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Rome, December 21, 2020 – The day of the winter solstice, a phenomenon that has not been observed for about 400 years: tonight Jupiter and Saturn they will overlap, as close as they were just in 1623, creating the magical effect of a single celestial body. And so orday the Comet Star of Bethlehem light up the skies again, in the days of Christmas: in Christian tradition, the star would have guided the magi to the cave where they would find the baby Jesus, bringing as a gift gold, incense and myrrh. For science and fans of the stars, however, it is such a rare event that it has spawned new studies over the centuries. The next step will be in the 2080, so don’t miss it.
When to see the comet
It will be possible to see the comet throughout the month of December, but the ideal day to be with your eyes is today, the date of Winter Solstice, when a rare astronomical alignment occurs that has not occurred since the Middle Ages. The beam of light will be visible in the sky, as a single and very bright point among the other stars, thanks to the apparent approach between Jupiter and Saturn. In scientific terms we are in fact talking about alignment and not a comet in the most common sense. There ‘Great conjunction‘of 2020, as it is called, is an astronomical phenomenon that has not occurred since 1623, immediately after Galileo Galilei observed the two planets for the first time with his telescope.
How to see the ‘Great conjunction’
Viewed from Earth, Jupiter and Saturn will get closer than a tenth of a degree. But in which direction should we look? Eyes on South west, along the horizon line. L ‘the best time is from 17 to 19, to be precise binoculars ready for the 17 and 45. According to advice produced by NASA, the alignment of the two planets is easily visible even without special equipment.
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