Jupiter and Saturn's 'great conjunction' will illuminate December sky
S E E D E D C O N T E N T
On the winter solstice, the gas giants will shine brightly as a "double planet." Jupiter and Saturn haven't been this close in the night sky since 1623! WABC By Alex Meier This month, Jupiter and Saturn are putting on an extraordinary show just in time for the holidays!
Over the next three weeks, the gas giants' paths will appear closer and closer together before an event that astronomers call "the great conjunction," according to NASA.
During the "great conjunction" on Dec. 21, the two will form a "double planet," appearing just a tenth of a degree apart -- or about the thickness of a dime at arm's length.
Skywatchers can differentiate Saturn and Jupiter from the stars because the planets will appear "brighter and more solid in the sky," NASA program officer and astronomer Henry Throop told "Good Morning America." He said the conjunction will be visible throughout the world, even in cities, on clear nights.
2020 is the start of a new decade, and with it comes several fascinating astronomy events!
In reality, the planets are still millions of miles apart, but every 20 years, the orbits of Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn periodically align, making these two outer planets appear close together. In 2020, however, astronomers are calling this phenomenon the "greatest" great conjunction, as the planets haven't been this close together and visible from earth since 1623.
Dec. 21 is also the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, meaning it will be the shortest day of the year in terms of sunlight.
To spot Jupiter and Saturn's approach and ultimate conjunction, look for them low in the southwest in the hour after sunset, according to NASA.
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I had a pretty good telescope back in Toronto, mounted on a tripod, and I could see the rings of Saturn and four moons circling Jupiter. It really is quite a thrill to see the actual planets for the first time, not in pictures or videos but the real things.
I setup a telescope and showed friends and family the planets years ago and actually could see the dark spots on Jupiter after it was struck by the fragments of the comet. Lately, though, no one seems to have any interest in watching the sky even though I still do.
I've been watching this conjunction since Jupiter, and admittedly I thought Saturn was actually Mars at first, started showing up as the morning star with another planet nearby, it wasn't until later that Mars started showing up to the east that I realized it was Saturn that was near Jupiter.
Southwest sky??? I have a zillion trees in the way.
I have a telescope but I haven't figured out how to put it together
I have both of your issues. I have to first find my telescope since I haven't taken it out since we moved. At least I know where all the optics are. I don't want to miss this, but remember, you can also see it with the naked eye.
I'm going to have to rely on my nekkid eyes. I am going to figure out that damn telescope one of these days!
BTW, this is a slow motion event, you'll have several nights to see the conjunction, as of right now they're close together, just on the 21st they will appear to be even closer then they will slowly separate for weeks and in a month the sun will be in the way.
I may send the drone up for pictures, but...only if the clouds clear.
If you get a good shot or vid you should post it.
(My not so subtle hint, haha)
Unfortunately the clouds never did clear off. Not sure the drone would have been a great choice anyway, the camera isn't that good.
Yeah me too. May take a little drive to a friend's to see it.
I have the same problem. I'm hoping to see the Geminid meteor shower too.
That's Sunday night, isn't it? I will probably get up early to watch it
The meteor shower is going g on now. But I think it peaks Sunday. Look to the Gemini Constellation, particularly around the star Castor.
I can barely find the big dipper. Now if you tell me look in the North Eastern sky...I got that one.
You can go online and Google the Gemini meteor shower. There's a site which will bring up a sky chart showing where to look and at what times.
Thank-you. I'm capable of doing that
You're welcome.
A decent pair of binoculars will give good viewing also.
Now we just need to find the crystal shard and heal the Dark Crystal so that the liberal mystics will once again merge with their Skeksis conservative counterparts...
Tonight's the night, unfortunately for here, it looks to be an overcast day, there may be a chance of clearing by that short period of time to see this just after sunset for about an hour before they fall below the horizon.
Aww...I'm sorry. We will have clear skies and as I was brushing my teeth and listening to the news this morning, I realized I might have a decent view of it. Depends on how low on the horizon the conjunction will be
Dark now, actually the sun set here about 4:45, and it is a heavy wet snow falling right now, so will see them a little farther apart maybe in the next few days if it clears up.
Overheard shouting from the Oval office...
/s
Promises made..promises kept!
Morning. I was hoping to see it last night but unfortunately it bucketed rain here in Victoria for 5 hours solid..very disappointed.
perfectly clear skies in TX today except for clouds forming on the horizon at the appointed hour
It was clear here this morning, but started getting cloudy this afternoon. Damn you, 2020!
Damn you to helllllllllllll! (In my best Charlie Heston voice )
It's cloudy here
At 30 minutes past sunset, I saw it clearly, quite impressive.
Warrior eyes!
There ya go.
Someone told me they saw it and I went out and looked and couldn't see it.
Timing is everything, just after sunset, but don't wait too long, for they'll set shortly after.
Yeah, I waited until close to 7. I am going to try again tomorrow night and hopefully still catch it.
I checked the time that sunset was to be and added 1/2 hour after went outside and there is was. Watched it for around 20 minutes and it was still clear when I went back inside.
I talked to someone that said she saw it. Said it was big.
I think I just waited too long and it was set.
You are Eastern standard aren't you? I never remember where the central zone ends.
Yes, EST.
We saw it in L A. about 45 minutes ago. Using binoculars we could see both planets. Awesome!
I checked them out tonight. They looked like a single bright planet to the naked eye, but through binoculars they separated into two. I didn't have enough magnification to make out any moons or the rings of Saturn, though.
If anyone's interested, here's where they were at approximately 6:15 PM Central, using the free astronomy software Stellarium. Almost due southwest, near the horizon (the labels for Jupiter and Saturn are overlapping in the image):
____
And here's how close they appeared to each other when zoomed in on Stellarium (also showing moons):
Stellarium is pretty cool. It's basically what Starry Night used to be before they stopped selling their basic home version for $20 or so. Better still, it's free.
If you ever want to find out where something is, was, or will be in the sky (past, present, or future), then check it out.
Planets, stars, galaxies, nebulas, meteor showers, the constellations, etc. Even satellites and the ISS.
That one was OK-- but I liiked The Flying Toilets even better!
LOL. No, no. The software company, not the Van Gogh.
Flying Toilets? Which one is that?
I don't remember that one either. I do remember the flying toasters though.
Anyone else remember these?
One of my followers took this. Pretty damn cool picture using a NikonD7500 camera with a Nikkor telescopic lens, 200-500mm 1/25 sec f/5 ISO 2500.
Credit: ༻ᗰᗩƳᖇᗩ༺
Oh, that's awesome. You can see the rings!
Wow that is great
Wow-- that's amazing1 You can actually see Saturn's Rings!
That's one Blue Butterfly who is an excellent Astro-Photographer!
(Although I've never actually been to Nebraska...)
I didn't know you could do that with only a 500 mm lens!
Amazing pic !
Amazing shot!
Awesome shot! Could not see it from here in So Cal where I am.
I'm really upset! I was looking forward to seeing this and it's cloudy.
Same. Couldn't see a single star.
From the Griffith Park Observatory
Great shot G!
WHAAAAAAAA!!! I want to see it!
That's a great shot from a different angle. Being able to see Saturn's rings is a great plus.
My friend sent it from a live stream from the Griffith Park Observatory. He tried to pretend that he took it from his camera at first.
It's great that he was able to share the view from the Observatory for all to see. It will be very interesting to see how the planets continue on their journey to meet up. I hope your Friend will be able to continue to share the view from the Observatory throughout the magical event.
Darn fog here is obstructing our view. I guess we'll have to wait another 800 years. No problem, my cryostasis chamber is nearly complete. (-: