Adam Smadi, a 20-year-old astrophotographer from Shoreline, Washington, captured a rare image of the International Space Station (ISS) passing in front of Saturn on the morning of July 6 (Eastern time), achieving a stunning visual alignment of two celestial objects 1.39 billion kilometers apart.
After two days of meticulous planning and a 50-mile journey to a precise location, Smadi used the Stellarium app and coordinate calculations to pinpoint the exact spot where the ISS and Saturn would briefly appear to overlap from Earth’s perspective. This fleeting event, known as a transit, marks a feat accomplished by only a handful of people worldwide.
Using a Celestron NexStar Evolution 9.25” telescope and a ZWO ASI662MC camera with an IR685 and visible light blend, Smadi documented Saturn’s iconic rings in vivid detail, though the ISS appears less sharp due to its significant distance from Earth at the time.
Smadi, who previously photographed a rare solar eclipse on Saturn, noted that Saturn’s dimmer appearance compared to the ISS results from the inverse square law of light, which causes surface brightness to drop rapidly with distance from the inner solar system. “The conditions were great, but the station was quite far, so it’s not the sharpest. Still, Saturn looks amazing, and I’m stoked with the result,” Smadi shared on Instagram.
This remarkable image underscores the precision and dedication required in astrophotography, blending advanced technology, careful planning, and a deep understanding of celestial mechanics to capture a moment that bridges the vast distances of our solar system.
