Academic research prototype · Non-commercial
Computational research on aircraft transits across the Sun and Moon.
SkyTransit is an academic research prototype. It develops and evaluates computational methods that combine aircraft trajectory data, astronomical ephemerides and topocentric geometry to identify, compute and analyse apparent aircraft–Sun/Moon alignments from ground-based observing locations.
Outputs are computed candidate events; predictive performance is under evaluation
Computed candidate
Moon crossing
Commercial aircraft · Example data
RESEARCH PLATFORM
A computational testbed for alignment analysis
SkyTransit investigates how aircraft trajectory observations, astronomical ephemerides and computational geometry can be combined to identify, compute and analyse apparent aircraft–Sun/Moon alignments in space and time.
Prediction
Developing and evaluating methods that compute candidate future alignment events for a location and time window.
Geometry
Studying topocentric line-of-sight geometry and the ground transit corridors from which an alignment is visible.
Validation
Comparing computed candidate events with independent real-world observations to assess timing, geometry and predictive performance.
Historical analysis
Using SkyTransit Atlas to analyse historical alignment evidence and recurrence across dates and datasets.
RESEARCH QUESTIONS
Questions SkyTransit exists to answer
- Can aircraft trajectory data and astronomical ephemerides be combined to identify ground locations from which aircraft–Sun/Moon alignments occur?
- How robust are predicted transit corridors to trajectory sampling, timing, positional uncertainty and observation geometry?
- Can historical aircraft trajectories reveal geographic locations where Sun/Moon alignments have occurred repeatedly?
- How can live and historical ADS-B evidence be combined without counting the same physical event twice?
RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
An integrated computational pipeline
SkyTransit is a computational testbed: aircraft trajectory data, astronomical ephemerides and geometry are integrated methodologically, and every output is a candidate event or a derived result. The methods are under active development and evaluation.
Aircraft trajectory observations
Topocentric Sun / Moon ephemerides
Ground transit corridor
Validation and aggregation
ONGOING EVALUATION
Validation is ongoing
SkyTransit is under active methodological evaluation. Computed candidate events can be compared with independent real-world observations to assess timing, geometry and predictive performance. SkyTransit is not a validated forecasting or operational service.
Research status & limitationsPRACTICAL APPLICATION
From method to observation
The research methods have a practical use. Observers and photographers can act on computed candidate events, and each real-world observation is independent evidence for evaluating the methods.
Compute
SkyTransit computes candidate aircraft–Sun/Moon alignments for a location and time window.
Observe
Go to where the geometry is favourable and record the pass — a photograph or a timed note.
Compare
Observations can be checked against the computed timing and geometry; predictive performance is under evaluation.
SKYTRANSIT ATLAS
The historical-analysis component
Atlas is the second research component. Where SkyTransit computes forward-looking candidate events, Atlas analyses past aircraft trajectories to identify qualified past alignment events and accumulate repeated geographic evidence. Together they support a methodological programme for analysing aircraft–celestial-object alignments in space and time.
Historical recurrence does not imply future probability, a guaranteed transit, prediction confidence, or a best location.
Explore SkyTransit AtlasDATA & RESEARCH TRANSPARENCY
Bounded queries, derived outputs
SkyTransit combines aircraft trajectory observations with astronomical and geospatial data to produce derived transit geometry and historical evidence. Analyses are bounded geographically and temporally, and third-party raw historical aircraft data are not intended for public bulk redistribution.
Research & data methodologyRESEARCH LEAD
Independent academic research
SkyTransit is developed by Alejandro Rodríguez-González, Professor / Researcher at Universidad Politécnica de Madrid (UPM). The affiliation identifies the researcher only; SkyTransit is an independent initiative with no dedicated project funding — not an official UPM service or an institutionally funded project.
SkyTransit is an open research prototype.