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Once every 20 years, the orbits of Jupiter and Saturn cause the planets to pass almost side by side. But this year will be the first time, since the time of the astronomer Galileo Galilei, more specifically in 1623, that the stars can be seen so close to each other.
A phenomenon of planetary conjunction that is also known as “Christmas Star”.
“Not only are they the two largest planets in the solar system, but they are also the two largest planets that we can see with the naked eye,” although Venus is “brighter,” Pedro García, a communication technician at Lusa, explained to the agency. OASA (Observatory). Astronomical of Santana – Azores).
20 years ago, in 2000, “these two planets were very close, to the point that we could put a little finger between the two, which is about a degree in the sky. This time, if we put a little finger, we go to be able to cover the two planets, which means that it’s really, really, very close. “
In what would be “the highlight of the year”, OASA will not open doors, due to restrictions imposed by covid-19 pandemic, but the manager leaves some suggestions for those who want to observe the lineup.
HOW AND WHEN TO SEE
The ideal would be to use a telescope, but “with the naked eye” and “in a sky with very little light pollution and on a night with good weather conditions, it will be possible to see the two planets so close together that it will appear as one”.
Binoculars, which “can even be fun,” can help too. “If the binoculars are of any size, 50×70, they will already be able to see the moons of Jupiter and realize that Saturn has ‘ears’, which are the rings,” the technician guarantees.
The phenomenon occurs around 5:30 p.m. in the Azores (6:30 p.m. in mainland Portugal) but Pedro García advises to start following the phenomenon from 3:30 p.m. (4:30 p.m. in Lisbon). “Starting at 7 in the afternoon, the objects (planets) will be touching the horizon and will disappear during the night.”
As for its position, “the object will be seen in the southwest. After the sun sets, more or less in the same position,” he adds.
“As long as people have a good view of the sea, in the southwest, without mountains or houses in front, or utility poles with light pollution, they will easily see this phenomenon,” he guarantees.
This, of course, if the weather cooperates. The Portuguese Institute of the Sea and the Atmosphere (IPMA) issued a yellow warning for all the islands of the archipelago. However, at 17:30 on Monday, only Santa María and São Miguel are expected to remain under yellow warning due to rainfall.
The two planets will form a point that will resemble a star. Pedro García clarifies that “one of the ways in which we perceive that it is not a star is because it does not shine, because the planets do not shine in the sky, but a very bright point will appear in the sky.”
With the approach of Christmas, and the day of the winter solstice, this alignment takes on special relevance, since there are those who compare it with the star that guided the Magi: the astronomer and mathematician Johannes Kepler, in the seventeenth century ”. He suggested that what is described about the star of Bethlehem was a conjunction, but it does not seem to me to be any of that, especially since the effect will not be similar to the description of the star of Bethlehem, ”he demystifies.
Symbolism aside, the advice is that “whoever can do this [observar a conjunção], do it “.
Enjoy it because this phenomenon will only happen again in about 60 years, in 2080, and, perhaps, this could be the last chance for many people ”, says the official.
Despite being closed that day, OASA will stream images of this event online. But the technician reinforces: “I’ll be honest, these videos can be seen later, on the internet, what I advise is that, if the weather is good, go outside, use your cell phone, and you will see the phenomenon.”
