Turkey witnesses rare Moon‑Venus‑Jupiter alignment in Bitlis and Vize

On the evening of 19 June 2026, residents of Bitlis observed a rare astronomical event: the Moon, Venus and Jupiter aligned along the same line. The city’s high altitude and low light‑pollution conditions made the sight especially clear, prompting many people to record the moment on their phones. Local astronomers explained that such alignments occur only at specific intervals.

A day earlier, the Vize district of Kırklareli recorded a striking view of the Moon positioned next to Venus, a configuration that reminded observers of the crescent‑star motif of the Turkish flag. The scene attracted crowds who photographed and shared the image on social media, heralding it as a memorable sky display.

Both occurrences sparked local enthusiasm and online discussion about the natural beauty of the night sky.