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Here’s how to see the rare Christmas star tonight

For the first time in nearly 800 years, the Star of Bethlehem – also known as the Christmas Star – will shine. Well, it’s not technically a star. It’s Jupiter and Saturn’s great conjunction on 21 December, giving the appearance of a bright star. Today is also the start of the winter solstice.

This means the moons orbiting both planets will be visible in the same field of view as well. Saturn will appear as close to Jupiter as some of Jupiter’s moons. Virginia Tech astronomer Nahum Arav adds:

“This rare event is special because of how bright the planets will be and how close they get to each other in the sky”.

Christmas Star: What you need to know

Jupiter and Saturn’s great conjunction

Patrick Hartigan, an astronomer at Rice University, told Forbes that alignments between Jupiter and Saturn are rare. Their orbital resonance only leads to alignment every 19.6 years, to be exact.

However, Hartigan explains that the conjunction between the two planets on 21 December 2020 “exceptionally rare because of how close the planets will appear to be to one another.”

“You’d have to go all the way back to just before dawn on 4 March 122, to see a closer alignment between these objects visible in the night sky.”

christmas star of bethlehem great conjunction winter solstice
Photo credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

The rare celestial event will be visible from anywhere on Earth, as long as the weather permits and the skies are clear. The best time to view the conjunction would be for about an hour after sunset.

How to see the Christmas Star

It’s really easy. You’ll need to look West just after sunset. Starting October 2020, the two planets began “moving towards” each other and will line up perfectly for a spectacular display just before Christmas.

You won’t need any special equipment, either. According to the SAAO, both planets are already visible to the naked eye. That said, using a pair of binoculars or a telescope wouldn’t hurt either.

Watch: Great conjunction on 21 December

If you’re still struggling, just allow the moon to guide you. If you look West on 21 December, approximately an hour after sunset, the two planets will be close to the moon, as indicated in the image below.

The gaseous Jupiter will be shining the brightest. Lined up, both planets would appear as one large, bright star, even if you’re in an area with light pollution. However, the darker the night, the brighter the “star”.

How to photograph the Star of Bethlehem

The Christmas Star can easily be photographed using DSLR camera and most flagship cellphones. If you would like to photograph this rare celestial event, NASA suggests the following:

  • These planets are visible in the early evening, and you’ll have about 1-2 hours from when they are visible, to when they set. A photo from the same location can look completely different just an hour later.
  • Using a tripod will help you hold your camera steady while taking longer exposures. If you don’t have a tripod, brace your camera against something – a tree, a fence, or a car can all serve as a tripod for a several-second exposure.
  • The crescent Moon will pass near Jupiter and Saturn a few days before the conjunction. Take advantage of it in your composition.

Winter solstice

Today also marks the first day of the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere and the first day of summer in the Southern Hemisphere. It’s the shortest night and the longest day of the year for those in the southern hemisphere; and vice versa for those in the North.

The astronomical event is caused by Earth’s tilt on its axis and its motion in orbit around the sun. It is the moment when the sun reaches its southernmost point in the sky. According to EarthSky:

“Because Earth doesn’t orbit upright, but is instead tilted on its axis by 23.5 degrees, Earth’s Northern and Southern Hemispheres trade places in receiving the sun’s light and warmth most directly. The tilt of the Earth – not our distance from the sun – is what causes winter and summer.”

Also read: Discovered: Rare, hot Neptune planet that should not exist

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