Amateur Astrophotographer Captures Stunning Solar Eclipse on Saturn

**AJ Smadi: Capturing Celestial Wonders**

Astrophotography has recently welcomed a rising talent in twenty-year-old AJ Smadi. In merely two years of practice, this emerging photographer has gained considerable accolades, including one of his images being chosen as NASA’s Astronomy Photo of the Day. Recently, Smadi directed his camera towards Saturn, capturing a breathtaking image of a solar eclipse on this gas giant.

Saturn, boasting 145 confirmed moons, undergoes frequent eclipses; however, only seven of these moons are substantial enough to cast a shadow on the planet’s surface. Titan, Saturn’s largest moon, is among them. In the coming months, it will transit Saturn multiple times, granting unique opportunities for astrophotographers like Smadi. These transits will halt after the ongoing series and will not resume until 2040.

Employing the Stellarium sky app, Smadi adeptly monitored this celestial occurrence. Conveniently located near his home in Washington, he organized his gear, which included a telescope, camera, and infrared filter, and set up at 1 a.m. After hours of diligent waiting, he captured a sequence of images. Through a careful method of stacking thousands of video captures, Smadi produced a final image that distinctly shows Titan’s shadow on Saturn.

In addition to Titan’s shadow, Smadi’s photograph also showcases several other moons, such as Dione, Tethys, and Enceladus, paired with the planet’s iconic rings, vividly depicted in sharp detail. His skill in planetary imaging is remarkable considering his age and relatively brief experience, signifying a promising future for his photographic pursuits.

For those wishing to follow Smadi’s journey and remarkable work, he is active on Instagram under the handle [@aj.smadi](https://www.instagram.com/aj.smadi/).

**Amateur astrophotographer AJ Smadi captured amazing images of a solar eclipse on Saturn.**

**The planet’s moon Titan caused the eclipse, but Smadi captured much more than that in his images.**

Smadi’s work serves as a reminder of the marvels of our solar system and the splendor of celestial events through the perspective of a gifted young astronomer. To discover his other cosmic captures, connect with him on his social media.