NASA astronaut Donald Pettit is a veteran of three space flights, and has spent a combined 370 days in space, orbited the Earth more than 3,000 times, traveled 82 million miles, and logged 13 hours in space walks. During those travels he took nearly a half million photos, some of which he's premiering at RIT's University Gallery in "Portraits of a Planet: Photographer in Space." The exhibition of large-format photographic prints were shot by Pettit from the International Space Station, and reveal privileged views of cities at night, lightning streaking across night skies, aurora lightshows, and other phenomena he captured using time-lapse, long exposure, and split-second timing. Aside from capturing the stunning sights, Pettit also created a zero-gravity coffee cip while on board the ISS, which he has donated to the Vignelli Time Capsule.

"Portraits of a Planet" continues through Saturday, April 28, at University Gallery (James E Booth Hall, Room 2765, Rochester Institute of Technology, 166 Lomb Memorial Drive). Hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Saturday, noon to 4 p.m. Free. 475-2404; rit.edu/fa/gallery.