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Gustavo Henrique
In this second (21), the apex of a rare astronomical event occurs: the alignment of the planets Jupiter and Saturn, the largest in the solar system, popularly known as the ‘Estrela de Belém’.
>>> Astronomical phenomenon that has not occurred in 800 years has reached its peak this Monday, summer solstice
>>> Estrela de Belém: see images of the rare encounter between Jupiter and Saturn
The phenomenon became visible in the sky after 800 years and is now visible. The movie reporter Felipe Ribeiro, gives JC Agency, took pictures of the event, directly from the Rosarinho neighborhood, in the North Zone of Recife.
Watch it in the video
To see photos
Meeting of giants
The alignment of the planets Jupiter and Saturn with Earth is considered relatively rare because it occurs every 20 years, but this time it is even more so. This is because such close proximity between planets has not been seen for centuries. You can already see the amazement of this lineup.
” The most interesting thing to notice in the great conjunction is that it can be followed throughout the month. On the western horizon, after sunset, you will see two points that look like two stars, but are Jupiter and Saturn. Night after night they will be closer to each other. The summit of this meeting will be on the 21st. And then, they will be able to continue observing the distance, ” says the professor.
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It already started
The astronomical phenomenon, which has not occurred since the Middle Ages, has been taking place since the fifth (16). Until December 25, the perception will be that the two planets will be separated by less than a full moon diameter.
“On the closest night, on December 21, they will look like a double planet, separated by only a fifth of the diameter of the full moon,” explains Patrick Hartigan, an astronomer at Rice University.
Although the best observation conditions are near Ecuador, the phenomenon can be observed anywhere on Earth, weather permitting. Hartigan explains that the planetary duo will appear low in the western sky, for about an hour, after sunset, every night. “For most telescope observers, each planet and several of its largest moons will be visible, in the same field,” he added.
According to the astronomer, the alignments between these two planets are quite rare. “However, this conjunction is exceptionally rare, due to the greater proximity between them. We would have to return until shortly before dawn on March 4, 1226 to observe a closer alignment between these visible objects in the night sky, “he added.
The next time this wind occurs will be on March 15, 2080. After that, only after the year 2400.
Physics explains: how to see the phenomenon?
According to scholars of the subject, the expectation is that the alignment will make the two stars very bright. The phenomenon can be seen with the naked eye. From Earth, the event had not been seen in nearly 800 years, since 1226. In an interview with Go clean gives Radio newsThe professor of the Physics department of the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco (UFRPE) Antônio Carlos de Miranda gave advice on how to see the phenomenon.
>>> Physicist explains how Pernambuco can see the Star of Bethlehem
“Today, after sunset, around 6:00 p.m., we will have another 40 minutes, because the two planets will be at 20º above the western horizon. If you have a tree, a building in front of you, you don’t see it. You have to be local to see the horizon. Now they are together, but we are not looking at the Sun. It is very beautiful. You can see with a binocular, but with the naked eye, you can also see. There are two points next to each other. One is Jupiter and the other is Saturn. It is a beauty! “Explained the expert.
Check calendar with more astronomical phenomena in December
- December 21: There will be a great conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn, which at first glance will be so close that they will appear to be a single star. They will be visible from sunset, at 6:57 p.m., and will remain in the sky until they disappear below the horizon at 8:46 p.m.
- December 21 – Summer solstice: the sun reaches its greatest distance from the equator, towards the south pole.
- December 21 and 22: There will be a peak of the Ursid meteor shower, which has this name because it appears to arise from the constellation Ursa Major.
- December 23th: It will be the conjunction of the Moon with Mars, at 3:31 pm. At this point, the moon will already be visible in the sky, but Mars will only be visible from sunset, at 6:30 pm, until 1:13 am on the 24th, when it sets behind the horizon.
- December 29: The December full moon, known in the US as the “Cold Moon”, begins at 12:28 am.
Summer Solstice
Did you know that there is a specific day of the year that is longer than the others? This Monday (21) will be the day of the summer solstice in the southern hemisphere, the phenomenon is the moment in which one of the hemispheres is more facing the sun. In this way, it becomes brighter and longer, making that day last for a maximum year throughout the year.
