Astrophotographer Captures Stunning Picture of ‘Rare’ Planetary Parade

An astrophotographer named Josh Dury captured a breathtaking view wherein seven planets came together in a rare celestial display on 22 February. The photograph was taken in Mendip Hills, Somerset, which shows a planetary parade stretching across the sky.

While describing his feeling Dury said, “It was a rare chance to photograph all planets together,” he told Space.com.

How was it captured?

Notably, capturing all the seven planets can be a daunting task as it requires high-level patience and technical skills. Though Venus, Jupiter and Mars were visible through a naked eye, spotting Saturn and Mercury requires a clear horizon. Planets like Uranus and Neptune required binoculars or a telescope as these planets became dimmer.

While performing the activity, Dury used a Sony A7S II with a Sigma 15mm Diagonal Fisheye. To capture Mercury, Saturn and Neptune, he depended on multiple exposures. As one image captured the base panorama, the other had higher ISO settings. This helped reveal the faint light from these distant planets. Dury then verified their positions using sphere maps.

“The challenge was their proximity to the sun,” he said. Capturing all seven in one frame made the effort worthwhile.