Astronomers say Starry Night shows the sky of July 22, 1889

What BBN said about it

1. 

   Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentA new study in Scientific Reports says Van Gogh's Starry Night matches the sky before dawn on July twenty-second, eighteen eighty-nine, with the tilted star pattern at thirty-three point one three degrees.

2. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentThat's inside the range they calculated for the real sky, thirty-two point six to thirty-five point one. So it's a match?

3. 

   Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe Van Gogh Museum says he had a serious breakdown around July twenty-second that left him unable to paint for about a month.

4. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentSo they found the one night he definitely wasn't painting.

5. 

   Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentThe old date comes from a letter to his brother Theo around June eighteenth, and the museum says star positions can't reliably date a painting.

6. 

   Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentAstronomer Don Olson says the Venus position doesn't match.

7. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentLead author Elijah Jeong-hyun Kim said, quote, "I will bet on this date."

8. 

   Dr. Nina Byte · Tech & Science CorrespondentVerdict: an intriguing hypothesis, as one outside physicist put it. A seven.

9. 

   Kenji Moonfield · Internet & Trends CorrespondentGreat bet. The only witness is the painter, and he's busy that month.