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.