View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Michael Zuber caught Jupiter and Saturn – the 2 bright “stars” (really planets) above the building in this photo – from Terlingua, Texas, on November 11, 2020. You can’t miss these worlds in Earth’s sky now. Jupiter is the brightest starlike object up every evening! In a dark sky, as you can see, they are near the starry band of the Milky Way. Thank you, Michael.
Astronomers use the word conjunction to describe meetings of planets and other objects on our sky’s dome. They use the term great conjunction to describe meetings of the two biggest worlds in our solar system, mighty Jupiter and the glorious ringed planet Saturn. The next great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn will be on the upcoming the day of the solstice: December 21, 2020. Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions happen every 20 years; the last one was in the year 2000. But these conjunctions aren’t all created equal. The 2020 great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn will be the closest since 1623 and the closest observable since 1226! On December 21, 2020, Jupiter and Saturn will be only 0.1 degree apart. Some say the pair will look like an “elongated star” on that date. Will they? We’ll have to look and see! They’ll surely be an appealing and mind-expanding sight!
2002’s extra-close Jupiter-Saturn conjunction won’t be matched again until the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction of March 15, 2080.
At the 2000 great conjunction, 20 years ago, Jupiter and Saturn were near the sun in our sky and difficult to observe. We’re due for a more observable great conjunction, and we’ll get one this year. Jupiter and Saturn are up every evening now – not far from the sunset glare – easily visible and exceedingly noticeable as two bright objects near each other.
The 2021 lunar calendars are here! Order yours before they’re gone. Makes a great gift!
See photos: Jupiter and Saturn draw closer!
In December, just as Jupiter and Saturn are nearly at their closest, the young moon will sweep past them. From December 16-25, 2020, the 2 will be separated by less than a full-moon diameter, just as the moon is passing close. Don’t miss this glorious sight in the western sky after sunset! Jupiter is brighter, outshining Saturn by 12 times. Saturn is respectably bright, shining as brilliantly as a 1st-magnitude star. Read more.
Jupiter is brighter than any star. Saturn is not as bright as Jupiter, but it’s as bright as the brightest stars and shines with a distinctly golden color. Also, Jupiter is near Saturn! Saturn is just to the east of Jupiter on the sky’s dome. Unlike the twinkling stars, Jupiter and Saturn both shine steadily.
In November – during the period when the moon swept past Jupiter and Saturn (about November 16 to November 21) – the two gas giant planets were some 3 degrees apart.
Over the time between November 21 and the day of the conjunction itself, December 21, Jupiter will travel about 6 degrees and Saturn 3 degrees on the sky’s dome. That movement will mean that Jupiter bridges the 3-degree gap between itself and Saturn.
Bingo! Great conjunction!
Artist’s concept of Jupiter and Saturn in December of 2020, as viewed from a space-based perspective. Their conjunction will be December 21. See the moon in this drawing? It’ll be along our line of sight to the planets around December 16, 2020. Chart via Jay Ryan at ClassicalAstronomy.com.
Saturn, the sixth planet outward from the sun, is the farthest and slowest-moving planet that we can easily see with the eye alone. Dazzling Jupiter, the fifth planet outward from the sun, is the second-slowest bright planet, after Saturn.
For that reason, Jupiter/Saturn conjunctions are the rarest of bright-planet conjunctions, by virtue of their slow motions in front of the constellations of the zodiac. Saturn takes nearly 30 years to go around the sun full circle whereas Jupiter takes nearly 12 years.
Thus, every 20 years, Jupiter catches up to Saturn as viewed from Earth.
From the years 2000 to 2100 inclusive, as viewed from our planet Earth, these Jupiter/Saturn conjunctions (in ecliptic longitude) happen on these dates:
May 28, 2000
December 21, 2020
October 31, 2040
April 7, 2060
March 15, 2080
September 18, 2100
View larger. | Here’s a view of how Jupiter and Saturn will look through a telescope in the evening sky on December 21, 2020. On the evening of closest approach on December 21, 2020, they will look like a double planet, separated by only 1/5 the diameter of the full moon. For most telescope viewers, each planet and several of their largest moons will be visible in the same field of view that evening. Image via Rice University.
Now, here’s why these great Jupiter/Saturn conjunctions happen every 20 years. Each year, Saturn completes about 12 degrees of its orbit around the sun, whereas Jupiter completes about 30 degrees. Therefore, in one year, Jupiter closes the gap between itself and Saturn by about 18 degrees (30 – 12 = 18 degrees).
In a period of 20 years, then, Jupiter gains 360 degrees on Saturn (18 x 20 = 360 degrees), therefore lapping the ringed planet once every 20 years.
So start watching Jupiter and Saturn now! And mark your calendar for the great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn on December 21, 2020.
Want to see more planets? Check out our latest video project below. It summarizes EarthSky’s monthly guide to the bright planets. Let us know how you like it and how we can make it even better!
Bottom line: The upcoming great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn will be on December 21, 2020, the day of the December solstice. These two worlds will be visibly closer in our sky than they’ve been since medieval times, in 1226. At their closest, Jupiter and Saturn will be only 0.1 degree apart. That’s just 1/5 of a full moon diameter. Charts and info in this post.
from EarthSky https://ift.tt/2WVmFCm
View at EarthSky Community Photos. | Michael Zuber caught Jupiter and Saturn – the 2 bright “stars” (really planets) above the building in this photo – from Terlingua, Texas, on November 11, 2020. You can’t miss these worlds in Earth’s sky now. Jupiter is the brightest starlike object up every evening! In a dark sky, as you can see, they are near the starry band of the Milky Way. Thank you, Michael.
