“The Starry Night” Saint Remy, 1889. Oil on canvas, 29 x 36 1/4 inches. Located in the Museum of Modern Art, New York, New York. Image: VCG Wilson/Corbis via Getty Images

The swirling bluish-white mistrals, towering cypress trees, and glittery stars in Vincent van Gogh’s “The Starry Night” (1889) have captivated our imaginations for generations. Despite never selling a painting during his lifetime, van Gogh’s “The Starry Night” has since inspired a hit song in 1972 , draws visitors to the Museum of Modern Art in New York City , and adorns everything from journals to scarves and tote bags.

But what particular night above Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France, did the troubled post-impressionist painter actually put on the canvas? A new analysis points to July 22, 1889. During the early morning hours at that time of year, a waning crescent moon, the planet Venus, and the Hyades star cluster in Taurus appeared close together—all of which are seen in the painting.…