Saturn has been trailing Jupiter across the night sky over the past few months. Please accept marketing-cookies to watch this video. On December 21, 2020, Jupiter and Saturn will appear so close together that they will be about 1/10th of 1 degree apart. On Dec. 21, Jupiter and Saturn — which are actually separated by more than 400 million miles — are expected to appear closer to each other in the night sky than they have for centuries. With binoculars, a telescope, or a telephoto lens of 500 (millimeter). ", While these two planets may appear close, they are still hundreds of millions of miles apart, according to, Hope for clear skies because the conjunction will be visible around the world, with the best perspective for those. So, there are some things to look forward to in the final month of 2020. Between 0 and 3000 CE, or Common Era, only seven conjunctions were or will be closer than this one -- and two of those were too close to the sun to be seen without a telescope, according to Hartigan. Binoculars or a telescope may help you distinguish the planets. The conjunction peaked on Dec. 21, however, the planets appeared closer than the diameter of … They will look like two points of light in the sky. "For most telescope viewers, each planet and several of their largest moons will be visible in the same field of view that evening. If you're in New York or London, or along those latitudes, try to spot the conjunction right after sunset. "Viewing that would be manageable if the weather cooperates and you have an unobstructed view to the southwest.". The last time these planets were this close was in 1623. Updated Dec 22, 2020; Posted Dec 21, 2020 Portland is extremely unlikely to have clear enough skies for viewing of the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter. The last time Jupiter and Saturn came this close was in 1623. On December 21, Jupiter will overtake Saturn and they will swap places in our sky. Jupiter and Saturn seen after sunset from Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, December 13, 2020. Look for the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction low in the western sky for about an hour after sunset each evening during this time. A telescope would enable a view of Saturn's rings and the brightest moons of both planets, he said. hide. Saturn and Jupiter are already visible in December's sky; the two planets have been moving closer to each other for much of 2020. Jupiter's moon Europa may glow in the dark, Unusual molecule found in atmosphere on Saturn's moon Titan. "The further north a viewer is, the less time they'll have to catch a glimpse of the conjunction before the planets sink below the horizon," Hartigan said. If you miss this conjunction and want to see the planets with the same proximity, just higher in the sky, it won't happen until March 15, 2080 -- and then not again until after 2400. Saturn will be slightly fainter and will appear slightly above and to the left of Jupiter. This very close conjunction is given a special name: a great conjunction. Look for the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction low in the western sky for about an hour after sunset each evening during this time. A telescope would enable a view of Saturn's rings and the brightest moons of both planets, he said. Dec 21st 2020 Jupiter and Saturn. Saturn, top, and Jupiter, below, are seen in the sky, Monday, Dec. 21, 2020, above Edgerton, Kansas. They won’t appear to touch each other, but the proximity of this conjunction is closer than any Jupiter-Saturn conjunction since July 1623. If you miss this conjunction and want to see the planets with the same proximity, just higher in the sky, it won't happen until March 15, 2080 -- and then not again until after 2400. Updated 2150 GMT (0550 HKT) December 21, 2020, (CNN)The two largest planets in our solar system are coming closer together than they have been since the Middle Ages, and it's happening just in time for Christmas -- hence the nickname of the "Christmas Star.". Saturn… ET, showcasing live views through its telescopes. Jupiter and Saturn, the two brightest and largest gas planets in our solar system, appeared unusually close on the sky from our point of view in their great conjunction on December 21, 2020. The map also shows the phases of the Moon, and all solar and lunar eclipses. "Jupiter and Saturn will likely stand out from the twilight glow starting around 5:00 or 5:15. The two largest planets in our solar system, Jupiter and Saturn, are coming closer together than they have been since the Middle Ages, appearing to be a … If you're in New York or London, or along those latitudes, try to spot the conjunction right after sunset. The best conditions to see this astronomical event will include a clear southwestern horizon and no low clouds in the distance, Hartigan said. The two planets will draw closer and closer in the next three weeks, until they appear together above the western horizon around an hour after sunset on December 21. ", While these two planets may appear close, they are still hundreds of millions of miles apart, according to, Hope for clear skies because the conjunction will be visible around the world, with the best perspective for those. Seen at the right hour, whether by telescope or the naked eye, the gas giants will be separated by roughly a fifth of the diameter of the typical full moon. Saturn, shown here in an image made available by NASA in 2008 as photographed from … The best conditions to see this astronomical event will include a clear southwestern horizon and no low clouds in the distance, Hartigan said. 6.2K Shares. Jupiter and Saturn are seen coming together in the night sky, over the sails of Brill windmill, on December 20, 2020, in Brill, England. While it's not an actual star, the two planets will certainly make a bright