Winter Solstice 2020: Google Doodle celebrates a Great Conjunction with animated graphics

Google Doodle has celebrated Winter Solstice 2020 and the Great Conjunction with animated graphics on December 21.

According to Google, The Great Conjunction is a rare astronomic event that will occur tonight. Saturn and Jupiter, the two largest planets in our solar system, will nearly overlap to form a “double planet,” an event that hasn’t been visible since the Middle Ages-almost 800 years ago.

On its page, Google Doodle described the process as it said, “Find a spot with an unobstructed view of the sky, such as a field or park. An hour after sunset, Jupiter will look like a bright star and be easily visible in the southwestern sky. Saturn will be slightly fainter and will appear slightly above and to the left of Jupiter until December 21, when Jupiter will overtake it and they will reverse positions in the sky. Feel free to use binoculars, but the planets can still be seen with the unaided eye.”

NASA states that “the two planets will appear just a tenth of a degree apart”. This celestial event will not happen again in the next 60 years, that is, until 2080.

“Skywatchers, you’re in for a once-in-a-lifetime treat! Jupiter & Saturn are doing a planetary dance that will result in the Great Conjunction on Dec 21, just after sunset,” NASA has tweeted.

https://twitter.com/NASA/status/1340750321879015425

Astronomers say that conjunctions between the two largest planets in our solar system aren’t particularly rare. Jupiter passes its neighbor Saturn in their respective laps around the sun every 20 years.

The Director of MP Birla Planetarium, Debi Prasad Duari said, on the night of December 21, the physical distance between the two planets Saturn and Jupiter will be around 735 million km.

In India, the great conjunction can be watched between 06:30 pm to 07:30 pm.