The sky in Vincent Van Gogh’s Starry Night may have been real all along
FOX Weather • • entertainment
Key Points:
- Researchers from Kyung Hee University used astronomical simulations and historical weather data to identify a real celestial event that likely inspired Vincent van Gogh's Starry Night, pinpointing the date to around dawn on July 22, 1889.
- The study compared the lunar phase, positions of Venus and stars, and weather conditions to match features in the painting with the sky above the Saint-Rémy asylum where van Gogh was staying.
- Key celestial details such as a waning crescent moon, Venus near the horizon, and the Hyades star cluster's V-shaped pattern were found to closely align with the painting's composition.
- While van Gogh may not have depicted the event with complete astronomical accuracy, the findings suggest the iconic artwork was influenced by an actual rare celestial phenomenon observed by the artist.
