In late June 2005, there was a dazzling conjunction of three bright planets, Venus, Saturn and Mercury.

 

This celestial wonder caught the hearts of astronomers and astrophotographers worldwide.

 

In a planetary conjunction, two or more planets appear close together in the sky, as they align near the line of sight.

 

Fig (1)

"Planets Over the Nile"

http://www.astronomie.de/fachbereiche/astrofotografie/2005/27/a-pla-kon.jpg  

Photo by Aymen Ibrahem, BA, Senior Astronomy Specialist

 

On 25 June 2005, astronomer Aymen Ibrahem of the Planetarium Science Center (PSC) took numerous photos of this planetary spectacle in Luxor, Egypt.

 

The above photo shows the planets over the Nile; the cliffs in the foreground embrace epic cultural treasures such as the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens. The photo is unique as it is the first photo of Mercury, the elusive planet, over Luxor.

 

This photo was published last summer by Astronomie.de, the famous German astronomy web site, as Astrofoto der Woche "Picture of the Week".

 

A week earlier, Mr. Ibrahem photographed the Venus-Saturn conjunction over the same spot, conducting the first ever astrophoto of a planetary conjunction over the Nile.

 

Fig (2)

Venus and Saturn over the West Bank, Luxor, Egypt

Photo by Aymen Ibrahem, BA, Senior Astronomy Specialist

 

Mercury is very difficult to observe, as it is very close to the Sun. Interestingly, it has been said that the great astronomer Nicolas Copernicus (1473-1543) deeply regretted, while on death bed, that he never observed Mercury!

 

 

Aymen Mohamed Ibrahem

PSC, Senior Astronomy Specialist