By Charlie Carey
Culminating in crisp December skies, planets Jupiter and Saturn are coming together beginning Monday (Dec. 21) to form the rather rare Great Conjunction.
Happening roughly once every 20 years, the two biggest planets in the solar system will appear to pass each other. This year, however, is the closest they have come in about 400 years.
B次元官网网址淔rom our vantage point, weB次元官网网址檒l be able to see Jupiter on the inside lane, approaching Saturn all month and finally overtaking it on Dec. 21,B次元官网网址� said Henry Throop, an astronomer in the Planetary Science Division at NASA headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Although appearing very close together from Earth, the two gas giants will still be hundreds of millions of miles away from each other.
Most visible just after sunset, it is purely coincidental that this astronomical sight also occurs on the winter solstice.
B次元官网网址淐onjunctions like this could happen on any day of the year, depending on where the planets are in their orbits,B次元官网网址� said Throop. B次元官网网址淭he date of the conjunction is determined by the positions of Jupiter, Saturn, and the Earth in their paths around the Sun, while the date of the solstice is determined by the tilt of EarthB次元官网网址檚 axis.B次元官网网址�
For those wanting to see this planetary phenomenon for themselves, NASA recommends finding a viewing point with an unobstructed view of the sky, such as a field or park.
Luckily for those in urban settings, Jupiter and Saturn are generally bright enough to be seen from most cities B次元官网网址� so long as the sky is free of clouds.
Skywatchers, you're in for a once-in-a-lifetime treat! Jupiter & Saturn are doing a planetary dance that will result in the Great Conjunction on Dec 21, just after sunset. Find out:
B次元官网网址� NASA (@NASA)
馃ぉ When and where to look up
馃摲 How to photograph the conjunction
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