Catch it in half a second: Astrophotographer captures stunning shots of the ISS flying against the Sun

A surreal image has emerged.

Portuguese astrophotographer Miguel Claro managed to capture the transit of the International Space Station against the backdrop of the solar disc. For this shot, he used a special filter that allows for detailed observation of the star's surface. The silhouette of the ISS appeared quite bright through this filter, adding to the spectacle of the image.

Upon closer inspection, one can even notice some details of the 109-meter station, such as its individual solar panels. The photographer himself mentioned that he meticulously prepared for the transit, which he managed to capture on June 2nd on the northern coast of Portugal.

In creating the image, he did not use any overlays. Claro captured the transit using a high-speed camera that takes over 100 frames per second. Without the aid of continuous shooting, capturing the ISS transit across the solar disc would have been nearly impossible, as it lasted only 0.54 seconds.

It is worth noting that experienced astrophotographers regularly engage in capturing the transit of the ISS against the discs of the Moon or the Sun. However, Claro's shot stands out due to the filter used, which allows for the observation of some details of the active star's surface: from tongues of plasma to dark spots that differ from the surrounding space by their lower temperature.