Atlanta (CNN) – The two largest planets in our solar system are getting closer than they did in the Middle Ages, and it’s time for Christmas.
So, there are some things to look forward to in the final months of 2020.
On the night of December 21, the winter solstice, Jupiter and Saturn will appear so closely aligned in our sky that it will look like a double planet. This approach is called conjugation.
Patrick Hartigan, an astronomer and professor of physics at Rice University, said: “The alignment between these two planets is very rare, occurring every 20 years or so, but this connection is exceptionally rare because of how close the planets are to each other. , ”Said Patrick Hartigan, an astronomer and professor of physics at Rice University. One line.
“You have to go back early in the morning on 1226, at 4 o’clock at night, to see the close alignment between these objects and objects appearing in the night sky.”
If you’re a stargazer, you’ve probably noticed that Jupiter and Saturn have been meeting together since summer. And they are currently visible in our night sky, close to each other.
But between December 16 and 25, they will become more comfortable. Look for the Jupiter-Saturn connection in the western sky about an hour after sunset every evening at this time.
“On the evening of the approaching approach on December 21 they will look like a double planet, separated by 1/5 the diameter of the full moon,” Hartigan said. “For most telescope viewers, each planet and its many large moons will appear in the same field of view that evening.”
These two planets may appear closer together, according to NASA, they are still millions of miles apart.
There is hope for a clear sky because with the best perspective for people close to the equator, the combination will appear worldwide.
“The farther north a viewer is, the sooner the planets will get a glimpse of the connection before sinking below the horizon,” Hartigan said.
The planets will be bright enough to see at twilight, which many U.S. This may be the best time for viewers to observe the connection.
“The sky in Houston is completely dark, for example, the connection will be only 9 degrees above the horizon,” Hertigan said. “If the weather cooperates and you have an unobstructed view of the southwest it will manage to see.”
If you’re in New York or London, or it’s along the latitude, try to find a combination immediately after sunset. Waiting an hour after sunset will keep the planets closer to the horizon, making them more difficult to see.
Who is ready for some stargazing? ✨
This month, we can look forward to meteors, a pair of super-nearby planets, and the December solstice. Details and Downloads: https://t.co/BrqV1v3paRpic.twitter.com/RwGbr3UmQq
– NASA Solar System (@NasaSolarSystem) December 2, 2020
Hartigan said the best conditions to see this astronomical event would include a clear south-west horizon and no low clouds in the distance. Telescopes can help you distinguish planets. The telescope will be able to see Saturn’s rings and the bright moon of both planets, he said.
If you lose this connection and want to see the planets in the same vicinity, just high in the sky, it won’t happen until March 15, 2080 – and then not after 2400.
Between And 000,000 CE or the Common Era, only seven connections were or would be closer than this – and two of them were closer to the Sun, which could not be seen without a telescope, according to Hertigan. So, yes, this is an incredibly rare phenomenon.
The CNN-Wire ™ and 20 2020 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warnermedia company. All rights reserved to us.
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