‘Christmas Star’ to put on celestial show

This will cause the two planets to appear close together in the night sky.

The significant astrological event coincides with the summer solstice.

“What is going to happen this evening the 21st of December is called the great conjunction. It is called the great conjunction because Jupiter and Saturn, the two biggest planets in our solar system, will be close to Earth and each other,” says Dr Daniel Cunnama, science engagement astronomer at the SA Astronomical Observatory.

“It is a very rare event and the last time it happened was about 800 years ago.”

He says the planets should be visible to the naked eye.

Listen to  Dr Daniel Cunnama below:

“After sunset, look to the western horizon and you'll be able to spot Jupiter and Saturn. The two brightest objects in the sky in the same field of view.

“Jupiter is the bright object and Saturn is even closer,- and it will be in the sky for an hour and a half after the sun set.”

Cunnama says it is called a 'Christmas Star' because of their beliefs.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Nasa) says the event is not unusual.

“Conjunctions like this could happen on any day of the year, depending on where the planets are in their orbits. The date of the conjunction is determined by the positions of Jupiter, Saturn, and the Earth in their paths around the Sun, while the date of the solstice is determined by the tilt of Earth’s axis.

“The solstice is the longest night of the year, so this rare coincidence will give people a great chance to go outside and see the solar system.”

The next one will be visible in 2060.

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