Astrophotographers Capture Rare Alignment of Jupiter and Mars in the Night Sky
The two planets, which last appeared this close together over two years ago, dazzled skywatchers in the early morning hours, with a spectacle that won’t be seen again until 2033.
On August 14, astrophotographers around the world turned their lenses toward a rare celestial event: a close encounter between Jupiter and Mars. The two planets, which last appeared this close together over two years ago, dazzled skywatchers in the early morning hours, with a spectacle that won’t be seen again until 2033, Space.com reports.
One of the most stunning images of this event was captured by photographer Josh Dury from the summit of Glastonbury Tor in the UK. In a stroke of cosmic luck, Dury’s shot also featured a Perseid meteor streaking across the sky, adding even more magic to the moment. The photographer shared his image with Space.com.
Jupiter outshone Mars by nearly 16 times in brightness, but that didn’t stop both planets from offering a captivating display. Astrophysicist Gianluca Masi of the Virtual Telescope Project livestreamed the encounter from Italy, capturing the planets just a quarter-of-a-degree apart—a stunning sight with stars twinkling in the background.
Other photographers, including Lorenzo Di Cola in Italy, also took part in documenting this rare conjunction. Some even managed to capture Jupiter’s moons, adding further depth to the stunning images.
This planetary meet-up has inspired many enthusiasts to share their photos online, offering a glimpse of the breathtaking moment when Mars and Jupiter aligned in the night sky.