{"id":12706,"date":"2016-05-31T10:43:05","date_gmt":"2016-05-31T14:43:05","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=12706"},"modified":"2021-10-05T13:32:01","modified_gmt":"2021-10-05T17:32:01","slug":"images-iss-and-mercury-captured-crossing-the-face-of-the-sun","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=12706","title":{"rendered":"Images: ISS and Mercury captured crossing the face of the Sun"},"content":{"rendered":"

An image of both the planet Mercury and the Int. Space Station<\/a> transiting the face of the Sun simultaneously:<\/p>\n

Space in Images – 2016 – 05 – Space Station Mercury<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

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\n<\/a>“Space Station Mercury” –\u00a0 Thierry Legault<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n

On 9 May Mercury passed in front of the Sun as seen from Earth. These transits of Mercury occur only around 13 times every century, so astronomers all over Earth were eager to capture the event.<\/p>\n

For astrophotographer Thierry Legault, capturing Mercury and the Sun alone was not enough, however \u2013 he wanted the International Space Station in the frame as well.<\/p>\n

To catch the Station passing across the Sun, you need to set up your equipment within a ground track less than 3 km wide. For Thierry, this meant flying to the USA from his home near Paris, France.<\/p>\n

On 9 May there were three possible areas to capture the Station and Mercury at the same time against the solar disc: Quebec, Canada, the Great Lakes and Florida, USA.<\/p>\n

Choosing the right spot took considerable effort, says Thierry:<\/p>\n

\u201cCanada had bad weather predicted and around Florida I couldn\u2019t find a suitably quiet but public place, so I went to the suburbs of Philadelphia.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

With 45 kg of equipment, Thierry flew to New York and drove two hours to Philadelphia to scout the best spot. Even then, all the preparations and intercontinental travel could have been for nothing because the Station crosses the Sun in less than a second and any clouds could have ruined the shot.<\/p>\n

\u201cI was very lucky: 10 minutes after I took the photos, clouds covered the sky,\u201d says a relieved Thierry.<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cAdrenaline flows in the moments before the Station flies by \u2013 it is a one-shot chance. I cannot ask the space agencies to turn around so I can try again. Anything can happen.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

The hard work and luck paid off. The image here includes frames superimposed on each other to show the Station\u2019s path. Mercury appears as a black dot at bottom-centre of the Sun.<\/p>\n

For Thierry, the preparation and the hunt for the perfect shot is the best part.<\/p>\n

\u201cAstrophotography is my hobby that I spend many hours on, but even without a camera I encourage everybody to look up at the night sky. The International Space Station can be seen quite often and there are many more things to see. It is just a case of looking up at the right time.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Watch a video of the pass, including another moment with an aircraft flying by.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n