Some stargazers are calling tonight’s feat “the Star of Bethlehem,” as Jupiter and Saturn, the two gas giant planets, are expected to do something not seen since the Middle Ages – look like a double planet.
This “exceptionally rare occurrence” will be viewable right after sunset tonight.
“Alignments between these two planets are rather rare, occurring once every 20 years or so, but this conjunction is exceptionally rare because of how close the planets will appear to one another,” Rice University astronomer Patrick Hartigan stated.
“You’d have to go all the way back to just before dawn on March 4, 1226, to see a closer alignment between these objects visible in the night sky.”
Hartigan said the two planets will look like a double planet, “separated by only fifth the diameter of the full moon,” tonight. He said those farther north have, “less time to catch a glimpse.”
This double planet event, also called “the Star of Bethlehem, is not expected to happen again until March 15, 2080.
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