A Rare Alignment of Jupiter and Saturn on December 21 from Pakistan
The two gas giants Jupiter and Saturn are going to visible very close to each other (only 0.1 degree apart) from our planet Earth on December 21st, 2020 (which is supposed to be the shortest day of the year). When two celestial bodies appear closer to each other in our Sky, the Astronomers call this the conjunction.
The great conjunction of 2020 of Jupiter and Saturn will be the closest since 1623 and the closest observable since 1226. This year’s Jupiter-Saturn conjunction won’t be happening again until the Jupiter-Saturn conjunction of March 15, 2080.4
Jupiter and Saturn to form ‘Elongated Star’ on 21st December 2020
Where and when to watch the great conjunction?
The great conjunction will be visible throughout the planet Earth. It will be visible just after the Sun has set towards West (Where the sunsets). The below is from the 17th of Dec 2020 and can be taken as reference because this is exactly where you will see these two planets but even closer. These two planets will be visible around 6:15 PM towards West.
The best time to watch it is from 6:00PM to 7:15PM after which Jupiter and Saturn will be very low on horizon, therefore, difficult to watch.
How to watch the conjunction?
- Start watching from 6:00PM (Pakistan Time)
- Use star charts app like Star Walk, Google Maps (View apps here) to locate West
- Use a camera or binoculars or telescope to observe and shoot
- The two planets appear so close to each other that they are visible easily in single field of view (FoV) of a telescope eye-piece
This is how these two planets are close to each other as on 20th Dec 2020 as seen from finder scope (6×30)
A Bird’s Eye view. What is exactly happening and Why are they appearing close to each other?
Below simulation shows a bird’s eye view of what is actually happening. Enjoy!
What is happening in the solar system? Click below photo to run animation
Photos of the conjunction 2020
All the below photos are shot by Abubaker Shekhani (author).
Equipment Details:
Telescope: Sky-Watcher Evostar 90mm f/10 & Sky-Watcher 6inch Dobsonian
Canon 650D @50mm, 18mm, 200mm
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Abubakershekhani.artist/
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Jupiter and Saturn with the crescent Moon as on 17th Dec 2020
Jupiter (its moons) and Saturn with the crescent Moon – 17th Dec 2020
Moon, Jupiter and Saturn – 18th Dec
A zoom-in shot of Jupiter and Saturn hanging low on horizone with buildings, Karachi 18th Dec
A close-up of Jupiter and Saturn – 18th Dec 2020
Videos and photos coverage from the Great Conjunction 2020
Storyful @ Yahoo News! Jupiter and Saturn Align in Pakistan’s Sky During the ‘Great Conjunction’
https://www.yahoo.com/news/jupiter-saturn-align-pakistans-sky-180716259.html
City stargazers also witness Jupiter-Saturn conjunction with excitement
https://www.dawn.com/news/1597092/city-stargazers-also-witness-jupiter-saturn-conjunction-with-excitement
Shots from The Great Conjunction 2020
https://www.facebook.com/Abubakershekhani.artist/posts/1854001574757220
More news will come here! 🙂
