Celestial event not seen since 1226 happening this month with amazing conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn
They are already visible near each other shortly after sunset, and will appear to grow closer until Dec. 21 when Saturn’s rings and Jupiter’s moons will be visible through a telescope
Something unseen on Earth for nearly eight centuries is unfolding right before our eyes in the night sky, with the main event set to occur in two weeks, on the Winter Solstice.
The two largest planets in our solar system, Jupiter and Saturn, already can be seen cozying up to each other in the southwestern sky shortly after sunset, appearing closer every night. That will continue until Dec. 21, when they will appear closer together from the perspective of Earth than at any time since 1226.
There was a similar convergence (or “great conjunction”) in 1623, but that one was obscured by the sun.
Because this one will occur at night, it will be the best observable conjunction since the one in 1226, according to John Keller, a planetary scientist and director of the Fiske Planetarium at the University of Colorado in Boulder.
Conjunctions of Jupiter and Saturn occur every 20 years or so, but not like this.
Read more at DenverPost.com.
Support Local Journalism
Support Local Journalism
The Sky-Hi News strives to deliver powerful stories that spark emotion and focus on the place we live.
Over the past year, contributions from readers like you helped to fund some of our most important reporting, including coverage of the East Troublesome Fire.
If you value local journalism, consider making a contribution to our newsroom in support of the work we do.
