Maine Photography Captures Super Rare Comet During Session

In an crazy stroke of luck, Darcy Rioux a Maine-based photographer recently captured something truly out of this world! Literally!

She was photographing a senior who studies aviation at Lewiston High School and she unknowingly captured shots of a rare comet streaking through the sky.

This comet only passes by Earth once every 80,000 years and made an unexpected appearance during the photo shoot at a local airport.

According to WGME via CBS News, the comet is called "C/2023 A3" and it follows an 80,000-year orbit around our solar system. This past Saturday it made its closest approach to Earth. Over the past week, it has been visible about an hour after sunset, showing just above the horizon near the constellation Virgo.

Darcy shared her excitement with me saying,

"I made arrangements for a senior who studies aviation at LHS, and during his photo shoot, we apparently captured images of that rare comet  that only comes around every 80 thousand years!"

The rareness of this comet added with the special moment of the photo shoot is something straight out of a photographer's dream!

Not to mention, the student studies aviation so it couldn't be more fitting.

This entire experience serves as a reminder that sometimes, when you're focused on capturing memories, the universe throws in a little extra magic at you!

Darcy's shots are now not only an amazing memory of this young man's future and career but also a snapshot of a once in a lifetime astronomical event!