This Week Jupiter Aligns With Saturn. What Happens Next Will Be A Once-In-A-Lifetime Sky Event

[Judi Lynn]

Nov 2, 2020,10:00pm EST
Jamie CarterSenior Contributor



Jupiter and Saturn are getting closer together. GETTY
What is that bright “star?”

If you look to the south anytime after dark this season you'll see a very bright object in the night sky. It's Jupiter. Look 5° to its left (so to the south-east) and you'll see the much dimmer sight of Saturn. These giant planets have been dominating the post-sunset sky for much of 2020, and after reaching their super-bright oppositions (July 14, 2020 for Jupiter and July 20, 2020 for Saturn) they are now past their best.

Both of the Solar System’s giant planets will be gone from the night sky by Christmas, but before they do, they will stage one last dazzling finale in the form of the “Great Conjunction 2020” on Monday, December 21, 2020.

On the the exact date of the winter solstice, Jupiter and Saturn appear closer together in the night sky that and at any point since July 16, 1623.

Back then, the Dutch were busy establishing the New Netherland colony in modern-day New York state and the first English settlement was founded in New Hampshire. It was about 15 years after the telescope was invented, so perhaps someone in Europe got a close-up.

More:
https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiecartereurope/2020/11/02/this-week-jupiter-aligns-with-saturn-what-happens-next-will-be-a-once-in-a-lifetime-sky-event/?sh=5acab2ab4b72

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. My Son The Astronomer tells me that with

any kind of binoculars I could probably see the rings of Saturn.

I also have a rather basic telescope a college physics teacher gifted me with a couple of years ago that I could also set up and probably see those rings. I need to do that.

At least I can do basic naked eye observation and see Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn without any augmentation at all.

I am so glad I live where the night skies are reasonably dark.

[ThoughtCriminal]

6. Doubtful

I think it requires about 30x magnification to make out the rings. Most binoculars are around 8x

[jeffreyi]

7. One can easily see the moons of Jupiter, though...

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

8. Apparently there are binoculars designed from

astronomical viewing, although from what he's said many of them are very heavy.

[DarthDem]

2. Thank you

The Planets Today site linked in the article is magnificent.

[chwaliszewski]

3. Very cool! However...

I thought you were going to say something like "The Orange Warlock of the White House will be vanquished tomorrow."

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

4. It's been nice seeing Mars and Venus for some months now, ...

... on my pre-dawn walks in the neighborhood.

I'll have to look for Jupiter/Saturn tonight while watching some frenetic election reporting on various stations.

[Shermann]

5. Cool I've been watching them all year nt