Denver (KDVR / Nextstar) – Jupiter and Saturn have been in the sky for more than 400 years, and can be seen live on AZ thanks to the Lowstell Observatory at Flagstaff.
The two planets are so close together that they appear to touch each other, separated by one-fifth the diameter of a full moon.
“They are not close in space – they are still millions of kilometers away from each other,” said NASA astronomer Henry Troop. “But… they appear to be two points very close in the sky… in fact they are so close that you can cover both planets with your pinky finger if you stretch the length of your pink arms.”
Troop says that Jupiter looks like the brightest star in the sky (it’s not a star, of course it reflects the sun). Saturn is slightly dimmer and appears above the left side of Jupiter.
Observers flocked to Green Mountain in Lockwood to get a clear view. Some are telescopes, others are binoculars.
Some gathered to look up at the sky while others decided to stay at home and submit photos to the site. Check out our viewer photo gallery.
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The great conjunction of Jupiter with the Moon and Saturn. -
The great conjunction of Jupiter with the Moon and Saturn. -
Christmas Star, Photo Credit: Brooks Garner
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