As Venus slides down toward the sunset glare, Mercury will be rising. It’s these planets and the Winter Circle parading across the sky that will be the focus of the
On the longest night of the year, the solar systemâs two largest planets, Jupiter and Saturn, will orbit so close together it will look like theyâre merging or embraced in a giant space kiss.
The winter solstice Earth sky will also yield the rings of Saturn and the four Galilean moons of Jupiter with Ganymede, its largest, throwing shade at the gas giant.
This âGreat Conjunction of 2020,â or meeting of planets on Dec. 21, is an extremely rare observable event. It hasnât happened since 1226 A.D., nearly 800 years ago, and it will not happen again for another 400 years, according to Russ Brick, president of Southern Cross Astronomical Society. Some are calling it the âChristmas Starâ due to its proximity to the holiday.