Best Night Sky Photos of the Week: Aug. 23, 2014

Jupiter, Venus, Lake

Jeff Sullivan

On Aug. 18, 2014, Venus and Jupiter took center stage in a stunning pre-dawn celestial conjunction. See amazing photos by stargazers of Venus and Jupiter together in the early-morning sky. HERE: Astrophotographer Jeff Sullivan took this image of the two planets rising above Topaz Lake in the western part of the United States. [More photos.]

New York City, Jupiter, Venus

Stan Honda

Stan Honda captured this view of Jupiter and Venus from New York City on Aug. 18. [More photos.]

Jupiter, Venus from India

Abhinav Singhai

An observer points toward Jupiter and Venus in the dawn sky from Damdama Lake, Haryana, India. [More photos.]

Jupiter and Venus from Italy

Giuseppe Petricca

Jupiter and Venus rise behind a mountain range in this amazing photo taken in the wee hours of the morning on Aug. 18 in Italy.

Spectacular Auroras Captivate Astronaut in Space (Photos)

NASA

The northern lights illuminated the night sky near the Arctic Circle earlier this week in a stunning display that could even be appreciated by astronauts living on the International Space Station.

Budding Night Sky Photographer Sees a Stunning Crescent Moon (Image)

John Nelson

John Nelson took this image of the crescent moon from the Pacific Northwest.

Amazing Photos from Space Show Fiery Doom of Private US Cargo Ship

Alexander Gerst/ESA

An astronaut and cosmonaut on the International Space Station captured some spectacular views of a private spaceship meeting it fiery end above Earth's surface after completing its mission on Sunday (Aug. 17).

Lying Down, Reach for the Stars

Gorana Kurtović

Astrophotographer Gorana Kurtović sent in a photo of the Milky Way, taken while lying on the terrace of a house on the island of Hvar, Croatia, on Aug. 2, 2014. The island lies in the Adriatic sea. Kurtović writes in an email message to Space.com: "Croatian islands are less light polluted than mainland, but [the] town [of] Hvar is pretty popular among tourists, and thus more light polluted than some other places on Hvar island or other islands like Lastovo. [The photo] was taken while I was lying on the terrace of [a] soon-to-be one-hundred-year-old house. The palms are as old as the house." [More photos.]

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