800 years in the making: Uncommon celestial event is days away

Jupiter & Saturn pass each other in orbit roughly every 20 years, but it’s not very often we see them this close together in the dark night sky.

By: Tim Studebaker

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CHARLESTOWN, R.I. (WLNE) – December is an exciting time in the astronomy world, and this December brings an event so uncommon, it hasn’t been seen on quite the same level since medieval times.

Frosty Drew Observatory Director Scott MacNeill says, “I mean it may be rare on the time span of humans, but as far as the cosmos is considered, this is quite frequent.”

MacNeill says Jupiter and Saturn pass each other in their orbits approximately every 20 years.  Sometimes we can’t see it from earth, and sometimes they don’t look very close together.

But, this December 21st, the two planets will appear extremely close together in the dark night sky.  It’s a combination that hasn’t been seen since the 1200s.

MacNeill says, “It will look like two star-like objects that are so close that they almost look like they’re touching.”

Astronomers call it the “Great Conjunction.”  Others are nicknaming it the “Christmas Star.”  You don’t need any equipment to see it, but it could enhance the experience.

MacNeill says, “In a telescope, you’ll be able to see Saturn’s rings, Jupiter’s equatorial bands, you’ll see the moons of Saturn and the moons of Jupiter, and you’ll see them together in the eyepiece, and that’s a stunning view.”

To see it, look low on the horizon toward the southwest just after sunset over the next few weeks. They’ll be closest on December 21st.

Also in December, the Geminid meteor shower peaks this Sunday night.

MacNeill says, “You can see upwards of 150 meteors per hour, as an increase, compared to what you would normally see on any given night.”

MacNeill says to look straight up at the middle of the sky for that one.

To learn more, and to check out Frosty Drew Observatory’s viewing options, visit them at https://frostydrew.org/

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