Conjunction of the Moon and Mars Above the Valley of the Temples

Photographer: Giovanni TuminoSummary Author: Giovanni Tumino

Shown above is the conjunction of the waning crescent Moon (~12 percent illuminated) and Mars as observed from the Valley of the Temples (Sicily), Italy on the morning of May 5, 2024. Mars is just above the Moon. This site was chosen after careful desk planning with specific apps. My location is approximately 1,500 m west of the temples -- the Temple of Concordia is at left and the Temple of Juno at right. Faint iridescence can be detected in the clouds just above and below the Moon.

Note that the exposure for the temples was acquired before the Moon and Mars entered the frame. I made sure to keep the camera in the same position and with the same focal length. Click here to see a time-lapse video of this conjunction.

Photo Details: Canon 6D Mark II camera; Canon EF 300 mm lens; f/4; 0.7 second exposure; ISO 8000. Temples: ¼ second exposure; f/6.7; ISO 6.400. May 05, 2024, 04:47 local time.

Agrigento, Sicily, Italy Coordinates: 37.2910, 13.5901

Related Links:Third Quater Moon and Temple of PoseidonMake a Moon Phases Calendar and Calculator