Last weekend, a beautiful snapshot captured a rare sight in our sky: ten celestial bodies all aligned during a planetary parade. Astrophotographer Josh Dury took this impressive photo on February 28, showcasing seven planets—Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune—alongside the moon and the sun.
Dury snapped the stunning view from the Mendip Hills in Somerset, U.K. This kind of cosmic alignment won’t happen again until 2040! In total, his photo features the sun, the moon, and the seven planets, all in one frame.
“Including the sun made it tricky,” Dury shared. “Saturn and Neptune are fainter, which adds to the challenge.” To capture this moment, Dury took multiple images over a span of 2.5 hours. Although not all the planets could be seen simultaneously, he cleverly pieced the shots together to show the complete lineup.
Using an ultra-wide-angle lens, he created a panoramic view by overlapping different sections of the landscape. He applied a special technique called HDR blending to balance the bright sunlight with the softer light from the dimmer planets. This added depth and detail to the final image.
Since January, the seven planets have been popping up in our night sky. Mercury was the last to join the group, reaching its peak. Dury carefully tracked Mercury to locate the positions of the other planets and adjusted his camera settings to capture both the brightest and dimmest celestial bodies.
Interestingly, this alignment creates factors that affect visibility. “The sun’s position and glare made some planets harder to see,” Dury explained. “They appeared slightly out of alignment because of these natural occurrences.”
The photo also showcases a faint white glow in the sky known as zodiacal light, which stretches out from the sun. The clear skies made it easier to spot sparkling stars and even two bright galaxies—the Andromeda Galaxy and the Triangulum Galaxy.
Dury expressed his excitement about this rare event. “After March 2, Saturn will start to move closer to the sun, making this alignment a fleeting moment—it might even be a once-in-a-lifetime event!”
He felt particularly grateful that the weather cooperated, allowing him to capture this breathtaking scene from his home. If you’re interested in observing more celestial events, considering getting a telescope or binoculars can enhance your experience. Tools like the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography can also help you document future skywatching moments.
