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Jet Crosses Sun: Lucky Shot Captured!
15 May
Summary
- A commercial jet flew directly across the Sun's center.
- Over 1.7 million photos were taken to capture this moment.
- Two solar prominences were visible during the transit.
Astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy has captured an exceptionally rare image: a commercial jet crossing the face of the Sun. This incredible feat, described by McCarthy as one of his luckiest career moments, took immense preparation.
McCarthy captured approximately 1.7 million photos over six days to secure this precise moment. The event gained extra significance with the visible presence of two large solar prominences, arcs of hot plasma extending from the Sun's surface.
Photographing aircraft transits across the Sun is exceptionally difficult, demanding precise calculations of flight paths, speeds, and celestial positioning for a fraction-of-a-second window. McCarthy utilized two different camera setups to maximize detail, achieving a higher resolution image than typically possible.
This achievement underscores the advanced capabilities in modern astrophotography, blending high-speed cameras, solar filters, aviation data, and precise astronomical techniques to document rare cosmic alignments.
