A Christmas Star Will Light Up The Hawaii Sky For The First Time In Centuries

It’s officially Christmastime and here at Only In Hawaii, we couldn’t be more excited. When you think of a traditional holiday season, the Hawaiian Islands are probably the last place to cross your mind, and while Hawaii does Christmas differently than most American states, there is one thing we all have in common this year, and that’s the breathtaking Christmas Star that is set to light up the sky on December 21. Mark your calendar, because this celestial is sure to brighten your holiday season and give you hope that 2021 couldn’t possibly be as crazy as 2020.

During the upcoming solstice, Saturn and Jupiter will line up to create what is commonly referred to as the “Christmas Star” or the “Star of Bethlehem.” The planets will pass so close to each other that they will actually appear as a single, giant star.

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The last time these two planets appeared this close together from Earth’s vantage point was during the middle ages.

Thomas Hawk/Flickr

Stargazers in the northern hemisphere will want to turn their heads and telescopes to the southwestern portion of the sky approximately 45 minutes after sunset to witness the planets align on December 21.

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Rumor has it that the Star of Bethlehem is the inspiration for the millions of stars placed atop Christmas trees around the world each year, though your tree topper has nothing on this natural phenomenon.

Daniel Ramirez/Flickr

Not seen in nearly 800 years, the next time we can expect to witness this occurrence is in the 2080s. This is truly a once-in-a-lifetime event.

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No matter where you are in the Aloha State, you’ll enjoy a front-row seat for this magical holiday event, and don’t worry if it’s cloudy — appearances from the phenomenal event could actually be seen throughout the week.

Max Delaquis/Flickr

So, tell us, will you be headed outside on December 21 to witness this once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon? Where is your favorite place in Hawaii to do a little stargazing?