Updated

Updated · Florida Today · Sep 5

Craig Bailey Captures Falcon Heavy Crossing Sun During Aug. 30 Roman Telescope Launch

Updated

Updated · Florida Today · Sep 5

Craig Bailey Captures Falcon Heavy Crossing Sun During Aug. 30 Roman Telescope Launch

Q: How did a fleeting break in storm clouds allow one photographer to capture a rare, dangerous solar transit of a SpaceX rocket?

A brief gap in the storm clouds gave Craig Bailey a narrow 10- to 15-minute window to see the sun before liftoff, and that was enough for his preplanned alignment to work as a SpaceX Falcon Heavy carrying NASA’s Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope crossed the sun’s disk. Bailey had positioned himself with about 20 to 25 other photographers at a carefully chosen viewing spot near Kennedy Space Center, where the rocket’s trajectory and the low morning sun could line up for a rare solar transit. The early hour was critical: with the sun still near the horizon, it appeared larger and was easier to align against the rocket’s path. Weather nearly ruined the attempt. Offshore thunderstorms threatened the launch, and low cloud cover almost hid the sun entirely. But the same clouds also helped by reducing glare and the intensity of the sunlight, making the image easier to capture through proper solar-imaging equipment. When the sun finally broke free shortly before launch, Bailey had the exact visual opening he needed. The moment itself was extremely brief and required planning tools, precise timing and safe equipment, including telescopes or cameras fitted with certified solar filters. Bailey said he had missed a similar opportunity before and was determined not to miss this one. He also stressed that photographing the sun without proper protection can permanently damage both camera sensors and eyesight.

1 articles · Updated · Florida Today · Sep 5

Aug. 30 produced a rare transit image as visual journalist Craig Bailey photographed a SpaceX Falcon Heavy passing across the sun during the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope launch from Kennedy Space Center.
Morning launch timing made the alignment possible because the low sun sits closer to the horizon and appears larger, while a break in cloud cover opened roughly 10 to 15 minutes before liftoff.
Bailey said technology has made such shots easier, but competition was still intense, with 20 to 25 photographers gathered in a parking lot trying to capture the same moment.
Clouds posed the main risk after offshore thunderstorms threatened both the launch and visibility, though thinner cloud also reduced glare and the need for extra filtration.
Bailey said most photographers used telescopes or cameras with solar filters and warned against looking at the sun through an unprotected lens because it can damage eyesight and camera sensors.

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Florida Today1d ago

Craig Bailey Photographs SpaceX Falcon Heavy Sun Transit During Roman Telescope Launch

How did a fleeting break in storm clouds allow one photographer to capture a rare, dangerous solar transit of a SpaceX rocket?

How do astrophotographers calculate the exact parking lot needed to perfectly align a speeding Falcon Heavy rocket with the morning sun?

What cosmic mysteries will NASA's newly launched Roman Space Telescope uncover once it reaches its deep-space orbit a million miles away?

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Florida Today1d ago

Craig Bailey Photographs SpaceX Falcon Heavy Sun Transit During Roman Telescope Launch

Craig Bailey Captures Falcon Heavy Crossing Sun During Aug. 30 Roman Telescope Launch

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