Jupiter and Saturn merged into the sky on Monday night, and the Griffith Observatory brought a live stream to viewers, it happened.
Astronomers say the so-called connections between the two largest planets in our solar system are not particularly rare. Jupiter passes its neighbor Saturn around the Sun every 20 years in their respective laps, but this week they came closer to each other since the time of Galileo in the 17th century. (Jupiter and Saturn were actually 4 actually 0 million miles apart. In the meantime, Earth will be 505050 million miles away from Jupiter.
From our point of view, Jupiter and Saturn were one-tenth of a degree apart or about one-fifth the width of the full moon.
Also, the winter solstice on Monday was the longest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere – and the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere.
It has been the closest pair of Jupiter-Saturn since July 1623, when the two planets came a little closer. This connection was almost impossible to see, however, due to its proximity to the sun.
The two planets were united in March 1226, closely and plainly, when Churchis Khan conquered Asia. Monday’s pairing will be the closest pair to appear since then.
Saturn and Jupiter have been approaching the south-southwest sky for weeks. Jupiter – large and close to Earth – is very bright.
Despite the appearance, Jupiter and Saturn will actually be 450 million miles (730 million kilometers) apart. In the meantime, Earth will be 550 million miles (890 million kilometers) away from Jupiter.
The telescope will capture not only Jupiter and Saturn in the same field, but also some of their brightest moons.
Their next super-closing pair: March 15, 2080.
