A plane crossing the moon

An unexpectedly lucky frame

This photograph came from an ordinary evening in the backyard during the last week of April 2026. I was plane watching and photographing birds and bees when, just after 7 PM, I noticed the moon high in the sky, close to the zenith.

The plane crossed the moon at exactly the right moment. It was a lucky shot, and I have not been able to replicate it so far. Because the moon was near the zenith, the plane was passing almost directly overhead.

A focus setting that helped

The aircraft was flying above 36,000 feet, so the camera autofocus set the lens focus to infinity. That distance was right for the plane, and it also kept the moon in focus in the same frame.

There was no elaborate setup behind the shot. I was already outside with the camera ready, looking up at the right time and able to react quickly when the two subjects aligned.

The setup

The shutter speed was 1/4000s at f/6.3 with Auto ISO, using a Nikon Z 600mm f/6.3 lens. At 1,470 grams, the lens is light enough that handholding it at a steep upward angle was manageable, which mattered for a fast-moving subject overhead.

This is one of those photographs that sits at the intersection of preparation, skill, and luck. The settings, the lightweight lens, and being ready all helped, but the timing is something I am still waiting to see happen again.