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For the first time in nearly 800 years, the Star of Bethlehem, also known as the Christmas Star, will shine. Well, technically not a star. It is the great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn on December 21, giving the appearance of a bright star. Today is also the beginning of the winter solstice.
This means that the moons orbiting both planets will also be visible in the same field of view. Saturn will appear as close to Jupiter as some of Jupiter’s moons. Virginia Tech astronomer Nahum Arav adds:
“This rare event is special because of how bright the planets will be and how close they are to each other in the sky.”
Christmas star: what you need to know
The great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn
Patrick Hartigan, an astronomer at Rice University, said Forbes that alignments between Jupiter and Saturn are rare. Its orbital resonance only leads to alignment every 19.6 years, to be exact.
However, Hartigan explains that the conjunction between the two planets on December 21, 2020 “is exceptionally rare because of how close the planets will appear to be to each other.”
“You would have to go back to just before sunrise on March 4, 122, to see a closer alignment between these visible objects in the night sky.”
The rare celestial event will be visible from anywhere on Earth as long as the weather permits and the skies are clear. The best time to see the conjunction would be about an hour after sunset.
How to see the Christmas star
Too easy. You should look to the west just after sunset. Starting in October 2020, the two planets began to “move” with each other and will line up perfectly for a spectacular display just before Christmas.
You also won’t need any special equipment. According to the SAAO, both planets are already visible to the naked eye. That being said, using a pair of binoculars or a telescope wouldn’t hurt either.
See: Grand conjunction on December 21
If you are still struggling, let the moon guide you. If you look west on December 21, about an hour after sunset, the two planets will be close to the moon, as indicated in the image below.
The gaseous Jupiter will be the brightest. Aligned, both planets would appear as a large, bright star, even if you are in an area with light pollution. However, the darker the night, the brighter the “star” is.
How to photograph the star of Bethlehem
The Christmas star can easily be photographed with a DSLR camera and most flagship mobile phones. If you want to photograph this rare celestial event, NASA suggests the following:
- These planets are visible first thing in the evening and you will have between 1 and 2 hours from when they are visible until they are established. A photo from the same location can look completely different just an hour later.
- Using a tripod will help keep the camera steady while taking longer exposures. If you don’t have a tripod, lean the camera against something – a tree, fence, or car can serve as a tripod for a several-second exposure.
- The waxing Moon will pass near Jupiter and Saturn a few days before the conjunction. Take advantage of it in your composition.
Winter Solstice
Today also marks the first day of the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere and the first day of summer in the southern hemisphere.
It is the shortest night and the longest day of the year for those in the southern hemisphere; and vice versa for those from the North.
The astronomical event is caused by the tilt of the Earth on its axis and its movement in orbit around the sun. It is the moment when the sun reaches its southernmost point in the sky. According to EarthSky:
“Because the Earth does not orbit vertically, but is tilted on its axis 23.5 degrees, the Earth’s northern and southern hemispheres swap places to receive the sun’s light and heat more directly. The tilt of the Earth, not our distance from the sun, is what causes winter and summer. “
Also read: Discovered: rare and hot planet Neptune that should not exist
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