splash in the night sky. 5 5. comments. "The further north a viewer is, the less time they'll have to catch a glimpse of the conjunction before the planets sink below the horizon," Hartigan said. The last time Jupiter and Saturn appeared this close was in 1623, just 14 years after Galileo made his first telescope and discovered the moons of Jupiter. But between December 16 and 25, they will become even cozier. Waiting an hour after the sun sets will only put the planets closer to the horizon, making them more difficult to spot. Jupiter and Saturn are getting closer, as they near their once-in-20-years conjunction on December 21, 2020. Jupiter passes its neighbor Saturn in their respective laps around the sun every 20 years. By John Meyer, The Denver Post Dec 9, 2020, 6:00 am. Jupiter and Saturn Great Conjunction 2020 Look in the southwest an hour after sunset all December long to watch Jupiter and Saturn get closer each day. If you're a stargazer, you've likely noticed Jupiter and Saturn have been getting closer together since the summer. And they're currently visible in our night sky, inching ever closer to one another. So, yes, this is an incredibly rare event. Jupiter and Saturn are seen coming together in the night sky, over the sails of Brill windmill, for what is known as the Great Conjunction, on December 20, 2020, in Brill, England. "For most telescope viewers, each planet and several of their largest moons will be visible in the same field of view that evening. The Planetary Society. At their closest, they’ll be only 0.1 degrees apart. Jupiter will appear brightest and be easily visible. Between December 16 and 25, they will become even cozier. (Image: © … The stream will be on the observatory's, The Virtual Telescope Project in Rome will also share live views on, Jupiter's moon Europa may glow in the dark, Unusual molecule found in atmosphere on Saturn's moon Titan. Although this month’s total solar eclipse and the Geminids meteor shower have wrapped up, there’s … The planets will be bright enough to be viewed in twilight, which may be the best time for many US viewers to observe the conjunction. Between 0 and 3000 CE, or Common Era, only seven conjunction were or will be closer than this one -- and two of those were too close to the sun to be seen without a telescope, according to Hartigan. The 2020 great conjunction is … So, there are some things to look forward to in the final month of 2020. Waiting an hour after the sun sets will only put the planets closer to the horizon, making them more difficult to spot. NASA/Bill Ingalls Jupiter and Saturn will align in the night sky on Monday. "Alignments between these two planets are rather rare, occurring once every 20 years or so, but this conjunction is exceptionally rare because of how close the planets will appear to one another," said astronomer Patrick Hartigan, a professor of physics and astronomy at Rice University in Houston, "You'd have to go all the way back to just before dawn on March 4, 1226, to see a closer alignment between these objects visible in the night sky.". The two planets are in their closest observable alignment since 1226. "On the evening of closest approach on Dec(ember) 21 they will look like a double planet, separated by only 1/5th the diameter of the full Moon," Hartigan said. "Alignments between these two planets are rather rare, occurring once every 20 years or so, but this conjunction is exceptionally rare because of how close the planets will appear to one another," said Rice University astronomer and professor of physics and astronomy Patrick Hartigan, "You'd have to go all the way back to just before dawn on March 4, 1226, to see a closer alignment between these objects visible in the night sky.". share. The two gas giants are destined for similar meet ups every 19.86 years. Binoculars or a telescope may help you distinguish the planets. Saturn, top, and Jupiter, below, are seen after sunset from Shenandoah National Park, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Luray, Virginia. Jupiter will appear 10 times brighter than Saturn, so it’ll be harder to find. Updated 1703 GMT (0103 HKT) December 3, 2020. And they're currently visible in our night sky, inching ever closer to one another. report. Appearing a … The planets will be bright enough to be viewed in twilight, which may be the best time for many US viewers to observe the conjunction. On the same day as the winter solstice, Dec. 21, Saturn and Jupiter will draw closer together, in what is being called the Great Conjunction of 2020… "By the time skies are fully dark in Houston, for example, the conjunction will be just 9 degrees above the horizon," Hartigan said. "You can imagine the solar system to be a racetrack, with each of the planets as a runner in their own lane and the Earth toward the center of the stadium," said Henry Throop, astronomer in the Planetary Science Division at NASA Headquarters in Washington. File … Even though Jupiter and Saturn appeared to pass unusually close together on the sky on December 21, 2020, in actuality they were still nearly a billion kilometers apart. I know I need binoculars but idk what time or if I should even go anywhere any information would be helpful and thanks in advance. The Lowell Observatory in Flagstaff, Arizona, will host a program beginning at 7 p.m. During the "Great Conjunction" on Dec. 21, 2020, Jupiter and Saturn will be about one-tenth of a degree apart, their closest approach since 1623. December 2020 has been kind to stargazers. "Viewing that would be manageable if the weather cooperates and you have an unobstructed view to the southwest.". Use it to locate a planet, the Moon, or the Sun and track their movements across the sky. In case weather conditions in your area aren't agreeable to witnessing this celestial event, several livestreams will be available.