Dedicated skywatchers are preparing to break out their telescopes and brave cold weather for a conjunction between Saturn and Jupiter that has not been clearly seen in centuries. The conjunction will occur on December 21 2020, causing some observers to dub it the “Christmas Star” due to the Christian tradition that a “star” guided the Three Wise Men to Bethlehem to see the newborn Christ.
The “Christmas star” that was seen at the time that Christ is believed to have been born could have been a similar conjunction between Venus and Jupiter.
The last time that Saturn and Jupiter were this close was in 1623, but stargazing conditions were not suitable for viewing the conjunction at the time. Viewing conditions were more favourable 794 years ago, in 1226, when the last close conjunction between Jupiter and Saturn was clearly seen.
Although conjunctions between Saturn and Jupiter actually occur about every 20 years, it is exceedingly rare for them to be this close. In this one, Jupiter and Saturn will be within 0.1 degree of one another, which is less than 1/5 the apparent diameter of the full Moon.
Here you can see some images of Jupiter and Saturn conjunction.
Optics: Canon EF 85mm f/4.5 USM lens
Mount: Digipod A 2541P Tripod, Manfrotto 496 RC2 Ball Head
Camera: Canon EOS 450d
Date: Dec 25, 2020
Location: Penteli mountain (1109 m) - Greece
Exposure: 1 sec, ISO 800
Optics: Canon EF 24mm f/3.5 USM lens
Mount: Digipod A 2541P Tripod, Manfrotto 496 RC2 Ball Head
Camera: Canon EOS 450d
Date: Dec 25, 2020
Location: Penteli mountain (1109 m) - Greece
Exposure: 2.5 sec, ISO 100
Optics: Canon EF 24mm f/3.5 USM lens
Mount: Digipod A 2541P Tripod, Manfrotto 496 RC2 Ball Head
Camera: Canon EOS 450d
Date: Dec 25, 2020
Location: Penteli mountain (1109 m) - Greece
Exposure: 2.5 sec, ISO 100
Optics: Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L USM lens
Mount: Digipod A 2541P Tripod, Manfrotto 496 RC2 Ball Head
Camera: Canon EOS 450d
Date: Dec 22, 2020
Location: Kifisia - Greece
Exposure: 1 sec, ISO 200
Optics: Canon EF 85mm f/4.5 USM lens
Mount: Digipod A 2541P Tripod, Manfrotto 496 RC2 Ball Head
Camera: Canon EOS 450d
Date: Dec 22, 2020
Location: Kifisia - Greece
Exposure: 1 sec, ISO 200
Optics: Canon EF 24mm f/3.5 USM lens
Mount: Digipod A 2541P Tripod, Manfrotto 496 RC2 Ball Head
Camera: Canon EOS 450d
Date: Dec 22, 2020
Location: Kifisia - Greece
Exposure: 1 sec, ISO 100
Optics: Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L USM lens
Mount: Digipod A 2541P Tripod, Manfrotto 496 RC2 Ball Head
Camera: Canon EOS 450d
Date: Dec 19, 2020
Location: Korinthos - Greece
Exposure: 1 sec, ISO 400
Optics: Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L USM lens
Mount: Digipod A 2541P Tripod, Manfrotto 496 RC2 Ball Head
Camera: Canon EOS 450d
Date: Dec 18, 2020
Location: Kifisia - Greece
Exposure: 1 sec, ISO 400
Optics: Canon EF 200mm f/2.8 L USM lens
Mount: Vixen Sphinx
Camera: Canon EOS 450d
Date: Dec 16, 2020
Location: Kifisia - Greece
Exposure: 13 sec, ISO 100
Optics: Canon EF 85mm f/4.5 USM lens
Mount: Digipod A 2541P Tripod, Manfrotto 496 RC2 Ball Head
Camera: Canon EOS 450d
Date: Dec 16, 2020
Location: Kifisia - Greece
Exposure: 1 sec, ISO 200
Optics: Canon EF 24mm f/3.5 USM lens
Mount: Digipod A 2541P Tripod, Manfrotto 496 RC2 Ball Head
Camera: Canon EOS 450d
Date: Dec 16, 2020
Location: Kifisia - Greece
Exposure: 1 sec, ISO 100
Optics: Canon EF 24mm f/3.5 USM lens
Mount: Digipod A 2541P Tripod, Manfrotto 496 RC2 Ball Head
Camera: Canon EOS 450d
Date: Dec 7, 2020
Location: Kifisia - Greece
Exposure: 1 sec, ISO 200
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