Great connection to the evening sky of Ireland
Thursday and Saturday were seen together over Dublin, Ireland. (Credit: Storyfull by Gary Stevenson)
Commemorative videos of the anticipated “Christmas Star” were captured around the world on Sunday and Monday.
The astronomical phenomenon was called the “Great Connection” after it was first observed in 1623.
This year, the spatial alignment will appear in the night sky for several days.
Great alliance over Pakistan
On Monday, December 21, Jupiter and Saturn made an arrangement in the night sky in Karachi, Pakistan. (Credit: Abubaker Sethani Vahan Storyful)
Great connection to Miami
On Monday, December 21, Jupiter and Saturn will arrange a sunset over Miami Beach, Florida.
In the videos from the US, India, Pakistan and Ireland, a glowing white circle, Jupiter, can be seen in the night sky, in a close relationship with Saturn, a flat, orange disc shape.
This is the first time in nearly 400 years that Jupiter and Saturn have come so close to each other, according to NASA.
However, Jupiter and Saturn regularly pass each other and arrange once every 20 years, almost 800 years since the night was arranged, allowing everyone around the world to observe the event.
Freeze image of Jupiter and Saturn in the “Great Conjunction” in Dublin, Ireland. (Storyful by Gary Stevenson)
Related: ‘Christmas Star’: Jupiter and Saturn to be arranged at close distances in 400 years – here’s how to look
“Jupiter and Saturn will only be about 10 degrees in the sky, which is so close that if you stretch to the length of your pink arm, you will be able to cover both planets very easily with your pink color,” said NASA astronomer Henry Thrupe.
Great connection over India
On Monday, December 21, Jupiter and Saturn are arranged in the night sky in Kerala, India. (Credit: SPP Vishal by Storyfull)
The planets will be visible to the naked eye when directed southwest after sunset, according to NASA. On Monday, they will appear so close that a pink finger at arm’s length will cover both planets in the sky, NASA said.
Like the winter solstice on the evening of December 21st, stargazers can see the “Christmas star” at a time when one of the Earth’s poles is at its maximum tilt away from the sun.
Storyteller and Stephanie Weaver contributed to this report.
