Heavens above! This stunning image shows how three planets are aligned at Stonehenge
- On Monday, Jupiter and Saturn align above Stonehenge in Wiltshire.
- Ten eight-second exposures captured the vision of celestial wonder.
- The photo went viral on the internet, with thousands liking it.
After ten exposures of eight seconds, this image was merged to create this vision of celestial wonder.
It was captured Monday evening and quickly went viral, receiving over 5,000 likes on Stonehenge Dronescapes’ Facebook page in under an hour.
To capture the details of the planets, ten 8-second exposures were taken. They were then merged into one image to create a greater depth than could be seen from the naked eye.
The largest planet Jupiter is seen top left against Stonehene, a neolithic monument. Saturn, center, can be seen in the centre.
In contrast to the Neolithic landmark, Jupiter (largest planet) was visible in the centre alongside Saturn (ringed),
Venus, bottom right, the brightest natural object in Earth’s sky after the moon, was also shone in the pink and red light.
For centuries, the connection between Stonehenge & the stars puzzled mankind.
Stonehenge: The centre of the neopagan world
Since the middle of the 19th century, Stonehenge has seen a steady stream of people from all walks of life. These include neopagans who claim that they have resurrected ancient Celtic druid practices.
Stonehenge is thought to have been a religious and burial site from its inception. However, there is no evidence of rituals that might have occurred at Stonehenge during prehistoric times.
Visitors began visiting the monument in 1870s on the evening of the summer solstice, when the rising Sun casts its first rays onto the centre of the circle.
Stonehenge, a prehistoric monument. It’s believed Stonehenge was a burial ground and religious location since its first construction
Since 1905, modern druidic ceremonies were performed at the site by the Ancient Order of Druids.
Stonehenge was still used for pagan rituals throughout the twentieth century, in spite of opposition from archaeologists.
In the 1970s the druids came to be joined by New Age members. These people held an annual “free festival” at Stonehenge and saw Stonehenge a key landmark for those who wanted alternative lifestyles.
Probleme in the Past: Stonehenge revelers are detained by the police following disturbances that occurred on June 28, 1988, during the summer solstice.
English Heritage was concerned about the thousands who were visiting the monument to celebrate the solstice. In 1985, the High Court issued an injunction prohibiting revellers from the site.
600 people arrived anyway and it led to violent clashes against police, known as “The Battle of the Beanfield” – eight officers and 16 tourists were hospitalized.
In 2000 Stonehenge’s custodians opened it twice per year on the winter and summer solstices. Now Stonehenge is also open at the spring and fall equinox.
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