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This alignment of planets did not occur since 1623 and will not happen again until 2080. It will happen an hour after sunset, so it will be visible almost everywhere in the world.
Tonight’s grand conjunction, also nicknamed the “Christmas Star,” marks the closest apparent encounter of Jupiter and Saturn in nearly 400 years. The two planets will be closer to each other in the sky tonight, which is also the winter solstice, and can be seen as a point of light, appearing only a tenth of a degree apart. They will stay in close alignment for a few days and will be easily visible to the naked eye when looking to the southwest just after sunset.
According to the Space medium, a conjunction occurs when the planets appear incredibly close to each other in the sky because they align with the Earth in their respective orbits. Jupiter, the largest, takes 12 years to go around the Sun, Saturn, 29. And every two decades or so, the two planets seem to get closer when we look at the celestial sphere from Earth, but this year’s conjunction marks the the first time since 1623 that the two gas giants have passed so close to each other in our sky, and nearly 800 years since sky watchers were able to witness the event at night.
The visual approach between the two planets has already begun several months ago, and will reach its minimum distance on the day of the winter solstice. Colombia will not be the exception and the conjunction can be seen from dusk until approximately eight at night. It all depends on where you are and if there is light pollution, if the sky is clear or if there is rain. Remember to point your binoculars or look to the east.
How to recognize them? “The two planets will continue to see each other in the sky until the end of December. Jupiter and Saturn in particular are distinguishable, because their brightness is superior and their light does not twinkle, there is no flickering in the light of the planets, “said Mauricio Arango, astronomer at the Medellín Planetarium, to Caracol Radio.
Jupiter will look like a bright star and will be easily visible. Saturn will be slightly weaker and will appear slightly above and to the left of Jupiter until December 21, when Jupiter will overtake it and they will reverse positions in the sky. The planets can be seen with the naked eye, but if you have binoculars or a small telescope, you may be able to see Jupiter’s four large moons orbiting the giant planet.
The Lowell Observatory will also be broadcasting the astronomical event live from Arizona (United States) at this link https://lowell.edu/the-great-conjunction/
