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The alignment between Jupiter and Saturn, which gives the illusion of approximation, occurs every 20 years. But only every 400 years are they at a very short “distance” from each other, considering the position of the Earth that creates this illusion. And this phenomenon has been occurring in recent days, being today, as of 19:38, the pinnacle of this approach.
And to give an even more special touch to the phenomenon, known as the “Christmas Star”, in a once-in-a-lifetime event, you can observe it at night, with the naked eye. The last time this happened was 800 years ago. Experts compare the solar system to a race track, where the planets are vehicles in their own way. From Earth’s point of view, we have observed Jupiter on the inner line, approaching Saturn throughout the month, but today it will be overtaken, changing position.
See in the gallery the photos of the phenomenon shared by the Space Weather community
“The closest lineup will appear in a tenth of a degree and will last a few days. On the 21st, they will see each other so close that a little finger at arm’s length will be enough to cover the two planets in the sky. Planets can be easily seen with the naked eye by looking at the sky after sunset, “NASA said. However, if you use binoculars or a small telescope, you can even see Jupiter’s four main moons.
Despite the optical illusion of their approach, the planets are, in fact, hundreds of millions of kilometers apart. NASA also says that despite the close approximation that takes place on the same day as the winter solstice, it is just a coincidence, based on the orbit of the planets and alignment with Earth.
If you are interested in observing the sky to observe the phenomenon, experts advise you to choose a location without obstacles in sight, such as a park or field. But because they are so bright, even from most cities it will be possible to observe the phenomenon. The best time to view the lineup is about an hour after sunset. Jupiter will shine like a star and will be the easiest to see.
According to the Lisbon Astronomical Observatory, the two planets can be observed in their entirety, in Portugal, on December 21, at 7:38 p.m., the maximum height of 32º in the case of Saturn and 31º for Jupiter, with magnitudes of +0.6 and -2.0, respectively.
