Rare and spectacular triple conjunction to adorn the sky this weekend

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In case you missed last month’s big conjunction, when the two largest planets in our solar system, Jupiter and Saturn, seemed to reach 1/10 of a degree from each other, there’s another spectacular view to capture this weekend: triple conjunction.

Although Jupiter and Saturn have now moved away by about 1 degree from each other, they still remain quite close to the perspective of the human eye.

And now, Mercury is moving into the event. This weekend it will reach the same 2 degrees of sky with the other two planets, Forbes reports.

On Saturday and Sunday, the three planets (Jupiter at its brightest point and Saturn at its weakest point) will form a small triangle in the sky just after sunset (from where it is in North America).

Be sure to have a seat facing the west-southwest horizon, because it will be a spectacle you won’t want to miss, and rare.

Jupiter (L) and Saturn appear about one-tenth of a degree during an astronomical event known as the Great Conjunction on December 21, 2020. The planets, which remain about 450 million kilometers away in space, have not appeared so together from a terrestrial point of view since 1623, and it has been almost 800 years since the alignment occurred at night. The conjunction, which occurred on the night of the winter solstice, happened to be popularly known as
Jupiter (L) and Saturn appear about one-tenth of a degree during an astronomical event known as the Great Conjunction on December 21, 2020. The planets, which remain about 450 million kilometers away in space, have not appeared so together from a terrestrial point of view since 1623, and it has been almost 800 years since the alignment occurred at night. The conjunction, which occurred on the night of the winter solstice, happened to be popularly known as the “Christmas star”. The gas giants will not reappear so close together until 2080. (Getty Images 2020)

While not as spectacular as the other nights, the triple conjuncture will also be visible on Friday and Monday.

In preparation for the event, you should plan to be in a position that allows you to look down; think of a third floor of a building or higher, where you are sure to see the horizon. And there should be nothing to hinder your vision. Binoculars are also useful.

Keep in mind the views, because they won’t even last two hours after sunset, according to Forbes.

And because of where the planets exist in relation to Earth and the sun, Jupiter and Saturn will slowly move toward the sun and begin to fall behind their glare on January 23rd.

But because our solar system is such an amazing thing, on February 13 the planets will emerge from behind the sun to form another triple conjunction, but at that time, just before sunrise. Pretty cool, right?

Will you be pulling binoculars this weekend?

Good visualization!

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