During the rare planetary gathering of May 2001, the crescent Moon and bright planets Mars, Saturn, Venus (above the Moon), and Jupiter (at top) align in the evening sky of Pasargadae; a 2500-year old World Heritage Site in southern Iran. It was the first capital of the Achaemenid Empire with the largest territory ever from as far west as Libya to nearly all Middle East, and to Central Asia. The photographer has moved in to the view in this 20 seconds exposure and shed a flash light on an ancient cuneiform script which notes to the Persian empire.