IN A GALAXY not so distant, a stargazer has captured mesmerising photographs of the Worldwide Area Station through which the orbiting lab appears to be like like a TIE fighter from the Star Wars universe.

Expert astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy, from California, snapped the $150billion spacecraft because it handed in entrance of each the Moon and the Solar.

The International Space Station looks like a TIE fighter from Star Wars as it passes in front of the Moon in this stunning image

The Worldwide Area Station appears to be like like a TIE fighter from Star Wars because it passes in entrance of the Moon on this gorgeous pictureCredit score: SWNS:South West Information Service

The full shot was snapped from California during a crescent Moon

The total shot was snapped from California throughout a crescent MoonCredit score: SWNS:South West Information Service

The result’s what might be the clearest photographs of the ISS – which orbits 250 miles (400km) above Earth – ever taken from our planet.

The 2 photographs had been taken final month. Andrew stated the photograph of the ISS in entrance of the Solar, in broad daylight, was “one in every of my trickiest photographs ever”.

Sharing the photograph on his Instagram page, he wrote: “For lower than a second, the solar aligned with the ISS and my yard.

“This shot is the results of planning, timing, and tools.

Photographer Andrew McCarthy also captured the orbiting space lab as it passed in front of the Sun

Photographer Andrew McCarthy additionally captured the orbiting area lab because it handed in entrance of the SolarCredit score: SWNS:South West Information Service

Andrew said the photo of the ISS in front of the Sun, in broad daylight, was 'one of my trickiest shots ever'

Andrew stated the photograph of the ISS in entrance of the Solar, in broad daylight, was ‘one in every of my trickiest photographs ever’Credit score: SWNS:South West Information Service

“I used two telescopes with cameras, one with a white mild filter for ISS element, and a photo voltaic telescope for floor particulars.

“I managed to freeze a second in time when the station was close to some fascinating prominences, after which aligned and blended the ultimate photographs to get the proper composition.”

And simply days later, Andrew was fortunate sufficient to identify the ISS once more – this time, streaking throughout a tiny crescent moon within the evening sky.

He wrote on Instagram: “It does not get a lot cooler than this.

Up close, the ISS looks nothing like the Star Wars spacecraft

Up shut, the ISS appears to be like nothing just like the Star Wars spacecraftCredit score: Alamy

What’s the ISS?

Here is what you have to know concerning the Worldwide Area Station…

The Worldwide Area Station, typically abbreviated to ISS, is a big area craft that orbits Earth and homes astronauts who go up there to finish scientific missions
Many international locations labored collectively to construct it they usually work collectively to make use of it
It’s made up of many items, which astronauts needed to ship up individually on rockets and put collectively from 1998 to 2000
Ever for the reason that yr 2000, folks have lived on the ISS
Nasa makes use of the station to study residing and dealing in area
It’s roughly 250 miles above Earth and orbits across the planet similar to a satellite tv for pc
Dwelling contained in the ISS is claimed to be like residing inside a giant home with 5 bedrooms, two loos, a health club, a lot of science labs and a giant bay window for viewing Earth

“I spent hours scouting for the appropriate location, hoping to seize one thing I’ve by no means seen earlier than – the ISS transiting a razor-thin crescent moon.

“One thing about the way in which the illuminated ISS straddles the crescent offers it a way of depth I had not but been capable of seize in my earlier transit photographs.”

Andrew is among the net’s most well-known astrophotographers, boasting greater than 300,000 followers on Instagram.

He went viral final yr after sharing an extremely detailed picture of the Moon made up of fifty,000 photographs digitally stitched collectively.