| UPDATED: 11:23, Mon, Dec 21, 2020
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Great Conjunctions are rare enough to show up on any astronomy enthusiast s radar as they only happen once every 20 years. But tonight s (December 21) conjunction promises to be a truly exceptional spectacle that has not been matched since 1623. During the conjunction, the planets Jupiter and Saturn will cross paths in the night sky and come within 0.1 degrees of one another.
Keep your eye on the sky for rare planet spectacle WITH the Isle of Wight considered to be one of the country s best dark sky zones, what better place than to enjoy the once in a lifetime spectacle of observing Jupiter and Saturn at their closest in more than four centuries. Astronomers are readying themselves to observe a rare celestial event, which, all being well with the winter weather, will play out on Monday, when the solar system’s two largest planets appear side by side in a great conjunction . The giant gas planets can be seen above the horizon, soon after sunset.
Last modified on Fri 18 Dec 2020 09.19 EST
Astronomers are gearing up for a heavenly spectacle when Jupiter and Saturn huddle closer together in the evening sky than they have for nearly 400 years.
The celestial event will play out on Monday when the solar systemâs two largest planets appear side by side in a âgreat conjunctionâ above the horizon soon after sunset.
In the distant past, such alignments of the planets were seen as portents of things to come, from great fires and floods to the birth of Christ and the ultimate collapse of civilisation.
The conjunction will peak at 6.37pm UK time, but the event will be visible in Britain from about 4.30pm until 6pm at 15 degrees above the south-west horizon. Noting the danger of cloudy skies, astronomers point out that the pairing can be seen two days either side of the peak.