When's The Last Chance To See The Christmas Star?

On 21 December 2020, Jupiter and Saturn appeared closer to each other than they had in nearly 400 years, in an event astronomers call a great conjunction. The two planets appeared as a Christmas Star in the night sky, marking the first time in nearly 800 years that the event was visible. The great conjunction also coincided with the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the Winter Solstice, bringing the shortest amount of daylight and the longest night. Skywatchers could see the Christmas Star by looking above the southwestern or western horizon after sunset.

The Star of Bethlehem

One popular theory suggests that the Star of Bethlehem was a "great conjunction" of the planets Venus and Jupiter, which occurred on June 17, 2 BC. During this event, the two planets came extremely close to each other, appearing as a single bright object in the night sky. This could match the description in the Gospel of Matthew, where the wise men speak of "his star at its rising". However, it is unlikely that a conjunction of multiple planets would have been referred to simply as a "star".

Another theory proposes that the Star of Bethlehem was a comet, as comets often shine brightly and linger in the sky for extended periods. Chinese astronomers recorded the appearance of a "Broom Star" in 5 BC, which may have been a comet. However, comets were typically seen as omens of evil and bad fortune, so it is doubtful that the wise men would have interpreted a comet as a sign of the birth of their saviour.

While the exact nature of the Star of Bethlehem may never be known with certainty, it continues to capture the imagination and intrigue of people around the world, serving as a symbol of hope and peace during the Christmas season.

Jupiter and Saturn's closest encounter in 400 years

On December 21, 2020, Jupiter and Saturn appeared closer to each other than they had in nearly 400 years. This event, known as a "great conjunction", occurs when two planets line up with Earth in their respective orbits, appearing incredibly close in the sky. While Saturn and Jupiter's orbits bring the planets into alignment once every 20 years or so, the 2020 great conjunction was the first time since 1623 that the two gas giants had passed this close to one another.

The great conjunction of 2020 was also the first time in nearly 800 years that the planets aligned at night, allowing sky watchers to witness the event. The 1623 conjunction was not visible to sky watchers on much of the Earth because of its location in the night sky, so the last time an event like this was visible was in 1226.

During the 2020 great conjunction, Jupiter and Saturn appeared just one-tenth of a degree apart, or about 0.1º, which is less than the diameter of the full moon. The two planets were visible in the southwestern sky about an hour after sunset on December 21 and into the early hours of December 22. They appeared as a single bright star to the naked eye, but through binoculars or a telescope, viewers could see Jupiter's four large moons, as well as the rings of Saturn and the cloud belts of Jupiter.

The great conjunction of 2020 occurred on the same day as the December solstice, which is the longest night of the year and the first day of winter in the northern hemisphere. The event was dubbed the "Christmas star" by some because it fell just a few days before Christmas, and because some astronomers have theorised that the "Star of Bethlehem" could have been a rare conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn.

The Christmas Star can be seen without a telescope

The Christmas Star, also known as the "Great Conjunction", is a rare celestial event that occurs when Jupiter and Saturn align in the night sky, appearing as a single bright star to the naked eye. On December 21, 2020, the two planets came closer to each other than they had in nearly 400 years, and it was the best conjunction since 1226.

Although the two planets will appear as a single bright star, they will still be hundreds of millions of miles apart in space. The "Great Conjunction" gets its name from the fact that Jupiter and Saturn are the two largest planets in our solar system. While this event usually occurs every 20 years or so, the 2020 conjunction was particularly special due to the proximity of the planets.

The Christmas Star has been associated with the Star of Bethlehem mentioned in the Bible, which is said to have guided the three wise men to the infant Jesus. However, the exact year of Jesus' birth is uncertain, and some believe that the Star of Bethlehem may have been a different astronomical phenomenon, such as a comet or a supernova.

The Great Conjunction of 2020

On 21 December 2020, Jupiter and Saturn appeared closer to each other than they had for nearly 400 years. This phenomenon is called a "great conjunction" because Jupiter and Saturn are the two largest planets in the Solar System, and to the naked eye, they appeared as a single bright star.

The two planets appeared only a tenth of a degree apart in the night sky, the closest they had been since 1623, and the best conjunction since 1226. The event was visible in the southwestern sky about an hour after sunset on 21 December and lasted for a few days. Although the two planets appeared to be one point of light, they were still hundreds of millions of miles apart in space.

Leading up to the conjunction, Saturn appeared slightly above and to the left of Jupiter. During the event, Jupiter overtook Saturn, and the two reversed positions in the sky. The planets could be seen from most cities worldwide, even with bright city lights, and even after the conjunction, the two planets remained close together in the sky for a few days.

The Star of Bethlehem may have been a comet

The Star of Bethlehem, or the Christmas Star, is a well-known symbol of the Christmas season. It appears in the Gospel of Matthew, where it guides the three wise men, or Magi, to Bethlehem. However, the exact nature of this "star" remains a mystery, with various astronomical and miraculous explanations proposed over the years.

One theory suggests that the Star of Bethlehem may have been a comet. Comets were often viewed as harbingers of impending doom in ancient times, but this idea has been challenged in recent times. In his book, "The Star of Bethlehem," astronomer Michael Molnar proposed that the "star" could have been the result of a conjunction, or an alignment of celestial bodies, rather than a comet.

Chinese and Korean stargazers recorded what may have been comets in 5 BCE and possibly again in 4 BCE. However, comets were generally seen as omens of evil and bad fortune, which could contradict the positive message of the Christmas Star. Another argument against the comet theory is that comets move across the sky, whereas the Star of Bethlehem is described as hovering over a specific location.

Despite these objections, the comet theory has gained support from some scholars. For example, Colin Nicholl has recently promoted the idea that a hypothetical comet appearing in 6 BCE could have been the Star of Bethlehem.

While the comet theory has its proponents and challenges, it remains one of several possible explanations for the Star of Bethlehem. The mystery surrounding this celestial phenomenon continues to captivate scientists, historians, and theologians alike.

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