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.
Single, raw frame of the ISS-Saturn transit captured on July 6, 2025. Image Credit: Adam Smadi
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.
A 20-year-old astrophotographer from Shoreline, Washington, has captured a rare solar eclipse on Saturn. The event, known as a shadow transit, showed Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, casting a small dark shadow on the planet’s surface. This type of eclipse will not be visible again until 2038.
Adam Smadi has been practicing astrophotography for about two years. He said that he planned the shot days in advance using the Stellarium software, which helped him find the exact time and location from which the eclipse would be visible.
“I saw that it was going to be visible during the perfect time from Shoreline,” Smadi told Wonders in Space. “I knew I had to try.”
Titan casts its shadow on Saturn, creating a rare solar eclipse, while three of Saturn’s moons, Dione (bottom left), Tethys (far bottom left), and Enceladus (a faint dot just above the tip of Saturn’s ring on the right), join the scene. Credit: Adam Smadi
He began setting up his 9.25 inch telescope around 1 a.m. to let the equipment cool down and match the outdoor temperature and reduce air currents inside the telescope, helping create sharper images. By 3:30 a.m., Saturn was high enough in the sky to begin imaging. Smadi used a ZWO ASI662MC camera and an infrared filter (685 nm) that helped reveal more detail in Saturn’s atmosphere.
“I stacked thousands of images using video captures,” he told Wonders in Space. “And there’s the result.”
Shadow transits like this are rare. They only happen when Saturn’s rings are edge-on from Earth’s point of view, allowing moon shadows to cross the planet’s face. These viewing windows last only a few months and return about every 15 years.
(Labeled image) Titan casts its shadow on Saturn, creating a rare solar eclipse, with moons Dione, Tethys, and Enceladus also in view. Features like the Cassini Division, ring shadow, and south polar storms are also visible in this stunning view. Credit: Adam Smadi
Smadi’s stunning photos have been widely shared across astronomy forums and social media platforms, drawing praise from viewers around the world. On Instagram, his followers and viewers flooded the comments with admiration and excitement. “Award winning,” one user wrote. “Fantastic, glad you were able to catch it!” said another.
While it may look like a small dot on a giant planet, it reflects hours of preparation and a precise understanding of planetary motion.
Follow Adam Smadi on Instagram to see more of his stunning work.
Royal Observatory, Greenwhich, held the Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2024 competition this year. The competition is held every year in 11 categories. Many amateur and professional astrophotographers around the world participate in this competition.
A panel of judges selects the category winner and an overall winner. This year the Royal Observatory Greenwhich received around 3500 images, which is a great number for an astrophotography competition. The overall winner was a stunning annular solar eclipse image captured by Ryan Imperio.
Here is a sneak peek of some of the category winners and the overall winner photograph.
Overall Category Winner- Bailey’s Beads by Ryan Imperio
The image is a composite image of an annular solar eclipse showing Bailey’s beads is an overall winner of the Astronomy Photographer of the Year contest 2024. Image credit: Ryan Imperio via Royal Museum Greenwhich
Syscapes Category Winner- Tasman Gemsby Tom Rae
The image shows the hydrogen clouds of the gum nebula above the peak of the Tasman Valley. The image is a ‘Skyscapes’ category winner of the Astronomy Photographer of the Year Contest 2024. Image credit: Tom Rae via Royal Museum Greenwhich
Galaxies category winner- Echoes of the Past by Bence Tóth and Péter Feltóti
The image shows the galaxy NGC 5128 and its surrounding tidal wave system. The image is a ‘Galaxies’ category winner of the Astronomy Photographer of the Year contest 2024. Image credit: Bence Tóth and Péter Feltóti via Royal Museum Greenwhich
Planets, Comets and asteroids category winner- On Approach by Tom Williams
The image is a false colour composite of the phases of Venus on approach to inferior conjunction. The image is a ‘Planets, Comets, and Asteroids’ category winner of the Astronomy Photographer of the Year contest 2024. Image credit: Tom Williams via Royal Museum, Greenwhich
To see other stunning images of the winners and read the stories behind these mind-boggling captures, visit the Royal Museum, Greenwhich Astronomy Photographer of the Year 2024 page.
Astrophotography is the practice of photographing the night sky, combining science and photography to capture and study celestial objects. It has grown in popularity in recent years as interest in astronomy has increased, creating both hobby and career opportunities. Astrophotographers can work with observatories, research institutions, and media companies and in tourism, producing images for research, education, and public enjoyment.
What is astrophotography?
Astrophotography is the art and science of taking images of celestial objects and events. It can be pursued as a hobby or a profession. Modern technology has made high-quality astrophotos more accessible, encouraging more people to try the field. The practice began in the 19th century, when early astronomers attempted to photograph the Moon and star clusters.
Watch this video before you get into astrophotography:
History and development
Notable early contributors to astrophotography include William Herschel and his son John Frederick William Herschel, who photographed the Moon and star clusters. Since then, the field has advanced to capture objects invisible to the naked eye, such as distant galaxies, nebulae, and short-lived events like supernovae. It combines technical skill, artistic vision, and scientific application.
How much money does an astrophotographer make?
According to Jobzmall, beginner-level astrophotographers earn between $25,000 and $50,000 per year, while experienced professionals can make up to $75,000 per year. Pay depends on skill, experience, and the type of work.
Who hires astrophotographers?
Employers include research institutions, universities, space agencies such as NASA, ISRO, and ESA, observatories, planetariums, media companies, and tourism businesses. Work may involve research projects, public outreach, or commercial assignments.
Career opportunities in astrophotography
Scientific research
Observatories. Image credit: Unsplash
Astrophotographers can work with astronomers to document celestial objects and changes in the night sky. Their images may support data analysis, research, and scientific publications. In education, astrophotographers create visuals for classrooms, lectures, and outreach programs. Competitions such as the Astronomy Photographer of the Year offer recognition and exposure.
Night sky tourism
Growing interest in dark-sky travel has created demand for astrophotography services. Photographers can guide tours, teach workshops, and offer photo sessions at locations with minimal light pollution. These services can enhance the visitor experience and generate income for skilled photographers.
Publishing and media
Magazines, websites, books, and documentaries require high-quality astronomical images. Astrophotographers may provide visuals for articles, covers, or video productions. Their work is used to illustrate scientific concepts or to add visual appeal to media content.
Stock photography and licensing
Astrophotographers can sell their work through stock image platforms, where photos may be licensed for advertising, websites, or promotional materials. This provides a potential source of ongoing income from previously captured images.
It is a money-making venture. This implies that the taken photographs can still be used for other purposes, like in advertisements, on websites, or for promotional purposes.
