Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn: What Will Happen in the Sky Monday Evening?

Great Conjunction Jupiter Saturn: What Will Happen in the Sky Monday Evening?

Great Conjunction Jupiter Saturn: what will happen in the sky Monday evening? Great conjunction, Jupiter Saturn conjunction, Christmas star, winter solstice great conjunction, planetary alignment, stargazing, and celestial event — these are the terms dominating searches as skywatchers prepare for one of the most spectacular astronomical events of the decade. On Monday, December 21, at 7:22 p.m. local time, the solar system's two largest planets, Jupiter and Saturn, will appear closer together in the night sky than they have in nearly 400 years. This extraordinary event, known as a "great conjunction," will create what some are calling a "Christmas star" — a brilliant celestial spectacle that will be visible to the naked eye.

What Is the Great Conjunction?

When two celestial objects come together in the sky, it is called a conjunction. Jupiter and Saturn conjunctions happen every 20 years. Since they are our solar system's two biggest worlds and shine particularly bright, their stunning bi-decadal meetup has a special name: a great conjunction.

It takes Jupiter about 12 Earth years to orbit the Sun, while Saturn's orbit takes about 30 Earth years. As seen from Earth, Jupiter catches up to Saturn about every 20 years. All three planets orbit inside the same pizza-shaped plane of our solar system, so these 20-year great conjunctions always bring the planets into a straight line — more or less. Because each planet's orbit is slightly tilted and non-circular, the closeness of each great conjunction varies.

Why Is This Great Conjunction So Special?

While a great conjunction occurs roughly every 20 years, the 2020 event is exceptionally close. On Monday, December 21, Jupiter and Saturn will be separated by a mere 0.1 degrees in the sky — about one-fifth the diameter of a full moon. The last time the planets were this close was on July 16, 1623, though that conjunction occurred during daylight and was not visible from most places on Earth.

The last visible great conjunction that was as easy to see as this year's occurred on March 4, 1226, long before telescopes were invented. This makes the 2020 event truly a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for most people alive today. The next time the planets will be this close and visible will be in March 2080.

When and Where to Look for the Great Conjunction

The main event will take place on Monday, December 21, at 18:27 UTC (1:27 p.m. EST), with Jupiter and Saturn separated by a mere 6.1 arcminutes. For observers in France, the spectacle will be visible from 17:30 to 19:30 local time.

To see the great conjunction, go outside shortly after sunset. Look for the two bright dots low in the southwest. Jupiter appears as a bright star, while Saturn is slightly less-bright with a yellow hue. The planets will be low in the sky and will set quickly, so make sure you have a good view of the western horizon to catch them.

For those in the Northern Hemisphere, the timing coincides with the winter solstice — the shortest day of the year — which means sunset will be early. The planets will be sinking all the time, so time your observation carefully. The best view will be about 45 minutes after sunset, looking about 10 degrees above the south-southwest horizon.

What You Will See

To the naked eye, the two planets will appear at first glance to shine as one, creating what some have called a "Christmas star." However, close study will reveal otherwise. Through binoculars, the observer will easily see Jupiter and Saturn separately in the same field of view.

For stargazers with a telescope, the view will certainly be worth it. Saturn, its rings and some of its moons, along with Jupiter, its Great Red Spot and Galilean moons, will all be visible at once. A small telescope with a low-power eyepiece (around 50x) will separate the two planets in the same field of view.

If your binoculars are powerful enough (a minimum magnification of seven), you might even catch a view of Jupiter's four Galilean moons. In the northern hemisphere, two of these, Callisto and Ganymede, will be on the left of Jupiter. On Jupiter's right, much closer to the planet, you could see Io and Europa.

The "Christmas Star" Connection

The heightened brightness of the two planets as they almost merge in the sky has invited the inevitable speculation about whether they formed the "Christmas star" that the New Testament describes as having guided the three wise men to the baby Jesus.

But astronomer Billy Teets, acting director of Vanderbilt University's Dyer Observatory, said a Great Conjunction is only one of several possible explanations for the biblical phenomenon. "I think that there is a lot of debate as to what that might have been," Teets told WKRN-TV.

Tips for Observing the Great Conjunction

Look southwest 30-45 minutes after sunset. Jupiter will be the "first star" visible post-sunset, appearing worldwide once the sky darkens.

Find an open area with a clear western horizon. The planets will be low in the sky and will set quickly, so trees or buildings could block your view.

Use binoculars or a telescope for the best view. While the naked eye will show the planets as one bright point, optical aid will separate them and reveal incredible detail.

Observe on the days before and after. The planets will be close in the sky in the days leading up to the event and afterwards, so even if the weather doesn't cooperate on the 21st, there will be other opportunities.

Check the weather forecast. Clear skies are essential for viewing. If the forecast is cloudy, consider using an astronomy app or virtual observatory.

When Is the Next Great Conjunction?

The next great conjunctions after 2020 will occur in November 2040 and 2060. However, the minimum visual separation between Jupiter and Saturn during both these events will be 1.1 degrees — 11 times farther than in 2020.

Over one thousand years, from 1600 to 2599, there are only six great conjunctions where Jupiter and Saturn's minimum separation is less than 0.2 degrees: 1623, 1683, 2020, 2080, 2417, and 2477. The next alignment this close will be in March 2080.

FAQ: Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn

Q: What is the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn?
A: The Great Conjunction is a rare celestial event where Jupiter and Saturn appear extremely close together in the night sky. It happens roughly every 20 years, but the 2020 event was exceptionally close — the closest since 1623.

Q: When is the Great Conjunction happening?
A: The Great Conjunction took place on December 21, 2020, at approximately 18:27 UTC (1:27 PM EST), coinciding with the winter solstice.

Q: How can I see the Jupiter Saturn conjunction?
A: Look southwest about 30-45 minutes after sunset. Jupiter will be the brightest object in that part of the sky, with Saturn appearing just above and to the left or right depending on your location. Binoculars or a telescope provide the best view.

Q: Why is the 2020 Great Conjunction so special?
A: The 2020 Great Conjunction was special because Jupiter and Saturn appeared just 0.1 degrees apart — closer than at any time since 1623. This made it a once-in-a-lifetime event for most observers.

Q: When is the next Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn?
A: The next Great Conjunctions will occur in 2040 and 2060, but they won't be as close as the 2020 event. The next similarly close conjunction will be in March 2080.

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