Jupiter and Saturn's Great Conjunction

Jupiter and Saturn are closing in on their Great Conjunction, which will happen on the day of the Winter solstice, December 21, 2020

Astronomers use the word 'conjunction' to describe meetings of planets and other objects in our skys. They use the term 'great conjunction' to describe meetings of the two biggest worlds in our solar system, mighty Jupiter and glorious ringed Saturn. The coming great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn will be on the day of the solstice: December 21, 2020. Jupiter-Saturn conjunctions happen every 20 years; the last one was in the year 2000.

But these conjunctions aren’t all created equal. The 2020 great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn will be the closest since 1623 and the closest observable since 1226! On December 21, Jupiter and Saturn will be only 0.1 degree apart.

Jupiter is brighter than any star.
Saturn isn’t as bright as Jupiter, but it’s as bright as the brightest stars and shines with a distinctly golden color.

Saturn takes nearly 30 years to go around the sun, while Jupiter takes nearly 12 years. Thus, every 20 years, Jupiter catches up to Saturn as viewed from Earth, and we get to see the 'Great Conjunction'.

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Deborah Byrd and Bruce McClure in Astronomy Essentials
Posted: December 10, 2020

https://earthsky.org/upl/2020/12/jup...687969122.jpeg
The picture shown above was captured by Cecille Kennedy at Rocky Creek State Park in Oregon on December 9, 2020
Jupiter and Saturn appear low in the evening sky.