The “Great Conjuction” is about to appear

The gas giants Saturn and Jupiter are getting closer and closer.

Anyway, from our Terran perspective.

The “great conjunction” of these planets in the night sky is imminent. They will be the closest on December 21 appearing as a “double planet. The celestial event, also known as the ‘Christmas star’, has not happened overnight for almost 800 years.

“You can imagine that the solar system is a running track, with each of the planets as a runner in its own path and the Earth towards the center of the stadium,” said Henry Throop, an astronomer in the planetary science division of The NASA . “From our perspective, we will be able … to see Jupiter on the inner path, approach Saturn all month and finally pass it on December 21.”

In reality, however, the planets will always be hundreds of millions of kilometers apart. It will be cool. Here’s what you need to know:

• How far will the planets appear? “The closest alignment will appear only a tenth of a degree apart and last for a few days,” NASA wrote. “On the 21st, they will appear so close that a little finger at arm’s length will easily cover the two planets in the sky. The planets will be easy to see with the naked eye when looking southwest just after sunset. . ”

• Look southwest an hour after sunset to a place (such as a field) where buildings or hills don’t obstruct your view. Avoid bright street lights. Jupiter, which is globally the third brightest night object in our sky (after the moon and Venus), will be its radiant and easily visible self – unless it is cloudy! Saturn will be weaker. Until December 21, Saturn will appear at the top left of Jupiter, but on December 21, Jupiter will pass Saturn, reversing their positions.

• Use binoculars! Or a telescope. “The planets can be seen with the naked eye,” NASA wrote, “but if you have binoculars or a small telescope, you may be able to see Jupiter’s four large moons orbiting the giant planet. “

Something to ponder as you look at the conjunction: One of those little dots around Jupiter, if you can see them, is the moon Europa. It is an ice covered moon that would contain an ocean of water or melting ice. “Europa’s vast and unfathomable ocean is widely regarded as the most promising place to seek life beyond Earth,” writes NASA.

Good vision of the sky and reflection …

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