How to capture the International Space Station (ISS) in Front of the Moon🐺🌕🛰️

January 13th 2025 was a landmark day in astronomy. Not only was it the first full Moon of the year, but it also featured two remarkable celestial events: the occultation of Mars behind the Moon and a stunning transit of the International Space Station (ISS) across the lunar surface later that night. I was fortunate enough to capture both events and create a breathtaking image that tells the story. Here’s how I achieved it.

First, let me explain a few key terms for you. The occultation of Mars occurs when the Moon passes directly in front of the planet, causing Mars to disappear momentarily behind the lunar disk before reemerging on the other side. On the other hand, an ISS lunar transit happens when the International Space Station briefly crosses in front of the Moon's surface, creating a fleeting but awe-inspiring sight. To predict the occultation, I used an app called Starmap 3D+. To predict the ISS lunar transit, I used a website that predicts these transits, this website is the ISS Transit Finder.

I captured the occultation of the red planet from my backyard using an 8” observatory grade refractor. I also had another 16” telescope recording the progress of the occultation in a close up.

Absolutely thrilled, I watched the occultation unfold through my camera. Mars disappeared behind the Moon's southern region at 8:02 PM CST and reemerged from the northern region at 9:11 PM CST. If you follow me on Instagram or YouTube, you might have already seen my video of this incredible event. I'm currently working on an extended version of the occultation, complete with behind-the-scenes footage—so stay tuned!

After successfully capturing the occultation from my backyard, I headed 50 minutes south to photograph the ISS lunar transit. The parking lot of Allensville Baptist Church in Mount Pleasant, Tennessee, turned out to be the perfect location. From there, the ISS was predicted to pass almost directly through the center of the Moon's disc—a rare and ideal alignment.

I brought along my 8" refractor telescope, its mount, and all the necessary equipment for the shoot. For context, the telescope weighs 55 pounds, while the mount and counterweights add up to around 150 pounds. This was my first time transporting such large equipment to capture a transit, but the effort paid off—it resulted in the clearest transit I’ve ever captured. Check out the video of how I documented the transit here.

The final image was incredibly rewarding and well worth the effort I put into creating it. I combined the ISS transit with the sequence of Mars' occultation in a stunning high-dynamic-range composition. There are only 85 limited editions of this print available, so if you’d like one, make sure to grab yours before they’re gone!

I hope you enjoyed the story! Your support means the world to me and keeps me inspired. If you love my work, consider purchasing a print, merchandise, or a wallpaper. Until next time, stay warm and enjoy clear skies!

Yours sincerely,

Rami