Astronomers match Van Gogh Starry Night sky to July 1889 arrangement

A new research study shows that the night sky depicted in Vincent van Gogh's painting The Starry Night matches the actual sky in July 1889, Good News Network and Space reported. The research combined art history with astronomy to solve the long-standing mystery surrounding the artwork. [1][3]

The iconic masterpiece was conventionally dated from a letter Van Gogh wrote to his brother Theo around June 18, 1889, Good News Network reported. However, experts noted that the waning gibbous moon during June could not account for the slender crescent painted in the artwork. [1]

EurekAlert and Space reported that researchers specifically identified the pre-dawn sky of around July 22, 1889, as the precise celestial arrangement depicted in the painting. Smithsonian Magazine added that while a team of astronomers identified this exact night sky, not all experts are convinced. [3][5][6]

Star clusters share a common origin and are held together by self-gravitation, which can form tight globular clusters or looser open clusters. Taurus is a prominent northern hemisphere constellation that dates back to at least the Early Bronze Age. [8][9]