Outer Space – They were much longer than us, we will be gone long before they disappear, but Saturn and Jupiter will join this year’s big merger only for the sake of a cosmic moment.
Two Utah astronomers offer their insights and advice to fellow stellar viewers in anticipation of the grand merger of 2020 buildings that will coincide with a point of light Saturday, Thursday, December 21st.
“I’m not presenting the brilliance and elegance of this event,” NASA Solar Ambassador Patrick Wiggins said of the significance of the event. “I push the rarity.”
It is no exaggeration to say that if you try to see the strong brightest point of light that will be Saturn and Jupiter next Monday, you will see a scene that none of your fellow travelers on Earth have ever seen before. NASA says the two gas giants have appeared close, not since the days of Galileo, who first discovered Jupiter’s satellites under a telescope.
BYU astronomy professor Denise Stephens has encouraged her astronomy students to search for both planets after heading home for Christmas. They can be seen coming together wherever they are in the world, Stephens said.
However, if we return to Utah, we may face personal challenges. First, you need to be quick.
“It’s a bet,” Wiggins said of the need to look for a merger early on.
Both astronomers recommend observing the sky an hour after sunset, which may block view of the mountains to the west when both planets are adequate on the horizon. To find out if this is a problem for you, Wiggins suggested going out right now and monitoring Thursdays and Saturdays every night. If you can not see them today due to an interruption, you will not see them on the 21st.
In addition, if you start noticing the two planets now, you will notice that they are getting closer each night. “The solar system is in motion,” Wiggins said.
Utah’s erratic weather show may stop. Starlight cannot shine through the cloud cover, however, Jupiter is bright enough to break north Utah in reverse, Wiggins said.
The first bright “star-like” Jupiter to appear above the southwest horizon is Jupiter, and a slightly faint Saturn follows it above and to the left, Wiggins explained. Unlike most parts of the world now, on December 21, the two planets will not be socially apart. From the earth, it would appear that the two would be separated by the thickness of a silver coin held at arm’s length. However, both Wiggins and Stephens warn us not to expect any change in brightness again.
While many call this a Christmas star, it does not mean that the two planets will give extra light. Many believe that the star of Bethlehem may have been a planetary connection. If Stephens were like this, it would have emerged as a sign to Maggie, not necessarily in sight. A Saturn-Jupiter merger that took place in 7-8 BC may have signified the birth of a merciful and just king to the expectant sages – Jupiter signifying mercy, and Saturn signifying justice. The later Jupiter-Venus link may have had a similar meaning, Stephens explained.
When asked about the importance of this year’s great connection, Stephens said, “I’m going to choose to see this as a sign of the great things to come.”
How to shine this most famous astronomical phenomenon, however, with proper optics.
“Looking through a telescope, it has a very narrow field of view and it is a rare phenomenon to be able to see two planets at the same time,” Wiggins said.
The Diehard astronomer said he would begin his observation before sunset, although he did not recommend it to green astronomers. But anyone with the most basic of telescopes can see both Saturn and Jupiter simultaneously in the telescope of their telescope. He testified that of the three objects in the sky, Jupiter and Saturn were the most attractive to the people. He himself recalled seeing Saturn for the first time as a child “incredible”.
Wiggins said the next Great Conjunction is in 80 years. That is, unlike Holly’s Two Timers Club, unlike previous generations who saw Holly’s comet in 1910, the children have a better shot at turning into eye – witnesses again in 1983. His advice to young people: Draw a picture of what you see. When the next Great Conjunction rolls in, there will be a good story to tell you – with evidence.
If you do not have a telescope, a pair of telescopes would be almost fine. With 20x magnification, you can create four satellites of Jupiter and the swelling of Saturn’s rings, Wiggins said.
But all you can collect is simple, watch out for the naked eye, and that’s okay. “Look at it with your own eyes!” Wiggins encouraged.
Stephens gave the same excitement.
“This is the best way to end 2020,” he said.