NOTE: Unable to see Monday's "Great Conjunction?" You'll have another chance to see a similar sight this week. Read more here.
Star-gazers will be able to catch a once-in-a-lifetime sight in the sky Monday night, but may need to look quickly.
It's called the "Great Conjunction," or the moment when Jupiter and Saturn appear at their closest – "a tenth of a degree apart" – according to Chicago's Adler Planetarium.
The event is set to take place Monday, which also marks the Winter Solstice, bringing the shortest amount of daylight and the longest night.
The event has been dubbed the "Christmas star," because some astronomers have theorized the “Star of Bethlehem” could have been a rare conjunction involving both Jupiter and Saturn.
"This will still be quite a striking sight, but you will need to look fast as both planets will set shortly after sunset," the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's website says.
Those looking to see the star will want to look above the southwestern or western horizon after sunset, experts said.
Here are some viewing tips from NASA:
- Monday night, find a spot with an unobstructed view of the sky, such as a field or park, as the two planets can be seen from most cities nationwide
- Look into the southwestern sky about an hour after sunset, which for Chicago is 4:24 p.m. Monday.
- If you looked before Monday, you could have seen that Saturn will be slightly fainter and appear just above and to the left of Jupiter. During the "Great Conjunction," Jupiter overtakes Saturn and the two reverse positions in the sky.
- Other planets are also potentially visible during the event, including Jupiter's four large moons orbiting the planet. Binoculars or a small telescope could aid in seeing the moons, NASA advised.
"Throughout the first half of December 2020, you will be able to see these two planets appearing to draw closer together each night," the planetarium's website reads. "The best time to see them is about an hour after your local sunset time. At Chicago’s latitude, look to the southwest to see two close objects fairly low in the sky. The brighter one is Jupiter. The dimmer one is Saturn."
Though conjunctions happen roughly every 20 years, Monday's event will be historically close.
It will be the first Jupiter-Saturn conjunction since 2000, but the first time the planets will have been so close since 1623. It will also be the first time such a close conjunction has been observable since 1226, according to EarthSky.
Adler says that if two planets appear to "merge briefly," it is called mutual occultation, though the current conjunction may not appear quite so close.
"The last mutual occultation of Saturn by Jupiter was about 8,000 years ago," Adler's website reads.
Still, according to NASA, "while the two gas giants mayappearclose, in reality they are hundreds of millions of miles apart."
FAQs
Look Southwest after sunset and near the horizon, and you will be able to spot Venus, as it will easily be the brightest looking “star” in the sky at that point. To the left of that as well, a train of visible planets will be visible, including Jupiter and Saturn.
When can I see the Star of Bethlehem? ›
When Is the Next Christmas Star? Unfortunately, if you missed the Christmas Star in 2020, the next Great Conjunction this close won't happen until March 15, 2080.
Will the Star of Bethlehem be visible this December? ›
This year, bright planets Jupiter and Saturn will align perfectly on Dec. 21 to create what is commonly called the Christmas Star or the “Star of Bethlehem.” According to NASA, Jupiter and Saturn align with one another every 20 years or so, but not nearly as close together as they will be in 2020.
What time will the Christmas Star be visible in Florida? ›
In Central Florida, it will be most visible at dusk or right around sunset, which in Orlando is at 5:34 p.m. But don't wait too long, because the planets will dip below the horizon only a couple hours after the sun sets. You won't see a similar conjunction this close again until March 15, 2080.
What is the best time tonight to see the Christmas Star? ›
Best time: 45 minutes to one hour after sunset begins tonight, Monday, December 21. Best place: Any place that has an unobstructed view of the sky—so avoid areas with tall buildings.
Is the Christmas Star still visible right now? ›
If you missed out on Monday night's main event, the rare "Christmas Star" won't appear again until 2080. As a consolation, you can still see Jupiter and Saturn close together for the entire month of December.
What was the star that appeared when Jesus was born? ›
The story of the Star of Bethlehem appears only in the Book of Matthew. The gospel tells us that a bright star appeared in the eastern sky when Jesus was born, famously seen by a group of wise men. These biblical "Magi," sometimes called kings, now adorn nativity scenes around the world.
When was the last Star of Bethlehem seen? ›
The last time that such an event occurred was on March 4, 1226, and the next one will take place in 2080.
