How Long Does the Great Conjunction Last? Jupiter and Saturn Aren't Finished Yet

On Monday, Dec. 21, 2020 curious people all over planet Earth stepped outside to check out the first visible great conjunction in 800 years. But if you woke up on Dec. 22 after staying inside last night, you may now be experiencing a serious case of FOMO after missing the miraculous astronomical event between Jupiter and Saturn. You’re probably wondering: How long does the great conjunction last? Is it too late to witness it?

The great conjunction describes a rare celestial event in which Jupiter and Saturn closely pass each other by in the sky. Well, technically, the two planets are hundreds of millions of miles apart in outer space, according to NASA — but to us on Earth, the two planets appear as if they were just inches apart.

Jupiter and Saturn intersect every 20 years, but unfortunately for us humans, it usually happens during the day. However, this year is different, as the planets are passing by closer than usual and at night, making them much more visible for the first time in 800 years. 

From nearly any point on Earth, and on multiple evenings in December 2020, viewers can witness the great conjunction, which appears similar to a bright, glowing star, earning it the nicknames “Christmas Star” and “the Star of Bethlehem.”

The December 2020 great conjunction is the first between Saturn and Jupiter in about 800 years — and fortunately, stargazers will have more than one chance to see it.

While Dec. 21 was the No. 1 night to check it out, as that was the moment Jupiter actually passed by Saturn, the event actually occurs every evening for a few weeks. According to NASA, the phenomenon was first visible from Earth on Dec. 13, 2020, and will last for about two weeks from Dec. 15, until Dec. 29. So if you’re reading this before Dec. 29, 2020, you still have a few chances to check it out for yourself — though with each passing night, the celestial event will be slightly less impressive than it was on Dec. 21.

No matter your time zone, the best time to see the great conjunction is about an hour after the sun sets, before Jupiter and Saturn set. NASA recommends going to an open area without any buildings blocking your view, and looking to the southwestern sky.

Look for Jupiter first, as the planet is brighter and larger than Saturn. Prior to Dec. 21, Saturn appeared just above and to the left of Jupiter; but now that Jupiter passed Saturn by, the two planets have swapped positions, and you’ll instead see Saturn below and to the right of Jupiter. 

With the help of binoculars or a telescope, you might even be able to see Saturn’s rings and Jupiter’s moons at the same time, American Museum of Natural History astronomer Jackie Faherty told Scientific American.

If you can’t get out one night this week, there’s good news — you won’t have to wait another 800 years to see a great conjunction again. Just 60 years. Patrick Hartigan, an astronomer from Rice University, told Scientific American that the next similar event will occur on March 15, 2080.