Photographer AJ Smadi has captured an exceptionally rare image showing Venus and the International Space Station in the same frame. The photograph records a moment that lasts only a split second, as the ISS moves rapidly across the sky in front of the bright planet.
According to the report, the image is believed to be only the second photograph ever made of Venus and the ISS together in this way. That makes the shot notable not just for its visual impact, but for how unusual the alignment is.
The feat required extensive planning, since photographing the station against a distant celestial object depends on precise timing and positioning. The ISS travels so quickly that the opportunity appears and disappears almost instantly, leaving very little room for error.
The result is a striking example of how preparation and patience can come together in astrophotography. By catching the ISS as it flashed past Venus, Smadi documented a rare space moment that most observers would never notice with the naked eye.
