One in 1.7 million pics: Astrophotographer takes once-in-a-lifetime photo of the Sun

Astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy captured a commercial jet crossing the centre of the Sun after six days of planning and shooting.

In Short

• The split-second frame coincided with two floating solar prominences above the disc
• McCarthy planned the shoot for nearly six days before the alignment
• Aircraft transit photography demands precise calculations of paths, weather and position

Astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy, known for his breathtaking high-resolution images of the Sun and deep space, has captured what he describes as one of the luckiest moments of his career, a commercial jet flying directly across the centre of the Sun.

The stunning image, now widely shared online, was the result of nearly six days of planning and relentless shooting during which McCarthy captured an astonishing 1.7 million photos to get the perfect frame.

Sharing the image on social media, McCarthy wrote, “I took 1.7 million photos over six days to catch this photo of a commercial jet in front of the Sun.”

What made the split-second moment even more extraordinary was the appearance of two floating solar prominences visible at the exact time the aircraft crossed the blazing solar disc. Solar prominences are massive arcs of superheated plasma extending outward from the Sun’s surface and are among the most dramatic features visible during solar imaging.

“The moment it happened, two floating prominences were visible, making this not just my best aircraft transit photo, but one of the luckiest of my career,” McCarthy said.

Capturing an aircraft transit across the Sun is considered one of the most difficult forms of astrophotography because the event lasts for only a fraction of a second. Photographers must precisely calculate flight paths, aircraft speed, solar position, weather conditions and their exact location on the ground to align perfectly with the transit path.

Even a slight positioning error can mean missing the moment entirely.

McCarthy recorded the event using two different focal lengths to maximise detail. One sequence was captured at 10 frames per second, while a close-up version was filmed at 85 frames per second and later played back at 24fps, revealing intricate details of both the aircraft silhouette and the Sun’s turbulent surface.

Because the transit was simultaneously captured with two optical setups, McCarthy was able to produce a significantly higher-resolution final image than would normally be possible.

The image highlights the increasing sophistication of modern astrophotography, where high-speed cameras, solar filters, aviation tracking data and precision astronomy combine to document fleeting cosmic alignments invisible to the naked eye.

For McCarthy, whose work has often pushed the boundaries of amateur astronomy imaging, the shot represents a rare convergence of preparation, precision and pure luck, freezing a split-second encounter between human flight and the star that sustains life on Earth.

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