Jupiter isn’t a star. Neither is Saturn. But for one night only, on the winter solstice, they will be.
If we look up at the sky at the right time, we will see the great conjunction of 2020. Low on the horizon for most observers, Jupiter and Saturn have been visibly moving toward each other for days. On the evening of December 21, these two planets will be so close that they will appear to the naked eye as almost one a bright star in the heavens.
The last time there was a visible great conjunction? 1226. Francis of Assisi had just passed, and the great doctor of the church, Thomas Aquinas, was recently born.
A diagram of the conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn on December 21.
This article was originally published as part of the Out of Space series on Sciblogs.co.nz.
ANALYSIS: There have been many articles in the media about the ‘Great Conjunction’ between Jupiter and Saturn that will occur on December 21. Some of them have been good, and informative. Many have been fairly poor. Others have been… well, weird. Some writers have imagined that there is something vitally significant about the conjunction (the close approach to each other in the sky) of the two giant planets occurring on the same day as the solstice.
The Great Conjunction, and why we celebrate Christmas on December 25th stuff.co.nz - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from stuff.co.nz Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The Solstice Star or Christmas Star you are hearing so much about is not a star but two planets.Â
It will appear on Monday, Dec. 21, the winter solstice, the shortest day in the Northern Hemisphere, which happens to be a few days before Christmas.
Also called The Great Conjunction,  the name refers to how Jupiter and Saturn will appear to be so close in the night sky.
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They will look to our eyes like a single bright star rather than the giant gaseous planets that they are.
This celestial event happens every 20 years, but this year Jupiter and Saturn will be the closest they ve been since 1623 and the closest observable since 1226.Â
Kiemen: Destroying our republic journaltimes.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from journaltimes.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.