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Jupiter and Saturn, the two largest planets in our solar system, were visibly closer together on Monday night than they have been in 800 years, marking an extremely rare celestial event known as “great conjunction. ”
The conjunction occurs when the orbits of the two planets align every 20 years, but the event is not always visible, and the planets usually don’t get as close as they did on December 21.
This time, Jupiter and Saturn were separated by only 0.1 degrees, less than the diameter of a full moon.
The planets were so close that they seemed, from some perspectives, to completely overlap, creating a rare “double planet” effect. However, while the planets from Earth appeared to be very, very close, in reality they are still hundreds of millions of miles apart.
The event coincided with the winter solstice and Christmas week, but it can occur at any time of the year.
If you missed the show, or if your sky seemed cloudy on Monday night, don’t worry: the planets will continue to appear extremely close together in the night sky for the next few weeks, and dedicated astrophotographers are sharing their best photos of the night online. social.
Santa Barbara, California
Rodin Eckenroth / Getty Images
Los Angeles California
PATRICK T. FALLON / AFP via Getty Images
Melbourne, Australia
Guatemala
Francisco Sojuel / NASA Astronomy Photo of the Day
New York, New York
Gary Hershorn / Getty Images
Texas
Alborz Mountains, Iran
Alireza Vafa / NASA Astronomy Photo of the Day
Koh Chang, Thailand
Chakarin Wattanamongkol / Getty Images
Brill, England
Jim Dyson / Getty Images
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Kuwait City, Kuwait
YASSER AL-ZAYYAT / AFP via Getty Images
How to observe the great conjunction
The great conjunction glows shortly after sunset, low in the southwestern sky, as seen from the northern hemisphere, NASA said.
Throughout December and early January, sky watchers can easily spot the two planets with the naked eye. They are so bright that they are even visible from most cities.
Currently, Jupiter appears brighter than any star in the sky. Saturn is slightly dimmer, but just as bright as the brightest stars, with a recognizable golden glow.
Saturn will appear slightly above and to the right of Jupiter, and will even be seen as close to the planet as some of its own moons, visible with binoculars or a telescope. Unlike the stars, which shine, both planets will maintain a constant brightness, easy to find on clear nights.
The event can be observed from anywhere on Earth, as long as the sky is clear. It is easier to see along the equator, becoming more difficult to see further north.
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