that is different from generating satellite trails that were not present in the source images.
The final work is best understood as a long-exposure composite designed to show the number of objects crossing one area of sky over time.
What the image shows about the night sky
The photograph has also drawn attention to the growing number of satellites visible to photographers and astronomers.
Satellite constellations can reflect sunlight and leave bright streaks across astronomical images, particularly during the early evening and before dawn.
The European Space Agency says the growing population of satellites creates challenges for professional astronomy and ordinary stargazing because reflected light and radio-frequency interference can affect observations.
NASA separately identifies artificial light pollution as a factor that makes faint stars and the Milky Way harder to see.
Space-based objects are a different source of interference from city light, but both can reduce the clarity of the night sky.
Larsen has described the increasing number of satellites as both fascinating and concerning.
He has said that the image is intended to encourage discussion about how commercial and scientific activity in orbit can continue without permanently damaging access to dark skies.
What happens next
The photograph is likely to remain part of a broader debate over satellite regulation, astronomy and the environmental effects of activity in orbit.
The issue is not limited to photographers: satellite trails can complicate scientific imaging, while orbital debris creates additional operational and safety concerns.
International space agencies and astronomy organizations are working on measures intended to reduce satellite brightness, improve coordination and protect scientific observations.
Those efforts include changes to satellite design, operating practices and the management of increasingly crowded orbital regions.
For Larsen, the immediate response has been to make the production process available for public inspection.
By showing the original exposures and the extensive manual editing involved, he is seeking to demonstrate that the striking image is a photographic composite rather than an AI-generated scene.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Brendan Larsen?
Brendan Larsen is a New Zealand astrophotographer based in the Taranaki region who specializes in landscape and night-sky photography.
Was Brendan Larsen’s satellite image created by AI?
Larsen says it was not AI-generated. He created it by combining 578 original camera exposures and manually editing the satellite trails into one composite.
How many satellite trails appear in the image?
The image is estimated to show approximately 14,000 satellite-trail appearances representing about 1,400 individual satellites.
How long did it take to make the photograph?
The photographs were captured over about two hours, followed by approximately 40 to 45 hours of digital editing and manual masking.
Why are satellite trails a concern for astronomy?
Reflected light from satellites can create streaks in telescope images and contribute to a brighter, more crowded night sky, making some observations more difficult.
Fact-Checked: Key details about the image-making process and the effects of satellite constellations were checked against Larsen’s photography information and official ESA, NASA and UN environmental material.
Disclaimer: The satellite totals are estimates associated with Larsen’s composite and represent trail appearances recorded across multiple exposures rather than a single moment.