{"id":1675,"date":"2020-12-09T14:00:46","date_gmt":"2020-12-09T14:00:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/?p=1331013"},"modified":"2020-12-09T14:00:46","modified_gmt":"2020-12-09T14:00:46","slug":"jupiter-and-saturn-will-be-the-closest-theyve-been-in-800-years-heres-how-to-spot-them-on-dec-21","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/?p=1675","title":{"rendered":"Jupiter and Saturn will be the closest they\u2019ve been in 800 years \u2014 here\u2019s how to spot them on Dec. 21"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This close encounter of the planetary kind will be easily visible to everyone in the world. The two worlds are already shining brightly in the southwestern sky, soon after sunset. Jupiter and <\/a>Saturn will draw closer to each other each night until December 21st, when they will appear as a brilliant pair of lights low in the southwestern sky.<\/p>\n

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<\/i><\/a>Jupiter and Saturn will be huddled together low on the southwestern horizon on December 21 \u2014 the closest the two worlds have been seen from Earth since the Middle Ages. Saturn is o close to Jupiter, it is not even seen as a separate object in this sky chart. Image credit: The Cosmic Companion \/ Created in Stellarium.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Stargazers using telescopes to view this display will delight in seeing Jupiter and Saturn huddling together, in view of their instruments at the same time. Using binoculars or a backyard telescope, it will not only be possible to see the two largest planets in our solar system together but several of their moons as well in this rare planetary alignment.<\/p>\n

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<\/i><\/a>Several moons of Jupiter and Saturn are visible through a backyard telescope. Image credit: The Cosmic Companion \/ Created in Stellarium<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n
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\u201cJupiter and Saturn, Oberon, Miranda and Titania.
Neptune, Titan, stars can frighten\u2026\u201d \u2014 Syd Barrett, Astronomy Domine, Pink Floyd<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Although these two giants of the Solar System come together once every 20 years or so, this is the closest the two worlds will be seen to each other until March 15, 2080. So, make sure to see it this time around. Clouds and other factors can always affect the viewing of objects in the night sky, so remember to take a look at these two megagiants of the solar System<\/a> any clear night before or after this close encounter.<\/p>\n

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<\/i><\/a>From Earth (middle, left), Jupiter and Saturn (slightly lower, toward the right) will appear extremely close to each other in the sky on the evening of December 21. Image credit: The Cosmic Companion \/ Created in NASA\u2019s Eyes<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

Get out in the backyard \u2014 we\u2019re all pod people now<\/strong><\/h2>\n
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\"Image
<\/i><\/a>Jupiter and Saturn will be huddled together low on southwestern horizon on December 21 \u2014 the closest the two worlds have been seen from Earth since the Middle Ages. Saturn is o close to Jupiter, it is not even seen as a separate object in this sky chart. Image credit: The Cosmic Companion \/ Created in Stellarium.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n

This Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn will be easily visible to most people around the globe. The timing of this alignment makes this event a perfect excuse to go outside with the family (bundle up!) and view the Cosmos. Throughout December and into January, the two largest planets in our solar <\/a>system will shine close to each other as seen from our home world.<\/p>\n

All that is needed to see this event is an open view to the southwest (hopefully away from city lights). Jupiter and Saturn are already shining brightly in the southwestern sky, soon after sunset.<\/p>\n

Although this event is easily visible without using any equipment, telescopes or binoculars will make this a stunning sight. Jupiter<\/a> and Saturn are among the easiest, most beautiful sights to see with a backyard instrument. This rare event, seen for the first time in nearly 800 years, makes this as good of a time as any to look up toward the night sky.<\/p>\n

With or without a telescope, skygazers should remember to dress warmly where appropriate, and bring a hot beverage and snacks along on any observing session \u2014 even in the backyard.<\/p>\n

This article was originally published on <\/span><\/i>The Cosmic Companion<\/span><\/i><\/a> by <\/span><\/i>James Maynard<\/span><\/i><\/a>, founder and publisher of The Cosmic Companion. He is a New England native turned desert rat in Tucson, where he lives with his lovely wife, Nicole, and Max the Cat. You can read this original piece here<\/a>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Astronomy News with The Cosmic Companion<\/span><\/i><\/a> is also available as a weekly podcast, carried on all major podcast providers. Tune in every Tuesday for updates on the latest astronomy news, and interviews with astronomers and other researchers working to uncover the nature of the Universe.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n

Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

This close encounter of the planetary kind will be easily visible to everyone in the world. The two worlds are already shining brightly in the southwestern sky, soon after sunset. Jupiter and…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1676,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1675"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1675"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1675\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1676"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1675"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1675"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1675"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}