Watch: Astrophotographer captures stunning video of Saturn emerging from behind the Moon

McCarthy’s video presents the moment Saturn emerged from the Moon’s shadow, a rare and captivating sight.

In an awe-inspiring celestial moment, astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy has released a breathtaking video of Saturn as it reappears from behind the Moon. The 1.03-minute clip, shared on social media platform X, showcases the gas giant in black and white, with its iconic rings visible in sharp detail.

Saturn’s Magnificent Return Caught on Camera
McCarthy’s video presents the moment Saturn emerged from the Moon’s shadow, a rare and captivating sight. The photographer shared that only the shadows in the footage were brightened to enhance Saturn's visibility. Using an infrared filter for the video, McCarthy explained that the black-and-white effect was intentional, while Saturn’s ingress was initially captured in colour. The celestial clip quickly gained attention, leaving space enthusiasts in awe.

Watch Saturn emerge from behind the moon in real-time. The only editing done to this clip was brightening the shadows since Saturn was so much darker than the full moon.This was captured using an infrared filter which is why its a b&w clip. The ingress was captured in color. pic.twitter.com/ExlCVgeqbx
Andrew McCarthy (@AJamesMcCarthy) September 24, 2024

In a follow-up tweet, McCarthy also posted a high-resolution image showing Saturn during the ingress, the moment it vanished behind the Moon.

In case you missed my photo of ingress. This is a tight crop of the shot I released in print from the event. Ill have them available for a few more days here: https://t.co/tfauJ8noV3 pic.twitter.com/n0vL2ILngk Andrew McCarthy (@AJamesMcCarthy) September 24, 2024

The internet responded with amazement, with one user commenting, "Wow! What an incredible transformation you've made." Another follower expressed gratitude for McCarthy’s explanation of how he managed the stark luminosity difference between the Moon and Saturn.

Wow! What an incredible transformation you've made to the final shot
Visionaledge (@Visionaledge) September 24, 2024

Thank you for the details. I was always curious how you handled the immense difference in luminosity between the Moon and Saturn. Wear your masks (@tonyver45) September 25, 2024

My mind can't even wrap around this. I would be shaking if I saw this through the scope! I get gitty when I can spot the tiny dot of Jupiter and 4 of its moons!
SyeClops (@SyeClops) September 24, 2024

Saturn’s Rings Set to Disappear by 2025
Saturn, renowned for its iconic rings, is expected to temporarily lose their visibility in 2025 due to its axial tilt. As the planet aligns its rings edge-on with Earth, they will appear nearly invisible. This rare event occurs every 13 to 15 years, with the next instance happening around March 23, 2025. Saturn’s rings will reappear fully by 2032, offering stargazers another chance to witness their grandeur.

McCarthy’s video has sparked fascination across the internet, offering a glimpse of the beauty and mystery of the universe.