(Image source from: blogs.nasa.gov)

Apart from the conjunction that took place 400 years ago, after this long period- Jupiter and Saturn will be conjuring again. For the first time in 800 years however, the alignment will occur at night.

The conjunction will take place between the two largest planets in the solar system on Monday21 and will be visible from 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm in India. Jupiter and Saturn regularly pass each other, as often as 20 years but what makes this specific conjunction special is that in nearly 400 years the planets will be highly close to each other.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) declared that this is the closest both the planets will align and sky watchers will be able to watch it with a naked eye.

This event is also occurring, purely out of coincidence on the day in winter which is usually highly unlikely.

This conjunction is popularly known as the “Christmas star” , which according to the Bible, was the star that guided the three wise men to baby Jesus.

Apart from this great conjunction, 2020 has also witnessed other several celestial phenomena like the Geminids meteor shower, the total solar eclipse and the Ursoid meteor shower.

By Meena Atmakuri