Wikipedia A great conjunction is a conjunction of the planets Jupiter and Saturn, when the two planets appear closest together in the sky. Conjunctions occur every 19.6 years, on average, when Jupiter 'overtakes' Saturn in the sky due to the combined effect of Jupiter's approximately 11.9-year orbital period and Saturn's 29.5-year orbital period.
The great conjunction of 2020 will be the closest since 1623. It will occur seven weeks after the heliocentric conjunction, when Jupiter and Saturn shared the same heliocentric longitude. On 21 December at 13:30 UT, Jupiter will be 0.1° south of Saturn and 30° east of the Sun, meaning both planets will be visible in the same telescopic field of view (though they will be distinguishable from each other without optical aid). The two planets will be visible low above the southwestern horizon in the constellation of Capricornus after sunset. From mid-northern latitudes, the planets will be less than 15° in altitude, one hour after sunset.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_conjunction
Images are from HD video taken with a Canon EOS 200D attached to an Orion SKyMax 102 Telescope
Main image: no digital zoom. Inset images: lowest level of digital zoom.
Video was processed using AutoStakkert https://www.autostakkert.com/
Image generated using Cartes du Ceil https://www.ap-i.net/skychart//en/start
How to see the Great Conjunction The closest approach occurs on the evening of the 21st December just after sunset. Jupiter and Saturn are bright but low near the south west horizon. Start looking for Jupiter on every clear night as we don't know want the weather will be like to the 21st. Here are images of the two planets that I captured on 4th December.
Images are from HD video taken with a Canon EOS 200D attached to an Orion SKyMax 102 Telescope
Video was processed using AutoStakkert https://www.autostakkert.com/
Using your eyes Planets are among the easiest object that you can see in the night sky. They are bright so they cut through the worst light pollution. They are close, so their movement around the sun makes them move relative to the background stars. The easiest planets to see are Venus, Mars, Jupiter and Saturn. Mercury can also be seen if you know where and when to look.
On the 16tha thin crescent Moon will be near the two planets in the sky.
BBC Sky at Night Magazine On 21 December 2020 the closest giant planetary 'kiss' since 1623 will see gas giant planets Jupiter and Saturn just 0.06º apart. Here's everything you need to know.
If you think 2020 has already been the year of Jupiter and Saturn, get ready for their spectacular finale. Our Solar System’s two gas giant planets have been edging closer in recent months, and on Monday 21 December 2020 Jupiter and Saturn will be less than a degree apart in the night sky.
The Great Conjunction of 2020 will be visible from across the world. Here’s everything you need to know about how to see this extra-special celestial event.
For more advice about picking out detail on the gas giants with a telescope, read our guide on how to observe Jupiter and Saturn.
And the Great Conjunction isn’t the only one happening in December. Read our guide to the best conjunctions to see in the night sky.
https://www.skyatnightmagazine.com/advice/skills/great-conjunction-jupiter-saturn/
Image generated using Cartes du Ceil https://www.ap-i.net/skychart//en/start
