It’s been a dark year, but it hasn’t been without a few bright spots, including from an unexpected source: the night sky (remember Comet Neowise?). And something cool is about to happen again in the far reaches of the universe that will be visible from the Mountain State on December 21: Jupiter and Saturn are going to come together and appear as one blazing bright Christmas star.
Stars are popping up all over the place in West Virginia these days…something to do with the time of year, we think.
John M. Chase/E+ Collection via Getty Images
But the truth is, West Virginia has always been an excellent state for stargazing, no matter what the time of year.
Halfblue/Wikipedia
That will be especially true on December 21, 2020, when the planets Jupiter and Saturn will align in what’s known as a planetary conjunction. The two planets will appear to merge into one bright, blazing star.
Nikolay Pandev/E+ Collection via Getty Images
Jupiter and Saturn are next-door neighbors in the solar system, but this will be the two planets’ closest alignment in 800 years.
NASA/Wikipedia Pictured above is a close-up of Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system…
NASA/Wikipedia …and Saturn, the gas giant with its famous rings.
This particular conjunction is especially poignant. Not only are Jupiter and Saturn the two largest planets in the solar system, but their alignment will brighten the darkest day of the darkest year many of us have known: December 21, 2020…otherwise known as Winter Solstice, the longest night of the year.
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It’s also notable because of its proximity to Christmas: for many, this planetary conjunction is a reminder of another bright star that shone in the sky over 2,000 years ago and beckoned to a group of wise men.
sololos/E+ Collection via Getty Images In fact, this Christmas conjunction has earned the nickname “Star of Bethlehem,” a vivid reminder of the true reason for the season!
There’s no better place to view this amazing event than right here in West Virginia, so we hope you are planning to head out to see the Christmas Star on December 21. Choose a spot with little light pollution and look to the southwestern sky about 45 minutes after sunset.
sarayut Thaneerat/Moment Collection via Getty Images You don’t have to wait to spot these two planets: they’re actually visible right now on the southwestern horizon in the early evening hours, and if you care to, you can watch as they inch closer and closer together each night between now and December 21.
(Just in case you’re thinking we might be a little biased, we’re not the only ones to think that West Virginia might be the best place in the nation to view an astronomical marvel like this one!)
John M. Chase/E+ Collection via Getty Images
Halfblue/Wikipedia
Nikolay Pandev/E+ Collection via Getty Images
NASA/Wikipedia
Pictured above is a close-up of Jupiter, the largest planet in the solar system…
…and Saturn, the gas giant with its famous rings.
Kenneth Keifer/iStock Collection via Getty Images Plus
sololos/E+ Collection via Getty Images
In fact, this Christmas conjunction has earned the nickname “Star of Bethlehem,” a vivid reminder of the true reason for the season!
sarayut Thaneerat/Moment Collection via Getty Images
You don’t have to wait to spot these two planets: they’re actually visible right now on the southwestern horizon in the early evening hours, and if you care to, you can watch as they inch closer and closer together each night between now and December 21.
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