Striking images of a rare planetary alignment of Venus and Mars were shared on social media this weekend, as the pair hovered in the post-sunset dusk sky.
According to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, the two planets have not been this close since 2008. The pairing is known as a conjunction, and could be observed from the western horizon for three days, from Feb. 19 to Feb. 21.
NASA says Venus, a planet that is only a little smaller than the Earth in size, was the brighter of the two planets.
Stargazers who looked up could also see a crescent moon, making for an impressive show.
Images of the planetary conjunction were shared on social media over the weekend.
But I did get this w/my phone, just after I finished at the optometrist! The #conjunction,taken in downtown #Toronto. pic.twitter.com/mw13s5mCTw
— Sophia Nasr (@Pharaoness) February 21, 2015
@csa_asc From #Toronto looking over the #DVP #conjunction pic.twitter.com/VtafRwFXqk
— Mike Ledermueller (@MLedermueller) February 21, 2015
#Venus #Mars Feb 20 about 30 min past sunset - brilliantly shining Venus, red Mars and a thin lunar crescent .... pic.twitter.com/gGX4geZ4W7
— Arvind Paranjpye (@a_paranjpye) February 20, 2015
@NASA North East of UK - Just Caught #Mars #Venus before it disappeared. pic.twitter.com/RSqGf3rf4Z
— Kev Tee (@KevTee) February 22, 2015
Venus and Mars. 1829 UT 22 February 2015. Canon 1200D. 55mm zoom. Cropped. pic.twitter.com/v17tb9Gvlt
— David Blanchflower (@DavidBflower) February 22, 2015