Monday night December 21st 2020

[04 commemorative]

Don’t miss as planets converge

Marcia Dunn

ASSOCIATED PRESS

CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. – Jupiter and Saturn will merge in the night sky Monday, appearing closer to one another than they have since Galileo’s time in the 17th century.

Astronomers say so-called conjunctions between the two largest planets in our solar system aren’t particularly rare. Jupiter passes its neighbor Saturn in their respective laps around the sun every 20 years.

But the one coming up is especially close: Jupiter and Saturn will be just one-tenth of a degree apart from our perspective, or about one-fi�fth the width of a full moon. They should be easily visible around the world a little after sunset, weather permitting.

Toss in the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, the longest night of the year – and the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere – and this just-in-time-for-Christmas spectacle promises to be one of the greatest of Great Conjunctions.

It will be the closest pairing since July1623, when the planets appeared a little nearer. This conjunction was almost impossible to see, however.

To see it, be ready shortly after sunset Monday, looking to the southwest fairly low on the horizon. Saturn will be the smaller, fainter blob at Jupiter’s upper right. Binoculars will be needed to separate the two planets.

Their next super-close pairing: March 15, 2080.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.

[z06psi]

Dupe

[04 commemorative]

so sorry

[snide]

Originally Posted by 04 commemorative

so sorry

Don't do it again until next time.