Jupiter and Saturn: The Great Conjunction of 2020

The Great Conjunction of 2020 occurred on December 21, the winter solstice.
Jupiter and Saturn appeared just 0.1° apart—their closest visible alignment in nearly 400 years.
To the naked eye, the two planets looked like a “double planet” or one bright star.
The last time they appeared this close was in 1623, shortly after Galileo’s time.
The event was visible worldwide, best just after sunset in the southwest sky.
Many called it the “Christmas Star” because of its timing near the holiday season.
Through a telescope, both Jupiter’s moons and Saturn’s rings could be seen together.
Great Conjunctions happen about every 20 years, but not always this close.
The 2020 event sparked massive global interest in skywatching.
It was a rare reminder of the cosmic harmony between giant planets.