A rare celestial event is set to occur the night of the winter solstice on December 21, 2020. It is one that astronomers and stargazers alike are anticipating with great excitement. After nearly eight centuries, the brilliant Christmas Star will illuminate the night sky once again and you will be able to gaze upon it in Illinois.
The appearance of the Christmas Star in the night sky is what had inspired the Three Magi (Wise Men) to travel to Bethlehem during Biblical times. It is often referred to as the Star of Bethlehem and gave the men something to believe in as they traveled across the desert in the Gospel of Matthew.
Rawpixel/ iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images This is the star that has inspired stars to be placed upon Christmas trees and sung about in countless Christmas songs.
The Christmas Star is not actually a star at all but two planets aligned so close together that they appear as a large, bright star in the sky. Jupiter and Saturn are the two planets that will be closest in orbit to each other for the first time in 800 years, just four days before Christmas.
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Saturn is the sixth planet from the sun with an orbit of 29 years. It is 994.02 million miles away from Earth but, as a bright planet, can be seen throughout the year.
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The largest planet, Jupiter, has an orbit of 12 years around the sun and is 541.8 million miles from Earth. Jupiter is the brightest planet in our solar system and can also be spotted from Earth during much of the year. But seeing the Great Conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn from Earth is most unusual.
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For many of us, the appearance of the Christmas Star will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Its next appearance will be in the year 2080.
Kayla Goss/ iStock / Getty Images Plus via Getty Images Let’s just hope a year like 2020 won’t be repeated in our lifetime!
Out of darkness comes light and the dark year of 2020 will be ending on a much brighter note with the appearance of the Christmas Star, giving hope to those who gaze upon it.
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Where in Illinois will you be gazing up to the heavens to witness the Christmas Star on December 21, 2020?
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This is the star that has inspired stars to be placed upon Christmas trees and sung about in countless Christmas songs.
Roman Becker / EyeEm via Getty Images
Christophe LEHENAFF/ Photononstop via Getty Images
Steve Weaver, Canterbury, UK/ Moment via Getty Images
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Let’s just hope a year like 2020 won’t be repeated in our lifetime!
by Chakarin Wattanamongkol/Moment via Getty Images
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