GUJCOST to arrange observation of Great Conjunction today evening

Gandhinagar: December 21, which is supposed to be the longest night of the year and scientifically known as beginning of the Winter Solstice, is adding another spectacular event of bringing Jupiter, Saturn and Earth on a line to make it as Great Conjunction 2020.

Jupiter and Saturn, which are actually separated by more than 400 million miles, are expected to appear closer to each other in the night sky than they have for centuries. Seen at the right hour, whether by telescope or the naked eye, the gas giants will be separated by roughly a fifth of the diameter of the typical full moon. At this proximity, the planets will appear to touch or even form one large, brilliant star in the sky.

The spectacle is a curious effect of their orbits.

Since Jupiter takes a little less than 12 years to circle the sun and Saturn takes more than 29, the planets appear to earthlings to meet roughly every 20 years, in what astronomers call a “great conjunction.”

In order to bring the awareness about this celestial conjunction and to understand its scientific significance, Gujarat Council on Science & Technology (GUJCOST) has organised a special outreach programme through its Community Science Centre (CSC) network in all districts of the state.

GUJCOST has prepared the basic information about the planet Jupiter and Saturn and their rare conjunction and disseminated through illustrative posters and audio-visual presentations by social media updates.

In the context of COVID 19 social distancing and protocol, GUJCOST has arranged observation of Great Conjunction on Monday evening at Gandhinagar and all CSCs in different districts.

Best of all, the spectacle, which will be visible from all over the world, can be enjoyed without any special equipment—just look southwest, as soon as the sky gets dark. Those with access to a telescope are in for an additional rare treat.

Jupiter, with its four bright moons, and Saturn, with its distinctive rings, will be visible all at once.

The planets are always in motion, but a conjunction puts that movement in the spotlight. The great conjunction of 2020 will be a chance to see the solar system as an ever-changing stage on which the planets strut their stuff.

Although the planets do exert a small gravitational tug on one another, their effect on our own planet is negligible, so we can relax and enjoy the show – or try to photograph it.

– Dr. Narottam Sahu