Skywatchers, it's your time to shine! On Monday, December 21, 2020, Jupiter and Saturn—which have been slowly approaching each other in the Southwestern skies for the past few weeks—will appear to meet in a big glowy ball about an hour after sunset. Its timing couldn't be better, of course: tonight is the Winter Solstice, which marks the shortest period of sunlight in the entire calendar year. Christmas is also just a few days away, inspiring some avid astronomers to dub this convergence a "Christmas Star."
The event is actually called a "Great Conjunction," and due to our planetary alignment, the Earth has front row seats to the starlit show. Check out NASA's video above or the resources below to learn more—and enjoy the view!
The Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn