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Jupiter and Saturn are separated by more than 700 million miles in space. But on December 21, you can see them as a point in the sky, if the weather supports us.
When two objects are close to each other as viewed from the ground, it is called synchronization or conjunction in technical parlance. This time the two gas giants are very close, only 0.1 degrees apart.
800 years ago
In fact, we have to go back to the time when Håkon IV Håkonsson was King of Norway, in 1226, to find the last time they could be seen this year.
July 16, 1623 was the last time the planets were so close together. At that time, however, they were so close to the sun that it was not possible to see it.
SATURN AND JUPITER: Here are the two planets photographed from Vantage in the northwestern United States this summer.
Photo: Ted S. Warren / AP
– Imagine you see a ship in the distance at sea. Then you see another ship much further away, approaching the first. When both boats are roughly in line from where you are standing, it can look like they’re going to collide.
This is how astronomer Jan-Erik Ovaldsen describes the event. He runs the Himmelkalenderen website.
Actually, they are very far apart. So it is with Jupiter and Saturn until December 21.
– Planets cross approximately every 20 years, but how closely they cross is different from time to time. It’s very close this time, says Joakim Martin, information manager at Deep Sky Exploration, an astronomy and space travel association in Vestfold.
This is how you get the phenomenon
In Norway, the phenomenon is only visible in the extreme south of the country. But the prerequisite is clear weather.
– If you have clouds to the southwest, the planets cannot be observed. You need a clear sky and also a clear view in the mentioned direction of the sky, because the planets are low, Ovaldsen tells NRK.
The opportunity is best in the extreme south of the country around 5:00 p.m.
December 21 is also the winter solstice, the day when the sun is lowest in the sky and the day is shortest.
“Unfortunately, there is a great chance of losing it this time, and then most of us will never have this opportunity again in our lifetime,” says Martin.
The next opportunity is March 15, 2080.
Many things are happening and they have happened in heaven in December. Among other things, he has been able to see the Gemenidene meteor swarm.
