A dramatic photograph of the night sky over Mount Taranaki in New Zealand, showing what appear to be thousands of satellites forming a cross‑hatched pattern, has gone viral and drawn sceptical commentary that it was produced using artificial intelligence.
The image was created in September by astrophotographer Brendan Larsen, who says he spent two hours taking hundreds of photographs of the scene and combined them to produce the finished picture. The photograph has been shared widely online and viewed millions of times, prompting debate about its authenticity and the techniques used to make it.
Larsen has publicly defended his work against claims that the image was AI‑generated, saying the result is the outcome of traditional photographic methods rather than synthetic creation. The controversy highlights growing public sensitivity to visually striking images and the increasing scrutiny applied to extraordinary photos circulating on social media.
The photograph also points to a broader conversation about the appearance of the night sky in the era of expanding satellite constellations. Images that capture many satellite trails at once can look surreal to casual viewers, and professionals say such results are achievable with extended observational sessions and the merging of multiple exposures.
As the exchange over this image shows, advances in both imaging technology and artificial intelligence are reshaping expectations about what is real and what is produced, prompting calls for clearer disclosure of methods when photographers present striking or unexpected views of the natural world.