A spec of dust.....

[Ultra]

It looks like a speck of dust on the surface of the sun. But this spectacular picture shows the space shuttle Atlantis alongside the International Space Station (ISS) silhouetted as they orbit the earth.

The image was taken in Normandy by French astrophotographer Thierry Legault. He used a digital camera attached to a £5,000 specially kitted-out telescope.

The shuttle, which returned last week from a 12-day mission, and the space station can be seen in orbit 250 miles above the earth while the sun is 93 million miles away.

[MG]

Remind me again....the ISS is important because.........?

[Arthur Dent]

That sure is neat but I'm glad its his £5,000 not mine.

[Ultra]

Remind me again....the ISS is important because.........?

It is expensive. 

[Jagman]

Yes, but what an amazing bit of photography!