An incredible photo which was taken in County Durham showing the International Space Station fly in front of the sun goes viral on Facebook.
Wil Cheung, who is the resident astronomer at The Twice Brewed Observatory near Bardon Mill on Hadrian's Wall in Northumberland, took the amazing photo in Bowburn on Sunday at 12.36pm. The photographer had been trying to get the shot for more than a year and was close to giving up on ever capturing the special moment.
To be able to achieve the shot, Wil had to be at an exact spot at an exact time as the International Space Station flew in front of the sun - but this would only last 0.67 seconds. And while Wil had done everything in his power to be able to get the perfect shot he was reliant on the trusty British weather to stay clear.
Read more: Shooting star captured in one in a million family photo in Northumberland
And thankfully the skies stayed clear allowing Wil to capture the amazing photograph. However, what makes the photo especially special was that Wil took the image using his camera and a telephoto lens. Usually, Wil said these types of photos are taken by people using telescopes.
Wil explained: "I've been wanting to take his shot for such a long time. I'm not the first person to do it but generally, people who take these photographs use telescopes but I used a telephoto lens. A lot of people didn't realise it was possible.
"You have a very narrow window of time, it only lasted 0.67 seconds and you have got to be at a specific point to get the shot. I've been in tears before because I've driven to Berwick or Amble and I'm at the exact spot I need to be in and then a cloud appears at that second."
However, after seven previous failed attempts, Wil said he was "in shock" after seeing the photo for the first time. He said: "I couldn't believe it, I was in shock, it took my breath away seeing the photograph for the first time. I just couldn't believe how sharp it was."
Wil posted the photo on his Facebook page and was amazed by the response from people. The post went viral with almost 700,000 likes, 38,000 comments, and 44,000 shares. Wil previously took a once-in-a-lifetime photo of a family in Northumberland with a shooting star in the background - but he said the response to his latest photo has been "crazy".
He said: "The response has just been incredible, I have never experienced anything like this previously. My aurora photograph was shared a lot but this has just been crazy! My followers grow about 70 a day just organically but I have had 25,000 followers in the last seven days!
"I can't tell you the amount of messages I have received with people asking what kit I've got and that's exactly what it's about to inspire people because I was inspired by other people doing it in the past.
"But it's not just inspiring people about solar transits but hopefully it will get people to think about space stations and look up at the night sky more. We all have the same sky. It's not just limited to the North East, it occurs all across the world but it was just our turn.
"The reaction from people is what has really taken me by surprise and it makes all the failed attempts worth it in the end."
In response to the photo, one person said: "Careful planning, patience, determination, long drives, and such passion! It all paid off! You amaze me! This is totally nuts! I love, love, love it!" Another person said: "That is an incredible shot! Well planned and well executed!"
Wil has been running stargazing sessions throughout the summer, you can follow his photography page here. Stargazing at The Twice Brewed Inn, near Bardon Mill, Northumberland is running throughout the summer. For details and booking, visit www.twicebrewedinn.co.uk/stargazing
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