The Great Conjunction of Planets & A Christmas Star for 2020 - Keep Safe Everyone...

It should be that special time of year when we can meet up with our loved ones. Not so easy in 2020. However this CoVid19 crisis too shall pass.

There is magic to be seen in our Broadwath Sky just now as we approach a full moon on New Year's Eve. This month the solar system’s two largest planets, Jupiter and Saturn, will appear to be so close together that they will look almost like they have merged into one light in Earth’s western sky.

This is called the Great Conjunction. Jupiter and Saturn have not aligned like this since 1226, so it is very rare.

They will appear to sit just 0.1o apart, or one-fifth of the width of the moon. However in reality they will still be a massive 450million miles from each other! This event will be visible for around a month. However this Christmas Star will be easiest to see on the winter solstice, shortly after sunset. The planets will remain in close alignment for a few days.

                         Jupiter has approx 79 moons of which the largest are the four Galilean Moons:                Io, Europa, Ganymede and Callisto

"Deck the hall with boughs of holly,

Fa, la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la!

'Tis the season to be jolly,
Fill the mead cup, drain the barrel,
Troul the ancient Christmas carol,

See the flowing bowl before us,
Strike the harp and join the chorus.
Follow me in merry measure,
While I sing of beauty's treasure,


Fast away the old year passes,
Hail the new, ye lads and lasses!
Laughing, quaffing all together,
Heedless of the wind and weather."

"Deck the Hall" is a traditional carol. The melody is Welsh, dating back to the sixteenth century. The English lyrics, written by the Scottish musician, Thomas Oliphant, date to 1862.