When was Jesus actually born? ›
The date of birth of Jesus is not stated in the gospels or in any historical sources but most biblical scholars assume a year of birth between 6 and 4 BC.
Where is the Bethlehem Star located? ›
In the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, a silver star with 14 undulating rays marks the location traditionally claimed to be that of Jesus' birth. In quilting, a common eight-pointed star design is known as the Star of Bethlehem.
Mark your calendars, because the 'Christmas Star' will be visible from anywhere on earth, but only for about one hour. Moj No and 3,119 others like this.
When can you see the Christmas Star 2022? ›
In 2022 there will be a conjunction of Jupiter and Venus on April 30, 2022. Are you looking for a “Christmas Star” this year?
What planet is visible tonight 2022? ›
In the evening, the gas giant planets Jupiter and Saturn dominate the southern sky as night falls, with Mars rising before sunset and visible all night.
Will we see a supernova in 2022 date? ›
While scientists are confident a supernova will occur in 2022, whether it occurs in our galaxy is a different matter. In any given year, it is an unlikely prospect. On the other hand, one day it may just happen in our galactic neighbourhood. If it does, astronomers say they will be ready.
What does the Bible say about the Christmas Star? ›
They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was.
What does the Christmas Star symbolize? ›
The Star of Bethlehem, a five-pointed star, is unique in that it is only referenced in the Gospel of Matthew's nativity story. The star signifies the birth of Christ (or Messiah).
What was the Jesus star? ›
The Star of Bethlehem, also called the Christmas Star, is a star in the Bible and Christian tradition that let the Magi know that Jesus was born, and later helped them go to Bethlehem. According to the Gospel of Matthew, the star made the magi travel to Jerusalem.
Why did God create stars? ›
Because God did not create the stars to give us insights into the future, but to witness His power and glory. "The heavens declare the glory of God" (Psalm 19:1).
What is the real Star of Bethlehem? ›
The Star of Bethlehem could have been a conjunction
The other — more astronomical — explanation is that there was indeed a bright object in the sky — a conjunction between planets and stars. A conjunction occurs when two or more celestial bodies appear to meet in the night sky from our location on Earth.
Why did the Bethlehem star disappear? ›
The star failed to catch the attention of the general public. After the star appeared to the Magi to lead them to Bethlehem, it disappeared and reappeared.
Most religious scholars and historians agree with Pope Francis that the historical Jesus principally spoke a Galilean dialect of Aramaic. Through trade, invasions and conquest, the Aramaic language had spread far afield by the 7th century B.C., and would become the lingua franca in much of the Middle East.
Was Jesus born at night? ›
According to legend, Jesus Christ was born on the night between 24 and 25 December in the year 0. Christians all over the world therefore traditionally celebrate the birth of the Messiah and Son of God on this date as Christmas.
Where was Jesus actually born? ›
Birthplace of Jesus: Church of the Nativity and the Pilgrimage Route, Bethlehem. The inscribed property is situated 10 km south of Jerusalem on the site identified by Christian tradition as the birthplace of Jesus since the 2nd century.
Does a shooting star happen every night? ›
On any given night, depending on our luck, we can spot between one and two shooting stars per hour; but on certain dates they occur much more frequently and many more can be seen: when this happens we call it a meteor shower.
What direction in the sky do you look for the Star of Bethlehem? ›
The story of the Star of Bethlehem appears only in the Book of Matthew. The gospel tells us that a bright star appeared in the eastern sky when Jesus was born, famously seen by a group of wise men. These biblical "Magi," sometimes called kings, now adorn nativity scenes around the world.
Which direction do I look for the Christmas comet? ›
Where and when to see Comet Leonard. Look to the west-southwestern sky right after sunset to glimpse Comet Leonard just below the bright planet Venus.
When was the Christmas Star last seen? ›
The last time that such an event occurred was on March 4, 1226, and the next one will take place in 2080.
Is there a comet coming in 2022? ›
Teardrop-shaped Comet ZTF (C/2020 V2) passed near the faint spiral galaxy NGC 3488 in Ursa Major on October 21, 2022.
When can I see the Christmas comet? ›
The comet will get closest to the Earth and will be best visible on December 12, 2021. It will pass by our planet at a distance of 34 million km (21 million mi), shining with a magnitude of about 4.
