Planets Venus and Mars: The View from Italy

Planets Venus and Mars: The View from Italy

Shown here is the early morning conjunction of Venus and Mars on February 21, 2024, as observed from the village of San Martino al Cimino in central Italy. A conjunction occurs when two astronomical objects appear close to each other in the sky. In this image, Venus and Mars are separated by less than one degree, among the tree branches (above and to the right of the bench) that overlook Lake Vico—brighter Venus is at top. This photo was snapped at 6:39 am local time.

Lake Vico (from the Latin Lacus Ciminus) is surrounded by the Cimini Mountains This scenic lake boasts the high-altitude record among large Italian lakes—1,663 ft (507 m) above sea level.

Technical Details: Nikon Z9 camera; 100 ISO; 1/15 seconds exposure; Nikon Z14-24/2.8S lens; at 16.5 mm; stopped at f/5

 

Image & Caption Credit: Marco Meniero

Location: San Martino al Cimino, Italy Coordinates: 42.366667, 12.116667

Marco's Website: https://www.meniero.it

Image Date: February 21, 2024

Release Date: May 8, 2024

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