Planetary Alignment (IMAGE) Columbia Climate School Caption View looking east toward the US East Coast, Oct. 7, 2015, when the three planets most influential to Earth's orbit lined up with the Moon. Lower left near Earth's horizon, Jupiter (greenish); slightly higher, Mars (reddish); slightly higher and to right, Venus (bright white); and the Moon. On Earth's surface, lights of the New York-Philadelphia metro region trace the area where scientists took rock cores revealing these planets' motions. Inspired by a photo taken by US astronaut Scott Kelly. Credit Painting by Paul Olsen; acrylic on clay board, digitally modified Usage Restrictions Credit must be given. License Licensed content Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.