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If only the cloudy December afternoon skies were shining low along the southwest horizon for a short time shortly after sunset, a pair of planets Jupiter and Saturn would be shining closer and closer to each other shining along of the southwest horizon on the border of Sagittarius and Capricorn.
On Monday, December 21, after moving to Capricorn, at 3:30 p.m. Jupiter and Saturn will be separated by a space of less than 0.1 angular degrees, which is 1/5 of the total visible diameter of the Moon for about 6 angular seconds. The two planets will appear to have merged into a slightly elongated luminance.
And although we will see planets almost fused in the celestial vault, in space they will still be separated by an enormous distance of 734 million kilometers from each other, since Saturn is almost twice as far from the Sun as Jupiter.
It is best to observe this spectacular phenomenon by turning off the evening lights on the southwest side in an open area around 5 pm But viewing can begin immediately after sunset. December 21 The sun will set in Vilnius at 15:54, in Klaipėda at 16:04. As the afternoon glow fades, the impressive pair of planets along the southwest horizon will become visible in about 30-45 minutes. after sunset and will land around 6pm
That night, the much brighter Jupiter (-1.97 brightness) will be seen just below and to the left of Saturn (+0.63 brightness). December 22-23. Jupiter will pass Saturn to its left and, starting from it, it will shine more and more to its left and above it each night.
If clouds interfere with the observation of this amazing phenomenon, it will be possible to use a virtual telescope for online observations. The transmission from the city of Rome will begin at 5 pm 30 minutes. Lithuanian time. The telescope will show not only both giants of the planet, but also some of their satellites:
Astronomers call this convergence of the largest planets in the solar system a great connection. This phenomenon occurs every 19-20 years, but is not always visible due to sunlight. The next close meeting of these two planets will only be visible in 2080. However, the conditions for monitoring this convergence in Lithuania will not be as favorable as this year. Jupiter and Saturn were so close to each other in 1623. at the end of June, but the observation of that approach was hampered by sunlight. And before that, March 4, 1226. very briefly in the morning glow.
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