A breathtaking photograph showing a skydiver falling in front of the Sun has captured widespread attention after being shared by renowned astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy. The Arizona-based space enthusiast managed to immortalize his friend's parachute jump with the detailed surface of our star as the dramatic backdrop. The image appears so improbable that viewers might question whether it was generated by artificial intelligence.
On November 13, 2025, McCarthy shared this rare solar photograph on X (formerly Twitter), adding to his collection of stunning celestial images that have long captivated his followers. However, this particular shot represents a new peak in his observational work. Against a background entirely composed of the Sun's surface, complete with visible incandescent turbulence and solar activity, a dark silhouette of an individual can be seen falling through the frame - a skydiver captured mid-jump.
The extraordinary image required meticulous planning and exceptional technical precision to achieve. "I photographed my friend Black Gryph0n passing in front of the sun during a parachute jump," McCarthy explained on X. Black Gryph0n, whose real name is Gabriel Brown, is a musician and YouTuber who has expressed the dream of recording a song in space. The collaboration between the two friends resulted in what many consider an almost surreal photographic achievement.
McCarthy revealed additional details about the technical aspects behind this exceptional photograph. He demonstrated what his friend's parachute jump looked like from his perspective and explained that he captured the moment using hydrogen alpha light to reveal the Sun's atmosphere. This specialized technique allows photographers to observe and document solar atmospheric details that would otherwise be invisible to standard photography methods.
The photographer has made the image available for purchase on his website, selling it under the title "The Fall of Icarus," likely referencing the lost painting by Pieter Bruegel the Elder. McCarthy shared additional footage showing "the moment of the jump, captured in hydrogen alpha light to resolve the sun's atmosphere," and noted that they decided to release the photo in print format, both as a close-up shot and showing the full disc of the sun.
The inspiration for this ambitious photograph reportedly came after the two space enthusiasts completed a parachute jump together. Their shared passion for space exploration and photography led them to conceive this technically challenging but visually stunning project. On November 11, McCarthy had teased the upcoming photo by publishing a video recorded when he first obtained the shot, capturing his spontaneous reaction and that of accompanying individuals when the image appeared before them.
"Was it worth it or not," McCarthy commented on November 14, after revealing the photograph to the public. The overwhelming positive response and viral nature of the image suggest that the answer is a resounding yes. The photograph represents not only a technical achievement in astrophotography but also a creative collaboration that pushes the boundaries of what's possible when combining extreme sports with scientific observation.
The image joins McCarthy's extensive portfolio of celestial photography, continuing his tradition of making space accessible and awe-inspiring to the general public. His work consistently demonstrates how advanced photographic techniques can reveal the hidden beauty and complexity of astronomical phenomena, from detailed lunar surfaces to solar atmospheric activity.
