Mount Nemrut in Astronomical Twilight

A view from the Western Terrace of Nemrut Dagi National Park near Adiyaman, Turkey, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A 2-day-old crescent is about to set behind the mountainous horizon, while Venus hangs low over the glow of evening twilight and city lights of Adiyaman about 60 km away. Both Jupiter and Saturn shine in Capricornus, relatively high the south. The departing summer constellations of Scorpius and Sagittarius complete the scene in the sky. In the foreground are Western Terrace statues of Nemrut Dagi (Mount Nemrut), which are part of the ceremonial grounds of Commagene Kingdom. The monument was built in 1st century BC during the reign of Antiochos I.

Click the second photo to see another image from next evening in the same location. This time, the Moon, now a thicker and brighter crescent, was just 3 degrees away from Venus, forming a compact and attractive pair in the southwest.