'Christmas Star' to appear on December 21

Cheyenne Gioielli, Media Editor

December 21, 2020

Even though 2020 has not brought the best of news, the year will boast a rare occurrence just in time for the holidays. Jupiter and Saturn will align, creating an eclipse. It will look like a ”double planet” as some astronomers call it. Not only will these two planets align, but it will be the closest in proximity that these planets have been since the year 1226.

On the night of December 21, the sky will hold a large star-like glow. This “Christmas Star” will, in fact, be Jupiter and Saturn aligned for the first time in 20 years. Unlike a total eclipse with the sun and moon, this phenomenon can be seen with the naked eye or with binoculars for a closer view. Back in 1623, just a few years after Galileo built the telescope, Jupiter and Saturn aligned with a 13 degree difference. This event was the closest alignment ever seen before today. When looking with the naked eye, the planets will only be a tenth of a degree, or about the size of a dime, away from a perfect alignment.

Although the alignment is a rare occurrence in itself, there is something even more rare about it. Saturn and Jupiter will come in close contact with each other. They will seem to be colliding with each other. Even though these two gas giants seem to be very close, they are actually over 400 million miles apart. That is the same amount as traveling around the earth about 17,000 times.

This phenomenon will be the closest humans have ever seen the two planets. The alignment and close proximity of the planets have not happened for almost 800 years, making this an event that will go down in history.