Stunning Photos show Venus and Mars 'dancing' alongside the Moon
February 23, 2015
This is the moment that Venus and Mars 'danced' alongside the moon in what was the closest pairing of the two planets in seven years. The pairing is known as a ‘conjunction’, which means the planets are positioned in such a form that they appear aligned from Earth. These photographs of the phenomenon were taken on Friday night at Freshwater Bay on the Isle of Wight and in Monyash, Derbyshire.
The planets appeared close to each other after sunset for about an hour - and will not be this close again until October 2017.
Venus appeared brighter than Mars, with the planets about 134million and 203million miles away from Earth respectively.
Arizona State University astrophysicist Patrick Young said: ‘It doesn't have any physical significance, but it's pretty impressive to look at.
‘This is one of the more impressive things you'll be able to see with the naked eye. It should look pretty neat with binoculars too.’
Closest conjunction since 2008: This photograph was taken from Magpie Mine, an old lead mine near Monyash, in the Derbyshire Peak District
