There is going to be a spectacular astronomical event next December 21st and Monday. On this day Jupiter and Saturn will come very close. The two planets will be only 0.1 degrees apart. This phenomenon is called Great Conjugation. It will also be the longest night of the year on the 21st.
Every 20 years Jupiter and Saturn come closer to each other, but this year the distance between the two planets will be only 0.1 degrees. This is happening almost 400 years later. Earlier, in 1623, the two planets came so close. After this year, on March 15, 2080, both the planets Jupiter and Saturn will be seen so close.
How is Great Conjugation?
Jupiter is the fifth planet in the solar system and Saturn is the sixth planet. Jupiter means Jupiter orbits the Sun in 11.86 years. Saturn takes about 29.5 years to orbit the Sun. Every year in 19.6 years these two planets come closer, which can be easily seen in the sky. This condition is called Great Conjunction.
The first contraction occurred in the year 2000. But, at that time both these planets were towards the sun, due to which they could not be seen. The next conjugation will take place on November 5, 2040, and April 10, 2060. The Great Consumption will then be seen on March 15, 2080.
How can these two planets be identified?
Currently Jupiter and Saturn are seen in the western direction. The pair of two planets are seen in the western direction after sunset. The brightest planet is Jupiter and the least bright planet is Saturn. Both of these planets disappear at about 8 o'clock so they are not visible after 8 o'clock. So they can only be seen before 8 p.m. From now until December 21, these two planets will be seen daily and on December 21 Jupiter-Saturn will be seen together.
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