Two of the largest planets in the solar system, Jupiter and Saturn, will form ‘The Great Conjunction’ in the sky tonight. Today, December 21, also marks the winter solstice in the northern hemisphere. It is the longest night of 2020.
What is ‘The great conjunction’?
The Great Conjunction is a rare astronomical event that will occur tonight. Saturn and Jupiter, the two largest planets in our solar system, will nearly overlap to form a “double planet,” an event that has not been visible since the Middle Ages.
According to Dr. Yashwant Gupta, Director of NCRA, National Center for Radio Astrophysics, this phenomenon took place for the last time in the year 1623 and the next time it will take place will be after 2080.
“The distance between the planets will remain the same, but the viewing angle from Earth will be aligned. From Earth, the two planets will be seen only 0.1 degrees apart,” said Dr. Gupta.
Jupiter and Saturn are in conjunction when they have the same right ascension or celestial longitude. This is what is known as a ‘Grand Conjunction’, signifying the oddity of the union because, unlike conjunctions with the other bright planets, these two do not come close as often, Space.com reported.
When, how to see ‘The Great Conjuction’?
Dr. Gupta reported that the conjunction can be seen shortly after sunset on December 21, that is, tonight.
“At 7:30 pm, both planets will be visible on the low horizon, as they will set like the sun.” he said.
Saturn will be the smallest and weakest blob in the upper right of Jupiter. Binoculars will be needed to separate the two planets.
Despite looking very close, Jupiter and Saturn will actually be more than 450 million miles (730 million kilometers) apart. Earth, meanwhile, will be 550 million miles (890 million kilometers) from Jupiter.
A telescope will not only capture Jupiter and Saturn in the same field of view, but even some of their brightest moons.
Their next super close pairing is expected on March 15, 2080.
NASA tells you how to see the phenomenon.
According to NASA, this is how you can observe the phenomenon yourself:
-Find a place with a clear view of the sky, such as a field or park. Jupiter and Saturn are bright, so they can be seen even from most cities.
-One hour after sunset, look up at the southwestern sky. Jupiter will look like a bright star and will be easily visible. Saturn will be slightly weaker and appear slightly above and to the left of Jupiter until December 21, when Jupiter will overtake it and they will change 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 the four large moons of Jupiter orbiting the giant planet.
