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Astrophotographer Captures Skydiver Silhouetted Against the Sun in ‘The Fall of Icarus’

Months of precision planning with H‑alpha solar gear enabled a radio‑timed skydive to briefly cross the Sun.

Overview

  • The image was captured on Nov. 8 from telescopes set up in the Arizona desert during a coordinated jump by skydiver and musician Gabriel Brown.
  • Andrew McCarthy used a hydrogen‑alpha filter to reveal chromospheric detail, which required an extremely narrow field of view and split‑second alignment.
  • Reports describe repeated alignment passes and equipment issues before success on the sixth attempt, with McCarthy cueing the jump over radio.
  • Brown exited a small propeller‑powered paramotor at about 3,500 feet, with reported ground separation from the cameras given in varying figures across outlets.
  • The photo titled The Fall of Icarus drew wide online praise, including from Elon Musk and NASA astronaut Don Petit, and limited‑edition prints are being offered.