Scientific Reports (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-73025-5"> (a) The central cluster of stars in "The Starry Night" (1889), left, and the Hyades cluster in Taurus, center. At right, the five stars in the painting (orange) are overlaid on the real stars (blue) after matching for size, orientation and position; red dashed lines show the residual differences. (b) The stars in "Café Terrace at Night" (1888), left, and the stars around the Summer Triangle, center. The panel at right follows the same layout as in (a). Credit: Scientific Reports (2026). DOI: 10.1038/s41598-026-73025-5

Scientists doubling as art detectives have traced Vincent van Gogh's "The Starry Night" to a celestial scene that suggests a new date for one of the world's most famous paintings.

Their findings indicate that rather than being a product of van Gogh's imagination, "The Starry Night" may have been inspired by what he saw as he gazed heavenward from his French asylum 137 years ago.

A South Korean team reported Thursday that after…