- By Shivangi Sharma
- Tue, 01 Jul 2025 03:39 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy, based in Arizona, has stunned space enthusiasts worldwide with a breathtaking image showing the International Space Station (ISS) transiting the Sun while solar flares erupted in the background. Captured from the Sonoran Desert, this rare photograph is titled Kardashev Dreams, symbolising what McCarthy calls “our first steps to being a much greater civilisation.”
Known for his detailed celestial photography, McCarthy camped in the desert under extreme heat, specifically aiming to capture this fleeting astronomical event. The resulting image features the silhouette of the ISS, just a tiny black speck, soaring across the immense yellow-orange disk of the Sun, with radiant solar flares stretching outward in fiery elegance.
Named After Vision Of Future
Sharing the image on Instagram, McCarthy wrote, “While waiting for the ISS to transit the Sun, a sunspot group started flaring, leading to this once-in-a-lifetime shot.” He named the photo Kardashev Dreams, inspired by Soviet astronomer Nikolai Kardashev, who introduced a scale to measure the advancement of civilisations by their energy use. “It represents our first steps toward becoming a much more advanced space civilisation,” McCarthy said.
Capturing such a moment wasn’t easy. Temperatures soared to 121°F (49.4°C), making it a challenging feat not just for the photographer but also for his equipment. “I brought ice packs and thermoelectric coolers to help keep the telescopes and computers from overheating,” he revealed.
Tribute To ISS And Human Achievement
The photograph also serves as a subtle tribute to the ISS itself, a marvel of human collaboration in space. First launched in 2000 with a crew aboard, the station has evolved from a rudimentary orbiting platform into a sophisticated hub for research and experimentation in microgravity.
Built with contributions from the US, Canada, Europe, Japan, and Russia, the ISS is a global project that continues to push the boundaries of space science and international cooperation. It has hosted astronauts from around the world and facilitated experiments that have advanced medicine, materials science, and Earth observation.