December 21st 2020

Today the world seen a planetary phenomenon that hasn’t occurred in 800 years. It has been called the Christmas Star phenomenon.

On Dec. 21, the date of the December solstice, Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, and ringed Saturn, the second-largest, will line up perfectly to look like a double planet in the night sky.

The two planets will be so close that they will appear to be touching, separated by one-fifth the diameter of a full moon. Though the two planets looked close together, they actually were more than four times the distance between Earth and the sun

   

When celestial bodies align, it’s called a conjunction, but since this one involves our solar system’s two biggest gas giants, it’s known as the “great conjunction.” But not all conjunctions are created equal. The last time there was a Great Conjunction at night, similar to the one we seen was nearly 800 years ago.

It will be the closest they’ve appeared since March 4, 1226. The two planets have been brilliant highlights of the night sky for much of this year according to NASA. 

The rare sight was a single point of bright light — in the western sky just after sunset. This super-close Jupiter-Saturn alignment isn’t expected again until March 15, 2080. 

And so did Mom and I!

After driving to a darker side road

We spent about 10 minutes

Not seeing it because of the clouds.

Suddenly

There it was.

Amazing. We were fascinated.

We were out for about 45 minutes

Checking out this amazing thing.

Spent the morning crafting

With my great nephews

And the afternoon resting

From a back ache.

The evening was spent 

with a heating pad

Watching photos and videos

Of 3 teenagers and their early

Christmas gifts!

Now after john manouvered

The muscles in my back

I am in bed hoping

The morning will find me

In better shape.

Good night from John Street