The ‘Christmas Star’ Is Coming For The First Time In 800 Years
The end of 2020 will mark a celestial event that has not been seen in 800 years. Jupiter and Saturn, the two largest planets in the solar system, will form what looks like a double planet, dubbed as the Christmas star. This type of event has not been seen since the Middle Ages, making it quite a historic event.
It will occur on December 21st, 2020 after sunset, the day that marks the winter solstice. “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,” says Rice University astronomer 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.”
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Thanks for reminding us of this spectacular upcoming event. I want to see it, but the forest around me obscures much of the sky (not to mention the perpetual clouds).
ReplyDeleteWhen I lived in Texas the sky was always so clear...
So cool! Big Hugs!
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