I have a particular interest in satellite transits across the solar/lunar surfaces due to the opportunity they present the lucky observer to discern greater physical detail and structure as a result of their silhouette against the bright background of the sun and/or moon; the ability to restrict the satellite's location in the daytime or evening sky to an area measuring 0.5°x0.5° with little or no effort; it permits for the bypassing of satellite tracking which itself is a challenge due the very short period transits are visible during a particular overhead pass; and the difficulty in obtaining accurate and timely orbital elements and TLE's. As this "search and identify" project has literally become a DAILY ritual, I expect this web page to be updated constantly with more and more images of the very unique phenomena of satellite transits across the solar and/or lunar disks.

Note: The capture of a solar transit by the International Space Station has been an incessant chase and hunt during the past 3-4 years with only three opportunities presenting themselves during this time and which all failed due to low-level clouds, strong winds and a miscalibrated cellular phone respectively. The fourth opportunity to image the ISS transitting the sun (with STS-114!) proved to be successful and included as a bonus the shuttle Discovery. Complete mission details are available here.

Note: For a three-dimensional simulated view of the ISS created using the ISS Simulator V3 software and which represents a depiction of the transitting satellite during the actual overhead pass on this particular date, time and geographical location, move your mouse over the image below.

Note: Following countless requests as to how one may identify and observe the ISS transitting the sun or moon, I have prepared a web page describing the process and which is available for perusal by clicking here.