Stunning ‘Planetary Parade’: Capture the Magic of Venus and the Moon Dancing Above the Eiffel Tower!

A stunning photo shows Venus and the crescent moon shining brightly over Paris. This beautiful sight stood out against the backdrop of the Eiffel Tower, which also illuminated the night. French astrophotographer Gwenaël Blanck captured this moment on February 1 at 8:00 p.m. from the Seine River banks.

The image features a radiant moon and Venus closely aligned with a beam of blue light shooting from the top of the Eiffel Tower. Blanck noted that this celestial event drew many tourists and onlookers, all admiring the sky. “It’s rare to see something like this, especially in a city with light pollution,” he shared.

In the photo, you can also spot Saturn, though it’s harder to see compared to the other two objects. Blanck mentioned that while the moon and Venus were eye-catching, locating Saturn was quite tricky.

The bright glow of the moon is enhanced by a phenomenon called earthshine. This happens when sunlight reflects off the Earth and illuminates the darker parts of the moon. Earthshine is most visible around a new moon and is typically seen more clearly in the spring.

We’re currently experiencing an exciting time in the night sky. Over the next few weeks, five planets—Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn—will be visible to the naked eye. Uranus and Neptune are also there but need a telescope for a good view.

This planetary parade has already shown us some amazing alignments, including six planets in late January. But the peak of this event will occur in late February and early March, when all seven planets align in a nearly straight line along the horizon.

During this parade, Venus will be the brightest planet, making it easy to spot next to the moon on clear nights. If you want a closer look, using a decent telescope or a pair of stargazing binoculars is a great idea.

Mark your calendars! You won’t see another planetary alignment like this until October 2028.

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