In an extraordinary feat of photographic precision, American astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy has created a stunning cosmic illusion that shows a skydiver appearing to plummet past the surface of the Sun. The surreal image, which looks like a scene straight out of a science fiction movie, represents one of the most unique solar captures ever attempted.
The Perfect Cosmic Alignment
On Saturday, November 8, at approximately 9 am MST (11 am EST), McCarthy achieved what he describes as an "absolutely preposterous" photographic achievement. From his base in Arizona, the photographer known for his dramatic solar imagery managed to frame YouTuber and musician Gabriel C. Brown perfectly against the Sun's fiery disc during a skydiving jump.
The resulting photograph, which McCarthy appropriately titled "The Fall of Icarus," might be the first of its kind ever captured. Brown leaped from a small propeller-driven aircraft at about 3,500 feet (1,070 metres), positioning himself approximately 8,000 feet (2,440 metres) from McCarthy's carefully positioned camera.
Months of Planning for One Shot
Despite the image being captured on the first and only jump of the day, the achievement required extensive preparation and multiple attempts. McCarthy and his team had planned for weeks but had to attempt the aircraft-to-Sun alignment six separate times before achieving the perfect setup.
"It was a narrow field of view, so it took several attempts to line up the shot," McCarthy explained. The team faced significant challenges in tracking the aircraft, which proved far more unpredictable and difficult to follow through the sky than anticipated. "Capturing the Sun is something I'm quite familiar with, but this added new challenges," the photographer admitted.
The pressure was immense since they only had one opportunity for the jump. Repacking the parachute safely would have taken too long for another attempt, making this a true once-in-a-lifetime capture.
Celebrating an Unprecedented Achievement
The excitement of the successful capture was palpable. Brown shared behind-the-scenes glimpses on Instagram, including a clip of both men celebrating their extraordinary achievement. "You can see the excitement on my face in the videos," McCarthy told Live Science. "Seeing it perfectly captured on my monitors was exhilarating."
Despite the numerous obstacles, the resulting image ranks among McCarthy's personal best, easily making his "top 5" of all time. This is particularly impressive given his recent portfolio of remarkable captures, which includes:
- A "once-in-a-lifetime" moment of the International Space Station photobombing a solar flare
- A SpaceX rocket slicing across the Sun's disc
- A colossal 1-million-mile-long (1.6 million km) plasma plume
- An ultra-high-definition lunar mosaic
- Mars being eclipsed by the Moon
This latest achievement demonstrates how meticulous planning, technical expertise, and perfect timing can combine to create photographic history, pushing the boundaries of what's possible in astrophotography and creating images that capture the public's imagination.
