Astrophotographer Captures Unique Skydiving Shot Near the Sun

Andrew McCarthy, an astrophotographer from Arizona, achieved a remarkable feat by capturing an image of a skydiver perfectly aligned with the sun’s surface. Teaming up with his friend, Gabriel C. Brown, a YouTube personality, they created this striking photograph on November 8th in the Arizona desert.

The photo, titled “The Fall of Icarus,” was the result of months of meticulous planning and complex calculations. It took them six attempts to successfully execute the shot.

McCarthy described the image as “absolutely ridiculous (but real),” sharing on X that it might be the first of its kind ever taken. Achieving this unique perspective demanded detailed logistics. Brown jumped from a small propeller airplane at about 3,500 feet, while McCarthy was situated approximately 8,000 feet away using specialized telescopes.

Brown commented on Instagram about the need to carefully choose the right timing, location, and aircraft for the shoot to ensure they could achieve the clearest image. They also had to account for the plane’s glide angle and safe jump altitude.

Not only did they face challenges with the jump itself, but McCarthy had to monitor live video footage and communicate with Brown about the moment to leap. It took several tries to align the aircraft properly with the sun before the jump was made.

McCarthy reflected on the difficulty of tracking the plane, noting it was more challenging than he had anticipated. This became especially evident as they worked to capture the moment with limited visibility.

The photograph stood out because McCarthy utilized hydrogen-alpha light to reveal the sun’s chromosphere, which is normally invisible to the naked eye. This unique red light allowed for details of the sun’s surface to emerge, creating a stunning backdrop for Brown’s silhouette.

After capturing the moment, McCarthy composed a high-resolution mosaic of the sun to enhance the final image.

He expressed joy over the successful capture, stating it was one of the top five photos of his career. The excitement was palpable during the shooting, as he could be heard exclaiming, “Okay, hey!” in a video documenting the experience.

Brown, who had previous experience with similar photography projects, mentioned that despite having completed two lunar crossings successfully, the sun presented a different level of challenge. His enthusiasm was clear when he noted the months of effort were worth the final result, proudly declaring it the best skydive he had ever done.