# Van Gogh Starry Night astronomical study

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/van-gogh-starry-night-astronomical-study
> Updated: 2026-10-24T15:46:54.000Z. Sources: 76. Developments: 2.

A multidisciplinary study published in Scientific Reports suggests that Vincent van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night’ depicts a real celestial arrangement observed before dawn on July 22, 1889. This research, conducted by a team from Kyung Hee University and the South Korean firm SLLAB, challenges the established art historical consensus that the painting was completed in June 1889.

Using forensic astronomy, meteorological records, and geometric analysis, researchers reconstructed the sky over Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. They identified that the crescent moon, the planet Venus, and the Hyades star cluster in the constellation Taurus align with the positions shown in the masterpiece. This contradicts previous dating based on the artist’s correspondence, as the lunar phase in mid-June 1889 does not match the thin crescent depicted. While previous studies had suggested the stars represented the Aries constellation, current quantitative data specifically points to the Hyades cluster.

Lead researcher Elijah Jeong-hyun Kim noted that while the painting is an expressionist work, the celestial positions suggest a foundation in direct observation rather than pure imagination. The findings suggest the work may be a composite of observations from several nights and serve as a hypothesis rather than a definitive historical certainty. The study proposes that while Van Gogh may have begun his studies in June, the actual observation or final execution of the depicted sky may have occurred in July. Despite these findings, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and the Van Gogh Museum continue to maintain the traditional June 1889 dating, supported by historical letters.

## Claims

- The sky depicted in ‘The Starry Night’ was a real astronomical configuration. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The study was published in the journal ‘Scientific Reports’. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The sky reconstruction focused on Saint-Rémy, France, during the summer of 1889. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Researchers used Van Gogh’s letters to his brother Theo to assist the reconstruction. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The study was led by two teams of Korean scientists. (corroborated by 3 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-10-24: Astronomers link Van Gogh’s Starry Night to July 1889 sky

South Korean researchers suggest Van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night’ depicts the actual sky over Saint-Rémy-de-Provence on July 22, 1889, based on astronomical simulations of the Moon, Venus, and the Hyades cluster.

24 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/study-links-van-goghs-starry-night-to-july-1889-sky

### 2026-10-22: Van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night’ may depict actual July 1889 sky

South Korean researchers suggest Van Gogh’s ‘The Starry Night’ depicts the actual sky of July 22, 1889, matching the positions of Venus, the Moon, and the Hyades cluster.

53 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/astronomical-study-identifies-real-sky-in-van-goghs-the-starry-night

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Cite as: Van Gogh Starry Night astronomical study. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/van-gogh-starry-night-astronomical-study