Jupiter and Saturn, the two largest planets in our solar system, were very close on Monday night for more than 800 years – marking a very rare celestial event. “Excellent combination. ”
Fusion occurs when the orbits of two planets are deployed every 20 years, but the event is not always visible, and the planets do not come as close to each other as they did on December 21.
This time, Jupiter and Saturn It was 0.1 degrees away – less than the diameter of a full moon.
The planets were so close together that they appeared to overlap completely from certain angles, creating a rare “twin planet” effect. However, the planets were found to be very close to Earth, in fact, they are still millions of miles away.
The event coincides with the end of winter and Christmas week, but it can happen at any time of the year.
If you have lost vision, or your sky seems to be overcast on Monday night, do not worry – for the next few weeks the planets will appear very close in the night sky, and are dedicated Astronomers They share their best shots of the night on social media.
Santa Barbara, California
Rodin Eckenroth / Getty Images
Los Angeles California
Patrick T. through Getty Images. Fallon / AFP
Melbourne, Australia
Guatemala
Francisco Community / NASA Astronomical Image
New York City, New York
Gary Hershorn / Getty Images
Texas
Alborz Mountains, Iran
Alirasa Wafa / NASA Astronomical Image
Ko Chang, Thailand
Chakkarin Vattanamongcol / Getty Images
Brill, England
Gym Design / Getty Images
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Kuwait City, Kuwait
Yasser Al Sayyad / AFP via Getty Images
How to find the best combination
Seen from the northern hemisphere, this large combination is just below sunset, lower in the southwestern sky. NASA Said.
Throughout December and early January, sky watchers can easily spot both planets with the naked eye. They are very bright and they are visible even from most cities.
Jupiter appears to be brighter than any star in the sky. Saturn is a little dim, but still as bright as the brightest stars, with a recognizable golden glow.
Saturn will appear slightly above and to the right of Jupiter, and will look like some of its own moons to the planet, visible through binoculars or telescopes. Unlike twinkling stars, both planets maintain a constant brightness and are easy to spot on clear nights.
When the sky clears, the event can be observed from anywhere on earth. It is easier to find along the equator and more difficult to see north.
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