Astrophotographer AJ Smadi Captures Rare Transit of ISS Past Jupiter
Astrophotographer AJ Smadi successfully captured a rare image of the International Space Station transiting directly in front of Jupiter on November 1, 2026. Smadi had planned this shot for nearly two years, driving to Burlington, Washington, to align the two objects. The image shows the ISS, carrying seven crew members, passing by Jupiter and its four Galilean moons. This adds to Smadi's 'ISS Meets' series, which previously featured the station alongside Venus, Saturn, and Mars.
Key points
- AJ Smadi captured the ISS and Jupiter in the same frame on November 1, 2026, at 6:03 AM PDT.
- The shot was taken from Burlington, Washington, after Smadi drove over an hour north of Seattle.
- The ISS and Jupiter appeared nearly identical in angular size due to Jupiter being 1.3 million times wider but also 1.3 million times farther away.
- The image includes the seven ISS crew members: Jessica Watkins, Luke Delaney, Joshua Kutryk, Sergey Teteryatnikov, Pyotr Dubrov, Anil Menon, and Anna Kikina.
- Jupiter's storms, belts, and all four Galilean moons (Io, Europa, Ganymede, Callisto) are visible in the background.
- Smadi used a 9.25-inch Celestron Schmidt-Cassegrain Telescope with a 2,350mm focal length and a ZWO ASI662MC camera.
Background
Recent ISS-related photography has highlighted both celestial and terrestrial features. In October 2026, an ISS astronaut captured a rare lunar rock formation in Madagascar, offering a terrestrial comparison for lunar highlands. Additionally, astronaut Anil Menon shared star trail images from orbit over Indonesia. These recent captures underscore the ongoing use of the ISS for scientific and artistic imaging, complementing Smadi's ground-based planetary transits.
Why it matters
This image demonstrates the precision required in astrophotography to capture rare celestial alignments. It highlights the ISS as a dynamic object in the night sky and provides a unique visual record of the station's interaction with distant planets. For Smadi, it completes a significant portion of his 'ISS Meets' series, showcasing the station's visibility against various planetary backdrops.
What to watch
Smadi may attempt to capture the ISS alongside Mercury, the only remaining planet he has not yet photographed with the station. The 'ISS Meets' series may continue to document future transits as planetary alignments shift.
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