Astronomers use the word conjunction to describe meetings of planets and other objects on our sky’s dome. They use the term great conjunction to describe meetings of the two biggest worlds in our solar system, mighty Jupiter and the glorious ringed planet Saturn. The next great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn will be on the upcoming the day of the solstice: December 21, 2020. Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions happen every 20 years; the last one was in the year 2000. But these conjunctions aren’t all created equal. The 2020 great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn will be the closest since 1623 and the closest observable since 1226! On December 21, 2020, Jupiter and Saturn will be only 0.1 degree apart. Some say the pair will look like an “elongated star” on that date. Will they? We’ll have to look and see! They’ll surely be an appealing and mind-expanding sight!
2002’s extra-close Jupiter-Saturn conjunction won’t be matched again until the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction of March 15, 2080.
At the 2000 great conjunction, 20 years ago, Jupiter and Saturn were near the sun in our sky and difficult to observe. We’re due for a more observable great conjunction, and we’ll get one this year. Jupiter and Saturn are up every evening now – not far from the sunset glare – easily visible and exceedingly noticeable as two bright objects near each other.
The 2021 lunar calendars are here! Order yours before they’re gone. Makes a great gift!
See photos: Jupiter and Saturn draw closer!
In December, just as Jupiter and Saturn are nearly at their closest, the young moon will sweep past them. From December 16-25, 2020, the 2 will be separated by less than a full-moon diameter, just as the moon is passing close. Don’t miss this glorious sight in the western sky after sunset! Jupiter is brighter, outshining Saturn by 12 times. Saturn is respectably bright, shining as brilliantly as a 1st-magnitude star. Read more.
Jupiter is brighter than any star. Saturn is not as bright as Jupiter, but it’s as bright as the brightest stars and shines with a distinctly golden color. Also, Jupiter is near Saturn! Saturn is just to the east of Jupiter on the sky’s dome. Unlike the twinkling stars, Jupiter and Saturn both shine steadily.
In November – during the period when the moon swept past Jupiter and Saturn (about November 16 to November 21) – the two gas giant planets were some 3 degrees apart.
Over the time between November 21 and the day of the conjunction itself, December 21, Jupiter will travel about 6 degrees and Saturn 3 degrees on the sky’s dome. That movement will mean that Jupiter bridges the 3-degree gap between itself and Saturn.
Bingo! Great conjunction!
Artist’s concept of Jupiter and Saturn in December of 2020, as viewed from a space-based perspective. Their conjunction will be December 21. See the moon in this drawing? It’ll be along our line of sight to the planets around December 16, 2020. Chart via Jay Ryan at ClassicalAstronomy.com.
Saturn, the sixth planet outward from the sun, is the farthest and slowest-moving planet that we can easily see with the eye alone. Dazzling Jupiter, the fifth planet outward from the sun, is the second-slowest bright planet, after Saturn.
For that reason, Jupiter/Saturn conjunctions are the rarest of bright-planet conjunctions, by virtue of their slow motions in front of the constellations of the zodiac. Saturn takes nearly 30 years to go around the sun full circle whereas Jupiter takes nearly 12 years.
Thus, every 20 years, Jupiter catches up to Saturn as viewed from Earth.
From the years 2000 to 2100 inclusive, as viewed from our planet Earth, these Jupiter/Saturn conjunctions (in ecliptic longitude) happen on these dates:
May 28, 2000
December 21, 2020
October 31, 2040
April 7, 2060
March 15, 2080
September 18, 2100
View larger. | Here’s a view of how Jupiter and Saturn will look through a telescope in the evening sky on December 21, 2020. On the evening of closest approach on December 21, 2020, they will look like a double planet, separated by only 1/5 the diameter of the full moon. For most telescope viewers, each planet and several of their largest moons will be visible in the same field of view that evening. Image via Rice University.
Now, here’s why these great Jupiter/Saturn conjunctions happen every 20 years. Each year, Saturn completes about 12 degrees of its orbit around the sun, whereas Jupiter completes about 30 degrees. Therefore, in one year, Jupiter closes the gap between itself and Saturn by about 18 degrees (30 – 12 = 18 degrees).
In a period of 20 years, then, Jupiter gains 360 degrees on Saturn (18 x 20 = 360 degrees), therefore lapping the ringed planet once every 20 years.
So start watching Jupiter and Saturn now! And mark your calendar for the great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn on December 21, 2020.
Want to see more planets? Check out our latest video project below. It summarizes EarthSky’s monthly guide to the bright planets. Let us know how you like it and how we can make it even better!
Bottom line: The upcoming great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn will be on December 21, 2020, the day of the December solstice. These two worlds will be visibly closer in our sky than they’ve been since medieval times, in 1226. At their closest, Jupiter and Saturn will be only 0.1 degree apart. That’s just 1/5 of a full moon diameter. Charts and info in this post.
from EarthSky https://ift.tt/2WVmFCm
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