A stargazer in Northern Ireland captured the moment the planet Venus set over a mysterious Bronze Age-era stone circle on Monday night (January 6).

The timelapse video shows Venus, the second planet from the Sun and Earth's closest neighbor in the solar system, setting over the megalithic Beaghmore Stone Circles in County Tyrone.

"Venus isn't [visible] in the sky all the time. Only during certain months does the planet become bright and well-placed and far enough away from the Sun to be seen with ease.

"This winter happens to be one of those special times of the year. The planet is the brightest object in the night sky (except the moon of course) and is bright enough to cast shadows at magnitude -4.5 to -5.0," filmer and astronomer Martin McKenna told Newsflare.

Planet Venus is now a magnificent sight in our evening skies, this is a DSLR time lapse showing Venus setting over megalithic stones at Beaghmore Stone Circles in Co, Tyrone near the famous Sperrins. Rendered at 24 frames/sec at 1080p HD 16:9 crop factor.


Shot last night, Venus isn't in the sky all the time, only during certain apparitions does the planet become bright and well placed and far enough away from the sun to be seen with ease. This winter happens to be one of those special apparitions, it will dominate the evening sky between now and into February and March and will be visible against a dark sky which is more unusual. The planet is the brightest object in the night sky (except the moon of course) and is bright enough to cast shadows at magnitude -4.5 to -5.0. It will be a dazzling sight in the SW sky on the weeks to come.