The world to witness the 'great coupling' Monday evening

Variety 11:13 AM - 2020-12-21

.

The director of the International Astronomy Center in Abu Dhabi, Engineer Mohamed Shawkat Odeh, said that the world will witness this evening, Monday, a rare astronomical phenomenon that has not happened for 400 years. 

 

Odeh added that Jupiter needs 12 years to orbit one revolution around the sun, while Saturn needs 30 years, and this means that for us both planets approach each other once every 20 years, and the distance between them is usually between one degree to two degrees. What distinguishes this conjunction this year is that the distance between them will be only six arc minutes, which is equal to one-tenth of one degree, which is slightly less than a quarter of the moon’s diameter, outwardly, which is a very small distance.

 

In details, the director of the International Astronomy Center said in a press statement: “The last time the conjunction occurred at such a distance was about 400 years ago, on July 16, 1623 AD, but the paradox is that this conjunction was only seen from areas close to the equator, because Jupiter and Saturn were close to the sun, and therefore it can be said that the last similar conjunction that could be seen from most regions of the Earth was 800 years ago, on March 05, 1226 AD, and the distance between them was only two arc minutes! The next identical conjunction will be in 2080 AD, and the next will be in 2417 AD."

 

Odeh continued: “Contrary to what some sites mention, and although the distance between the two planets will be very close, they will not be united and appear as a single crime, as the distance between them is less than that this phenomenon occurs.” It is noteworthy that the real distance between the two planets is millions of kilometers, and this phenomenon is just an apparent convergence as seen from Earth.

 

It should be noted that the planets of Jupiter and Saturn are very bright bodies that can be seen easily with the naked eye even from within the light-polluted cities. Jupiter is the brightest body in the sky after the sun, the moon and Venus, and also Saturn is one of the brightest celestial bodies. To see this event, look to the west as soon as darkness falls, and you will notice a very bright white body above the western horizon, this is Jupiter, and above it is another bright golden-colored body, this is the planet Saturn, and if you look at the sky before December 21, you will notice both bodies as well, except that they are They will be farther from each other, and the distance between them will decrease with the passage of days until they reach the lowest possible on the night of Monday December 21, and they can be seen in the following days as well, but the distance between them will increase, and Jupiter will surpass Saturn. The press release added, addressing the audience. In order not to miss this phenomenon, be sure to observe from the place of its western horizon exposed, as the two planets are relatively close to the horizon, and buildings or heights may obscure it, as well as not be too late after dark, as they will be absent about two and a half hours after sunset The sun, and be sure to monitor from a place not dusty or cloudy, as these may obscure or weaken vision.

 

 

 

PUKmedia / Saudi24 News