On the evening of December 21, 2020, Jupiter and Saturn will appear closer together from Earth than at any time since the Middle Ages—a spectacular sight perfect for telescopes.
Our universe is in constant motion, delivering stunning planetary alignments. This December, the solar system's gas giants, Jupiter and Saturn, will converge in a rare conjunction unseen so closely since the 13th century.
“Alignments between these two planets happen about every 20 years, but this one's proximity is exceptional,” says Patrick Hartigan, astronomer at Rice University. “The last closer alignment visible in the night sky was on March 4, 1226.”
Jupiter and Saturn have been drawing nearer in the evening sky for months. From December 16 to 25, 2020, they'll be separated by less than a full Moon's diameter.
“On December 21, they'll look like a double planet, just 1/5 a full Moon's diameter apart,” Hartigan adds. “Both planets and several large moons will fit in one field of view for most observers.”
Visible worldwide (weather permitting), in France they'll hover low in the southwest for about an hour after sunset through Christmas. The next close pass is March 15, 2080—then not until 2400.
Meanwhile, the Geminid meteor shower peaks December 13-14, active December 7-17, with 60-75 meteors per hour—up to 150 as in 2017.
