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Can we see the double planet tonight?
Jupiter and Saturn will appear to align tonight, creating a “double planet” in the night sky. You can see this planetary conjunction on the winter solstice, December 21.
How long will Jupiter and Saturn be in conjunction?
On December 21, Jupiter and Saturn will meet in a “great conjunction,” the closest they could be seen in the sky together for nearly 800 years.
When should I watch the great conjunction?
To observe the great conjunction look to the southwest shortly after sunset. Jupiter appears brighter than any star in the sky while Saturn, which will appear slightly to the east of Jupiter, is slightly dimmer but has a recognizable golden glow.
Where in the sky will Jupiter and Saturn meet?
Saturn is just to the east of Jupiter on the sky’s dome. The two are noticeable for their brightness and nearness to each other. View at EarthSky Community Photos.
Where in the sky can I find Jupiter and Saturn?
Find a spot with an unobstructed view of the sky, such as a field or park. Jupiter and Saturn are bright, so they can be seen even from most cities. An hour after sunset, look to the southwestern sky. Jupiter will look like a bright star and be easily visible.
Can you see the Great conjunction with the naked eye?
They will remain in close alignment for a few days and will be easily visible to the naked eye when looking toward the southwest just after sunset. You can watch the winter solstice great conjunction webcasts live here throughout the day.
When do Jupiter and Saturn overlap in the night sky?
Even after Monday, Jupiter and Saturn will still be visible in the night sky — just moving a little further apart. The two planets’ next rendezvous won’t occur until 2080, Fraknoi said. After that, they won’t overlap again until the year 2400.
What was the distance between the two planets?
The two planets reached their “great conjunction” which is the planets’ closest encounter in almost 400 years on Monday. The visual observed distance in the sky between two planets was a mere tenth of a degree, or 6 arcminutes, apart. Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle 2020 Show More Show Less
When do the planets appear to align in the sky?
The planets will appear extremely close for about a month, giving skywatchers plenty of time to witness the spectacular alignment throughout the holiday season. The event coincidentally aligns with the December solstice, marking the shortest day of the year in the Northern hemisphere.
How are Jupiter and Saturn going to be separated?
While Jupiter and Saturn will be separated on Dec. 21 by 0.1 degrees, or less than a third of the moon’s width, the two planets will nonetheless remain separated by about 450 million miles in space, he said. Emily Lakdawalla, a freelance space writer, said planetary orbits can be compared to a kind of running track, with the sun in the middle.