Thread by @jeff_hunt, 2020, December 1-7: #Jupiter Closes Gap on #Saturn #greatconjunction #122120https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2020/11/24/2020-december-1-7-jupiter-closes-gap-on-saturn/ Jupiter closes [...]

2020, December 1-7: #Jupiter Closes Gap on #Saturn #greatconjunction #122120 https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2020/11/24/2020-december-1-7-jupiter-closes-gap-on-saturn/

2020, December 1-7: Jupiter Closes Gap on Saturn

Great Conjunction December 21, 2020. Sky charts for week of December 1-7, 2020.

https://whenthecurveslineup.com/2020/11/24/2020-december-1-7-jupiter-closes-gap-on-saturn/

Jupiter closes in on Saturn as a prelude to the December 21, 2020 Great Conjunction. During the week look for them in the southwest after sunset. Jupiter is the brightest star in the region. Saturn is to the Jovian Giant’s upper left. Jupiter sets around 7:30 p.m.

CST, about 3 hours after sunset for other locations.

by Jeffrey L. Hunt

As the Great Conjunction of 2020 approaches, Jupiter and Saturn are visible in the southwest after sunset during early December.

Jupiter reduces the separation between the planets in the sky by about 0.5°, about the apparent diameter of the full moon.

For more about the Great Conjunction ( https://wp.me/pJpvr-28B ), read our feature article. This is the closest Jupiter – Saturn conjunction since 1623 ( https://wp.me/pJpvr-2cG ).

The planets are slowly moving eastward in Sagittarius, in front of several dim stars.

1623: The Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn

Great conjunction 1623 Jupiter Saturn close conjunction July 16, 1623

https://wp.me/pJpvr-28B

Jupiter is slowly over taking Saturn.

Jupiter sets around 7:30 p.m. CST, about 3 hours after sunset. Check your local sunset time and look for the pair of planets beginning about 45 minutes after sundown until they are very low in the west, about 2 hours after sunset.

Here are the charts for the week:

December 1, 2020